The CFL is back, and if you needed a quick refresher on what makes the CFL a full sixty minute experience, three of the four first week games provided more than enough action to keep those watching on TSN fixed to their couches and Easy Chairs.
After a lost season owing to COVID, the first game since November 24th of 2019, kicked off the return weekend with a Grey Cup rematch between the Blue Bombers and Tiger Cats, with the Blue and Gold showing little rust as they sent the Tabbies on their way with a first loss of the season.
The season opener, result one that really wasn't in much peril as the Bombers made the most of their opportunities with little push back from Hamilton making for a thirteen point bulge on the scoreboard for the home side, the Bombers taking their first victory for 2021 by a score of 19-6.
The rest of the weekend however, offered up some close contests, though for the most part that came out of two games in one, with the home side taking charge in the first half, then looking to hold off a strong push from the visitors, once successful, twice not.
Friday gave us the Lions and Riders, with Saskatchewan fans once again showcasing why a trip into Regina makes for a challenging experience. With starter Mike Reilly sidelined at the start, the Riders cruised to a 32-9 half time lead that seemed insurmountable, though the Leos Canadian understudy Nathan Rourke showed some flashes of what could come as the league looks for a marquee Canadian QB to chart the future.
Reilly was inserted into the game at half time, and while clearly featuring little range to his arm, he fashioned a comeback making good use of his receivers on short patterns, the Leos pushing the Riders hard in the final half coming up just short of a remarkable comeback, falling to Saskatchewan by a score of 33-29.
The first of the Saturday Double headers, saw the Double Blue from Toronto show a fourth quarter surge to take their first two points of the year, that after a pretty tightly contested first half that saw the Stamps head to half time with a two point lead. The second half however saw the Stamps start to falter, the Argos making the most of their opportunities with eleven points in the final frame to claim the 23 to 20 victory.
The game a bit of work out for two of the CFL's top QB's in McLeod Bethel-Thopmson and Bo Levi Mitchell, who both had strong efforts in their CFL return.
The RedBlacks/Elks (careful folks old habits are hard to break) wrap to the weekend provided a defensive battle for the most part, the field goal teams playing a large role, a Pick Six in the final quarter making for the most exciting play of the day, securing the RedBlacks victory.
Though not after a late game surge by Edmonton that almost took the victory, coming up just one yard short as the clock expired, the clock securing the 16 -12 victory for Ottawa.
While at times sloppy as would be expected with little in the way of exhibition games to work out the timing, the games still provided for their own cadence and after a year away from Canadian ball, we'll take the opening week and go along with the learning curve in the weeks to come.
Things for the most part couldn't have gone much better, the finishes for the most part providing for the excitement that often marks a November playoff matchup, heralding more of the same as we travel through the upcoming months and our rendezvous at Grey Cup in December.
There will still be some twists and turns before we reach what should be a much anticipated and iconic Canadian moment, COVID may still rise up and take a swipe at all the planning, the CFLPA has also served some notice that they're not really on board with the CFL's latest COVID planning on game day play should the virus wreak a bit more havoc.
Those however are housekeeping issues, that will sort themselves out, for most of us it's just fun to have Three Down Football back and on we go to week Two, which starts on Thursday when the Lions continue on with their prairie experience, taking on the Stamps at McMahon.
Til they tee it up in four days, we'll keep an eye on how the reviews come in for week one.
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