The midway point of the CFL schedule arrives with the traditional Labour Day Classics, ancient rivalries play out in six of the eight CFL cities, the Als and Lions providing the opening act for the regional showdowns that always make for riveting entertainment.
On the line, momentum heading into the back nine of the CFL schedule and a chance to secure some footing in the standings both East and West.
For CFL fans Labour Day at least provided for some point accumulations (well everywhere but Winnipeg we guess) as the Labour Day Classics provided for records in the books and 231 total points on the scoreboard, the latter total a striking improvement over the total points of the previous weeks.
The week in review is as follows.
British Columbia at Montreal
It was battle of CFL titans to kick off the Labour Day weekend, the Lions heading off to Montreal to take on the Als, the First in the West Lions in a showdown with a very hot Alouette squad, a team which owned August when it came to wins.
And for a preamble to the Weekend Classics, Friday nights game provided for much in the way of entertainment with the Als holding on to secure the 3-25 victory.
Montreal collected their fourth consecutive victory on the strength of the always reliable Anthony Calvillo who established a CFL record, passing for 300 yards plus in his eight consecutive game.
Montreal could have salted away the game early but couldn't capitalize on some of the opportunities presented to them in the first half, heading into half time at 17-11
BC came back in the third and tied things up at 17 apiece surrendering the lead late in the third.
The Lions bounced back in the fourth to take the lead, however the Als always aware of the dramatic made a late fourth quarter 74 yard drive, Brandon Whitaker taking the ball in from two yards out to grab the final lead of the game for Montreal.
The two teams renew acquaintances on Friday in Vancouver, where the Lions no doubt will hope to reciprocate from last weeks excitement.
The full preview/review of the opening to the Labour Day Classics can be found here.
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan
The Bombers traditionally have trouble in Regina on the Labour Day weekend, but by the time the full sixty minutes of Sunday's game were complete, trouble wouldn't be near a good enough description for what took place.
The Bombers were eviscerated by the Roughriders, much to the enjoyment of the sold out Mosaic Field crowd which revelled with each point put up on the board. And there would be much revelry by the time the Riders were finished, putting 52 points on the scoreboard, the Bombers having apparently run up the white flag early on couldn't put even a single on the scoreboard.
A performance that made for a very bad day for new head coach Tim Burke, who surely deserved better than what his team provided for him on Sunday.
The blow out provided for a new low for the Bombers in 2012, the ugliest game they have played in a season dotted with more than a few of them, left the home town fans in a snarly mood, quickly taking to the twitter world and their facebook pages to demand a change in the higher reaches of the Blue Bomber offices.
Some even suggesting that recently fired coach Paul LaPolice be apologized to and invited back to take over GM Mack's job.
The Bombers issued the usual press release following the game suggesting that they have confidence in Mack at the moment (never a good thing if you're in management) and suggesting that no further change is anticipated at the moment, with the season subject to review at the end of the year.
For Winnipeg it would seem that will be in early November, any thoughts of a playoff run and return to the Grey Cup perhaps already abandoned. For the moment the main focus will be the return engagement with the Riders in the "banjo bowl" this Sunday in Winnipeg.
Usually, it's the Bomber fans who have the most fun with that one, however coming off the 52-0 blow out of last week, we imagine that the folks from Saskatchewan will be the ones having some fun in the stands this weekend.
The preview and review page for Sunday's contest can be found here.
Toronto at Hamilton
It was the final Labour Day Classic at Ivor Wynne as we know it, the cramped, noisy and at times for some threatening stadium in Hamilton, host to many a Labour Day showdown was sent off in fine style as the Argos and Ti Cats took to battle, the ghosts of the past lurking on the sidelines we are sure.
Usually, the Labour Day game is guaranteed win day for the Black and Yellow, there is/was something about this game that always brings the Tabbies to the snarliest best, however, this has been a year where the Cats have just been out of sync for much of the season and Monday's showdown with the Argos was no exception.
Hamilton found more ways to lose leads, provided more gifts to their opposition and in one of their signature games of the year, committed the worst possible thing, they lost to the Argos 33-30, a stain that will perhaps mark the struggles of the Cats this year in capital letters.
Hamilton, on a four game losing skid has managed to throw away potential victory with mental lapses and untimely mistakes, not exactly what most thought would be the game plan when the season started.
Monday it was an interception of a Henry Burris pass that changed the momentum as the Argos celebrated Ahmad Caroll's 37 yard interception return that gave the Double Blue a touchdown and control of the game.
The Cats made things interesting with a late game drive for a touchdown and a two point conversion, but while exciting the crowd, in the end it wouldn't be enough to secure a victory and break the streak of losses.
Ricky Ray calmly led the Argos down the field in the final minute of the game, picking apart the Cats defensive schemes while gobbling up valuable time, setting up the final scoring play of the game an Argo field goal to secure victory.
Hamilton will seek to find a bit of redemption on Saturday when they have the back end of the CFL version of a double header in Toronto, as must a win as they may have all year if they're inclined to stay relevant in the CFL East.
A look back at the final Labour Day dance at Ivor Wynne can be found here.
Edmonton at Calgary
The Labour Day weekend wrap up as always comes out of Calgary and once again the Alberta rivals provided for some fine entertainment for those in the stadium and others parked in their favourite watering hole or secure on their couches.
The Stamps won their Classic in exciting style a late fourth quarter drive that was topped off by a touchdown that secured a 31-30 victory of the relatives to the north, yet but for that late game drive, the Eskims surely deserved better.
Edmonton for the most part seemed to be in control of the game for the first 45 minutes, making life miserable for Kevin Glenn, with sacks, rushes and interceptions, with one pick resulting in the Eskimos taking the lead late into the fourth.
Still, in the CFL as they like to say, it's never really over til it's over and Glenn dusted himself off, refocused on the plan and with but 2 and half minutes on the clock launched the drive that reversed gloom with joy in Cowtown.
A big win for the Stamps who have not been particularly dominating this season and have had to sit and watch as the Eskimos gobbled up a bit of the glory in Alberta based on their surprising year so far.
Eskimos head coach Kavis Reed found the Labour Day Classic to be a teaching moment for his squad, no doubt annoyed at having lost the lead and perhaps a game they should have won, he used the fourth quarter troubles as a reminder to his team that the mental part of the game is just as important as the physical.
Two teams finding something to work with from Labour Day will put it all to use on Friday night when they meet again at Commonwealth Stadium
The preview/review of Labour Day in Alberta can be found here.
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