tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87048516274707568142024-02-19T07:26:55.009-08:00CFLAndrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-14943059626057673122016-07-01T15:49:00.001-07:002016-07-01T15:49:51.110-07:00STAMPS IN SEARCH OF THEMSELVES IN HOME-OPENER VS. BOMBERS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For the Calgary Stampeders, Saturday night’s home-opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is about finding their identity.</div>
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A Canada Day double-header in the CFL finishes at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, where two Western rivals are coming off losses and looking to get back in the win column.</div>
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The Bombers are hoping things are different this year while the Stamps look to continue their dominance in the wake of a 14-4 season – yet in last weekend’s 20-18 loss to the BC Lions, the Stampeders didn’t look like the Stampeders.</div>
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“Come out and create an identity. Find out what it’s gonna be,” Bo Levi Mitchell told Stampeders.com.</div>
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“Right now it’s just finding out as an offence what we’re gonna rely on and what’s gonna be that explosiveness that we had. Create that identity in the game and really just let it happen.”</div>
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The Stampeders haven’t started a season 0-2 since 2009, while the last time they lost two regular season games in a row was the first three weeks of 2012. Mitchell, 28-7 in his career as a starter including 5-1 against Winnipeg, has never lost two in a row.</div>
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Yet despite leading 17-6 with one play left in the third quarter, Mitchell and the Stamps failed to do against the Lions in B.C. what they’ve done so well the last decade or so: close out games.</div>
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The Stampeders had chances to put the game away in the first half and didn’t, and in the end a 73-yard punt return touchdown by Lions return ace Chris Rainey ended up being the difference.</div>
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The Stamps scored just twice in five red zone opportunities, turning the ball over twice and also missing a key fourth-quarter field goal.</div>
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“When you have opportunities early, take advantage of them,” said rookie head coach Dave Dickenson, who dropped to 0-1 in his coaching career. “You’ve got to extend that lead.</div>
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“They were the ones making plays in the fourth quarter. We’re onto the next week, we know we’ve got a good challenge and we expect to come out here and win.”</div>
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Second-year receiver Lemar Durant will not play for the Stampeders after appearing to suffer an injury on a highlight-reel grab in the second half as he fell to his back. Meanwhile, the secondary will get some reinforcements as safety Josh Bell, the quarterback of DeVone Claybrooks’ defence, is back in his usual spot.</div>
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Cam Thorn will start at centre in place of rookie Roman Grozman as the Stamps wait for Pierre Lavertu to return from injury, but in the end it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly the Stamps need to do better.</div>
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Their defence held Jonathon Jennings pretty well in check with 248 yards on 42 passing attempts and an average of 10.3 yards per completion. Special teams allowed the game-changing touchdown in the fourth but also blocked three punts in the first half.</div>
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Some wondered why Jerome Messam had only seven carries (he rushed for 16 and a touchdown), while instead of Eric Rogers and Jeff Fuller catching all the passes like in the past, this time it was Durant and Kamar Jorden carrying the offence.</div>
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“We know the reason we haven’t dropped two in a row for a long time is we remind ourselves early on in the week to really lock in,” said Mitchell. “We always come back with a different kind of attitude after we’ve lost a game.”Against a new-look Bombers team with some added flare to its lineup, for the Stampeders Saturday night is about finishing. Above all, they need to do the things they’ve done in the past to avoid losing two in a row.</div>
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Both the Bombers and the Stamps have a different feel about them this year following an off-season of change, but the Blue and Gold can expect more of the same from the Stampeders coming off a loss.</div>
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They know things didn’t go right in game one and they know it’s only the beginning of a long season. Yet this week there’s the feel of some urgency for the Bombers, a team focused on changing the culture in 2016.</div>
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Whether it was Drew Willy or Andrew Harris, no one wearing royal blue is afraid to take responsibility for what happened in a 22-14 loss to the Alouettes in Week 1.</div>
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“I put it all on me and I hope Drew puts it all on him,” said Offensive Coordinator Paul LaPolice in an interview with BlueBombers.com. “And I hope Darvin Adams puts it all on him.</div>
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“And Andrew Harris . . .” he continued. “We talk about how we’re all responsible for everybody. Mike (O’Shea) does a tremendous job of making sure we are one team, but we all have to look internally about what we can do better.”</div>
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The Bombers got behind the eight ball early while an hour-long delay due to lightning in the area sucked some of the wind out of the team and the opening-day crowd. But in the end it was the inability to sustain drives early that allowed Kevin Glenn and the Alouettes to play keep-away, holding Winnipeg to a league-low 26:41 of possession including just 10:23 in the first half.</div>
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Losing Weston Dressler to injury in the first quarter didn’t help, but by the time the Bombers showed some life with a highlight-reel Darvin Adams touchdown in the fourth quarter it was too little too late.</div>
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They’ll be without Dressler again this week, who has been on the field for the last couple of days and appears close but could not be cleared for action.</div>
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<img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="wp-image-344241 size-large" height="1067" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-1600x1067.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-300x200.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-800x533.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-1600x1067.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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Thomas Mayo, who had stints with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and New York Jets and bounced around the indoor game, will start in Dressler’s place.</div>
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The 6-foot-2, 204-pound Mayo brings size and athleticism to the Bombers’ receiving corps, something LaPolice and O’Shea were looking for to complement their smaller and speedy receivers from the outset of camp.</div>
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“Besides the frosted tips (in his hair)?” said LaPolice with a chuckle. “He’s such a good kid and he gets better every week. He’s fast for a big guy. He’s not afraid to go hit somebody.</div>
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“Coach O’Shea talked about it in a meeting one time,” LaPolice recalled. “We had Mayo on a screen pass to Andrew Harris for a touchdown in the pre-season. Mayo came across the field and lit up a player – just destroyed the guy. Mike says, ‘Do you know who that guy is?’ And Thomas is like, ‘I don’t know’. And it was Kyries Hebert, one of the best players in the league and Thomas goes, ‘OK, whatever’.”</div>
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Darvin Adams moves into Dressler’s old spot while Mayo bumps inside, but the Mayo-for-Dressler switch is just another change to an offensive unit trying to build some chemistry with new receivers in Ryan Smith and Jace Davis, a new left guard in Jermarcus Hardrick along with a new tailback in Harris.</div>
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Dressler took just eight snaps before his exit against Montreal (catching three passes), causing a ripple effect through the receiving corps. The silver lining this week is that Mayo has been in the attack since the first day of practice.</div>
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Harris got stronger as the game progressed in his long-awaited Bomber debut, finishing with 13 carries for 80 yards (6.2 per carry) with another 40 through the air. Adams had a game-high 105 yards on five catches including his 63-yard touchdown.</div>
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The defence was solid considering the amount of time it spent on the field, so on Saturday for the Bombers it’s about picking up a few missing pieces.</div>
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“Just overall consistency on offence,” said Willy. “Get off to a faster start, put points on the board in the first quarter. Just really go out and make sure we don’t have any mental mistakes there.”</div>
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“Clean up the mistakes,” added O’Shea. “I thought there were too many mistakes.”</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-19191550084296565822016-07-01T14:36:00.001-07:002016-07-01T14:36:26.605-07:00TICATS, LIONS CLAW FOR CANADA DAY VICTORY AT TIM HORTONS FIELD<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ask anyone in the Hamilton area what they have planned for Canada Day and you’ll probably get the same answer – going to the Tiger-Cats’ home opener.</div>
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Tim Hortons Field is typically a nightmare for the opposition. The stadium is always packed with loud, proud fans showing their support for their favourite tabbies. Despite having one of the louder stadiums in the league, Hamilton’s head coach Kent Austin doesn’t think that it’s only the fan support gives a team home field advantage.</div>
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“Obviously we know that the crowd’s going to be behind us,” Austin told Ticats.ca. “It’s going to be a packed stadium, they’re going to be loud, (we know) those things are consistent. That doesn’t overcome poor play. If we play well in a tough environment for the other team then you have an advantage.”</div>
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The Ticats hope to carry the momentum from their impressive 42-20 victory over the Toronto Argonauts last week at BMO Field into Week 2 against the BC Lions in the first half of a CFL Friday night double header.</div>
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The defence, led by Week 1’s Shaw CFL Top Performer Simoni Lawrence, wowed in the season opener in taking down Argos’ pivot Ricky Ray five times and Argos pivots six times in total. Lawrence collected seven tackles – including two of the six sacks – a fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown.</div>
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“I have to pass all the credit to my teammates, of course,” said the linebacker. “In a team game like this it’s so hard to take individual awards because you know you’re depending on 11 other guys to do their jobs so you can be successful. I feel like our defence did a great job and we got this team award.”</div>
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Lawrence and the rest of his defenders will tackle a BC Lions offence that just doesn’t quit. The Lions fought hard in Week 1 to come from behind to defeat Calgary 20-18 after trailing 17-6 heading into the final play of the third quarter.</div>
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“They’re a very good team,” said Lawrence. “They know it’s our home opener and they know we’re going to be very hyped up so they’re going to come in and try to ruin our party like we did Toronto’s.”</div>
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Bryan Burnham will also be looking to make an impact after he led the Lions receivers with 88 yards on five catches, one of eight different targets for quarterback Jonathan Jennings last week. Shawn Gore had seven receptions for 67 yards and Emmanuel Arceneaux grabbed four receptions for 39 yards. Jennings ending with 24 of 42 completions for 248 and no interceptions.One of the biggest challenges for Hamilton will be containing Lions running back Chris Rainey, who had quite the game against Calgary. Rainey scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 73-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to help ensure his team a 1-0 record.</div>
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Scoring early and often will be on the forefront of the Lions’ game plan come Friday night, but most of all they’ll want to get off to a better start than they had in their home-opener against the Stampeders. Jennings and company were stymied by Calgary’s defence throughout a large chunk of the game, scoring only three points in the first half and 13 offensively all game.</div>
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And while special teams won the game in the end for the Lions, they nearly coughed it up in the first half when Richie Leone had three of his punts blocked. In their first road test of the season, the Lions will have to avoid big negative plays like that but also put points on the board to keep the Ticats’ home crowd at bay.</div>
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“Every drive you want to go out there and score,” said Gore. “We want to come out there first play and make an impact. We started out a little sluggish last week and we’re not looking to repeat that.”</div>
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Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood returns to Hamilton’s lineup after being sidelined from an injury during the pre-season. Underwood, in his second season in the black and gold, will be another option for Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to throw to when they hit the field.</div>
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“Whenever you’re playing and you have a chance to be up or start, you’re going to be excited about it,” Underwood said. “I’ve just got to put my best foot forward and help the team get a win on Friday.”</div>
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Masoli was striking in his season debut against the Argos, throwing for 318 yards on 27-of-37 passing. He also made 15 straight completions in the second half going 15-for-15 to four different receivers, Chad Owens, Luke Tasker, Andy Fantuz and Brandon Banks.</div>
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“Right now Masoli is playing well,” Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach Mark Washington told BCLions.com. “He’s controlling the offence, he has good mastery of the offence and they’re showing a lot.</div>
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“The receivers (including) Owens are really playing hard for those guys. (C.J.) Gable is a great running back so we’re going to have our hands full. I’m sure our guys will be up for the challenge.”</div>
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Friday night will also be the fans in the Hammer’s first look at Owens, who nabbed his first touchdown in the black and gold against his former team last week.</div>
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As for the questions surrounding whether or not Brett Maher would be a good enough replacement for the CFL’s most accurate kicker Justin Medlock, who was signed by Winnipeg on the first day of free agency, Maher silenced them all in Week 1.</div>
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In his Ticat debut, Maher went 4-for-4 on his field goal attempts including a 50-yard kick, the first 50-plus yard field goal of his CFL career.</div>
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BC’s bench boss, and the CFL’s winningest active coach, Wally Buono is fully aware of the atmosphere of the enemy territory he and his lions will be prancing into and it doesn’t faze him one bit.</div>
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“It is a hostile environment, that’s what’s going to make the win hopefully that much sweeter.”</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-7775613326774667662016-07-01T13:58:00.001-07:002016-07-01T13:58:21.096-07:00BACK ONBOARD: BOATMEN REBOUND WITH VICTORY IN RIDERVILLE<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Ricky Ray completed a pair of touchdown passes on his opening two drives which was enough to stave off the Saskatchewan Roughriders and lead the Toronto Argonauts to a 30-17 win in the final home opener at Mosaic Stadium.</div>
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Friday night marked the official start of the Chris Jones era in Saskatchewan after a much-publicized off-season move from Edmonton to Regina just days following his leading the Eskimos to a Grey Cup victory. It too marked the return of Darian Durant who was seeing his first meaningful reps since the first quarter of the 2015 season where he suffered a season-ending injury.</div>
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The Argonauts were coming off an opener that was electric while opening up BMO Field as their new turf but struggled against a well-prepared Hamilton Tiger-Cats club. The biggest challenge for Toronto in Week 1 was the slow start, something that was not an issue in the opening moments of this one.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">After getting a quick two-and-out on the Riders’ first possession, the Argos were set to get the ball with good field position but veteran returner Larry Taylor ensured that Ray had the ball inside the Saskatchewan 5-yard line after taking a punt 59-yards.</span><br />
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Ray promptly found SB Andre Durie in the flat on the next play who stretched across the goal line for the Argos touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.</div>
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The Riders countered with a 48-yard gain but their drive stalled inside the Argos 30-yard line when they turned the ball over on a QB sneak that didn’t reach the first down marker. Ray wasted no time expanding the lead.</div>
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The very next play, Ray stepped into a deep ball on a pump-and-go, spotting sophomore receiver Vidal Hazelton wide open for an easy 56-yard touchdown. A total of 98 yards on three passes and Ray had the Argonauts up by two scores early.</div>
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As the second quarter began, Ray cooled a bit as the Riders took away the deep ball that burned them in the first frame and forced Ray underneath to checkdowns.</div>
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A pair of consecutive stops on defence eventually netted the Riders some momentum. An 8-play, 76-yard drive, aided by 30 yards in Argos penalties, was capped off with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Durant to former Argo WR John Chiles who cut the lead to 14-7.</div>
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However, as soon as momentum swung in Saskatchewan’s favour, the Argos literally scooped it back. Already with a turnover on downs the Riders looked to convert another third-and-short QB sneak but a fumbled snap between centre Dan Clark and backup QB Bryant Moniz resulted in a fumble and a 37-yard touchdown scamper by DB Matt Black.</div>
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The 8-year veteran DB was forced into the every-down safety spot after Jermaine Gabriel left the game with an injury. Black’s third career touchdown put the Argos back up by 14 points and they took an 11-point lead to the locker room at halftime after the Riders closed the quarter with a 27-yard Tyler Crapigna field goal.</div>
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<img alt="Saskatchewan Roughriders Darian Durant throws the ball during the first half of CFL action in Regina on Thursday, June 30, 2016. (CFL PHOTO - MATT SMITH)" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-346416" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/12108526-800x594.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/12108526-300x223.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/12108526-800x594.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/12108526-1600x1188.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
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As the second half opened, so too did the Riders offence. Durant put together a pair of first downs before connecting with WR Ricky Collins down the sideline for a big gain. The Texas A&M product’s 35-yard athletic snag set the Riders up inside the redzone but he Argos once again held tough and forced Crapigna to hit a 15-yarder.</div>
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The Argos countered with a 28-yarder of their own on the ensuing drive to keep the lead at 11.</div>
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Ray took control of the Argos offence when the fourth quarter began, methodically putting completions together to try and eat some clock. A 50-yard field goal from Lirim Hajjrullau</div>
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After the Riders made good on a field goal and also sent one wide left, the defences battled back and forth, bending but not breaking as the Argos looked to kill the clock and the Riders tried to mount a comeback. Taylor all but sealed it for the Argonauts with 2:34 left in the contest when he fielded a punt in his own zone, cut across midfield and romped down the Saskatchewan 25 yard line. Two plays later Hajjrullau knocked through a field goal to close it out for the Boatmen.</div>
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The Argos will stay on the road for Week 3 as they take on the Lions at BC Place while the Riders head to Edmonton where Chris Jones will face his old Eskimos squad.</div>
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Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-57456949247102985612016-07-01T13:31:00.001-07:002016-07-01T13:31:11.069-07:00HARRIS STELLAR ONCE AGAIN AS REDBLACKS TOP ALS IN MONTREAL<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The star power of Trevor Harris continued to grow on Thursday night in Montreal.</div>
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The Ottawa pivot was once again a difference-maker for the REDBLACKS, who edged the hometown Alouettes 28-13 to move to 2-0 on the young 2016 campaign. Harris consistently shredded the Montreal secondary, completing 20 of 26 passes for 395 yards and a trio of passing touchdowns.</div>
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Thursday proved to be a tough night for kickers in Montreal, and the theme began early when Ottawa’s Chris Milo pulled his 35-yard attempt wide right just over five minutes into the ballgame. Als return man Stefan Logan took a knee, and the REDBLACKS took a 1-0 lead.</div>
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The visitors nearly scored the game’s first major midway through the opening quarter, when Harris hit Brad Sinopoli over the middle for a lengthy pickup; Sinopoli seemed destined for pay dirt, but Chip Cox stripped him deep in Als territory. Montreal recovered, and the REDBLACKS were left to wonder what could have been.</div>
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Montreal kicker Boris Bede then levelled things up with a 52-yard punt single late in the first quarter.</div>
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Bede’s miss from 36 yards early in the second quarter — his first career miss from less than 40 yards — tacked on a single, and Montreal led 2-1.</div>
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Ottawa surged back on its next possession, with running back Travon Van stringing together a series of slicing runs, highlighted by a 28-yard dash down the right side into the Montreal red zone.</div>
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Trevor Harris then hit a wide-open Ernest Jackson steps from the end zone two plays later, and the REDBLACKS led 7-2 following a missed two-point convert.</div>
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Montreal’s receiving core took a blow midway through the second quarter, when S.J. Green (leg) was forced out after falling awkwardly on a 50/50 ball against Jerrell Gavins.</div>
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The injury bug continued to make its presence felt, as Ottawa special-teamer Olivier Goulet-Veilleux went down with a serious leg injury which placed the game in a lengthy delay.</div>
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Another steady Ottawa drive late in the first half was wrapped with an exclamation mark by Harris, who rolled out to his right before threading a needle to receiver Greg Ellingson in the end zone. With the PAT, Ottawa led 14-2.</div>
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Bede was able to redeem himself somewhat on the final play of the first half, a field goal he drilled from 53 yards to cut the Als deficit to nine at halftime.</div>
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Montreal clawed its way back into the game at 7:41 of the third quarter; quarterback Kevin Glenn found receiver Duron Carter, who took a hard hit but hung on to the ball, in the end zone for the hosts’ first major.</div>
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Carter’s consequent celebrations sent him barreling into Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell; after a dust-up and some gentlemanly group discussion, Carter and Ottawa defensive back Jerrell Gavins were both ejected.</div>
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Bede added a single on the ensuing kickoff to cut the Ottawa lead to 14-13.</div>
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Milo countered just two minutes later with a field goal of his own from 30 yards out to push the REDBLACKS lead to four.</div>
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The Ottawa kicker split the uprights again, this time from 41 yards, four minutes into the final quarter to open the REDBLACKS lead up to 20-13.</div>
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Harris put the game on ice for Ottawa at the 6:35 mark of the fourth quarter, when he hit Chris Williams deep in Als territory; Williams had torched Jovon Johnson, and would not be caught en route to the big house. Milo added the PAT and the visitors had their insurance cushion, up 27-13.</div>
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A late-fourth quarter punt single from Milo polished off the scoring on the night and pushed the Ottawa lead to 15.</div>
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The Als’ comeback efforts were hampered by the absence of receivers S.J. Green (injury) and Duron Carter (ejection); Montreal’s packages were limited and the REDBLACKS were able to key in on Nik Lewis.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Injuries hurt Ottawa, too, as running back Travon Van was forced from the ballgame after a promising 86-yard, 12-carry start with a lower-body injury. Canadian Kienan Lafrance was decent in relief of Van.</span><br />
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Week 3 will see the REDBLACKS return to the nation’s capital to host their home opener, another Thursday Night Football showdown on July 8th against Calgary, while Montreal will have an extra week to reflect on the defeat before a Week 4 matchup against Hamilton.</div>
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Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-78338308601340890892016-06-30T15:43:00.001-07:002016-06-30T15:43:14.610-07:00JONES, RIDERS KICK OFF NEW ERA IN RIDERVILLE VS. ARGOS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
As though the waiting game wasn’t already hard enough, it only gets tougher for Darian Durant and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.</div>
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The Riders say hello to a new season on Thursday night in Riderville, while at the same time begin saying goodbye to a long-time landmark in Mosaic Stadium.</div>
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After a bye week to open the 2016 schedule, waiting until 8:00 p.m. local time to face the Toronto Argonauts might be difficult.</div>
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“I’m kind of sad that it’s a night game,” Durant told Riderville.com. “Just waking up having to wait all day to come out and play. But at the same time night games are always exciting here so it’s just going to be an exciting day and I’m looking forward to it.</div>
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“I’ll just be patiently waiting all day and I’ll be ready to come out here and do whatever I can do to help this team get a win.”</div>
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With equal anticipation wait the fans in Rider Nation, and the same goes for Chris Jones. No team has overhauled its roster more than the Riders this year and no team enters the season with more uncertainty.</div>
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On Thursday night everyone will see some sort of semblance of what the 2016 Riders are all about.</div>
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“That’ll be decided [Thursday] night,” said Jones. “Like I told the team, this is for real – this is our first regular season game. We’ve talked a good game, now it’s a matter of seeing exactly where we are.”</div>
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Jones was hired as the team’s football czar – the head coach, general manager and vice-president – after the team cleaned house following a three-win season in 2015. After Jones took the Eskimos from cellar-dwellers at 4-14 to Grey Cup Champions at 14-4 in a matter of two years, Riders fans are hoping he can work his similar magic in Saskatchewan.</div>
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With a re-worked roster with the subtraction of big names like Weston Dressler and John Chick and the addition of the likes of Shawn Lemon, Justin Capicciotti and Kendial Lawrence among many, many others, there’s no doubt the Riders are already being built in Jones’s mold.</div>
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Veteran quarterback Durant is one of a handful of returning players along with veteran Rob Bagg and young receiver Nic Demski – yet with so many new faces on both sides of the ball, some patience may be required.</div>
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Durant is playing his first game in over a year after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in last year’s opener, while approximately 35 players on the team’s 46-man roster will be making their Rider debuts.</div>
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“It’s just another great opportunity to do something special this season,” said Bagg, the veteran receiver now in his ninth season with the team. “Every year it’s a fresh start and this year it’s no different – I love the pieces we have here.But with uncertainty and the unknown also comes possibility.</div>
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“It all starts Thursday, we’ll find out what we’re really made of. I’m certainly excited and optimistic about it.”</div>
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So too is Jones, who will lean on a veteran offence and a young defence that he expects to be ‘very fast’ and ‘very athletic’. Facing an angry Argos team coming off a home-opening loss is a solid first challenge.</div>
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“We’ve got to go out and we’ve got to play a solid football game against a very good football team in Toronto,” said Jones. “They’re very well-coached and they didn’t play very well last week, and we’re not the only ones that know that – they know it as well.</div>
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“You’ll see a different Toronto team roll in here.”</div>
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The Argos definitely know they weren’t themselves in Week 1. They lost 42-20 to hated arch-rival Hamilton, but it’s not just the loss that stings – it’s the fact that it came in a game they’ll never be able to get back: the first ever game at BMO Field.</div>
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“We came out and we laid an egg,” defensive tackle Bryan Hall told Argonauts.ca. “Especially on defence. We just didn’t perform when we needed to.”</div>
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The O-line couldn’t keep a clean pocket for quarterback Ricky Ray, who was sacked five times, threw an interception and fumbled once. Meanwhile, Brandon Whitaker and the Argo offence couldn’t establish anything on the ground, finishing with just one yard on seven attempts – their lowest rushing total since 2009 and the lowest by any CFL team in a game since 2011.</div>
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With a new-look O-line led by off-season addition Josh Bourke and a young defence coached by another newcomer in Defensive Coordinator Rich Stubler, the Argos are still learning but expect to be much better after seeing it all on film.</div>
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“We just weren’t ourselves,” said national defensive end Ricky Foley. “It was good to see on film; make our corrections.</div>
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“We needed to see it on film and a lot more confidence this week.”</div>
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Head Coach Scott Milanovich was particularly frustrated with the Argos’ inability to capitalize on momentum during their Week 1 loss. A slow start had them down 25-6 at one point, but two touchdowns by Vidal Hazelton within a minute made it a five-point game.</div>
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It was as though all the Ticats had to do was press down on the gas again though. Jeremiah Masoli completed 15 straight passes against the Argo defence while former Argonaut Chad Owens put the game away, and in the end the five-point third-quarter deficit was the closest the Argos could get.</div>
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On Sunday they face a stiff test against a new-look Rider team that’ll be excited to play at home, but the hostile territory coming off a loss is welcomed by the Argos’ fifth-year head coach.</div>
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“Our players love to play there. I love to play there. It’s fun,” said Milanovich. “It’s a college-type atmosphere from my perspective. Their fans are always fired up. It’s the way football should be played.</div>
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“Obviously Chris [Jones] will have them ready to play football, there’s no doubt.”</div>
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Ray will look to get the Argo offence humming again, one that’s used to finishing in the top half of the league under the offensive-minded Milanovich but last season fell to sixth overall. The veteran pivot threw for 282 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception on 26-of-36 passing in the face of a constant Ticats pass rush.</div>
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The Argos, meanwhile, will have to wait until mid-July to get another crack at it in front of their home fans, but for now they have a chance to do some early-season bonding. After playing in Regina on Thursday night, Milanovich has them heading straight to B.C. as part of a nine-day road trip.</div>
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Linebacker Marshall McFadden and receiver Kevin Elliott will not play for the Argos after each being added to the six-game injured list, opening the door for Thomas Miles to start at middle linebacker for the Boatmen and Kenny Shaw and Wallace Miles to get more touches in the receiving corps.</div>
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The Riders, meanwhile, enter their season-opener relatively unscathed but will have a pair of newcomers in the secondary in veterans and former Stampeders Buddy Jackson and Brandon McDonald, both slated to start at halfback.</div>
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Thursday’s game will also be a big matchup for Greg Jones, the former Argos linebacker who will play his first game as a Rider against his former team.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-7617111747103350262016-06-30T15:24:00.001-07:002016-06-30T15:24:38.094-07:00ALS, REDBLACKS KICK OFF WEEK 2 IN ALL-EAST CLASH<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If the Montreal Alouette fans who head to Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium on Thursday night are anything like they’ve proven to be in the past, the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ offence is in for a loud night.</div>
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“It was a loud crowd,” said Als’ wide receiver Kenny Stafford in an interview with MontrealAlouettes.com when asked about his time visiting Montreal as an Eskimo last season. “It was a difference for me actually going to play there and playing against the Alouettes. Now I know how loud it can be for the opposing team.”</div>
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The East Division match up will be the Montreal faithful’s first peek at the Alouettes of the 2016 season, including the new-look offence led by Offensive Coordinator Anthony Calvillo.</div>
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“It’s going to be great to get back out in front of our home crowd,” said veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn. “We had the one pre-season game (this year) but this time it’s a regular season game.</div>
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“We’re going out and trying to win. We’re trying to be that team that doesn’t lose at home. We want to have that mentality.”</div>
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So far so good for the Alouettes’ offence, which will look to build on a strong start in Winnipeg. The Alouettes have a great chance at becoming that winning team in their first of three match-ups against Ottawa if they continue to buy into Calvillo’s game plan the same way they did in their 22-14 win over Winnipeg in Week 1.</div>
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“You can see now it’s Anthony Calvillo’s offence,” REDBLACKS defensive end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “He’s running it the way they ran it when he was quarterback so you’re going to see a lot of the running game, quick passes, protect the quarterback and trying to get the ball in the hands of the play makers.</div>
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“This is starting to look like their offence and starting to look like they’re comfortable in it and we just have to try to bring what we have and try to counter it.”</div>
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Leading Montreal’s charge is 37-year-old Glenn, who completed 30-of-42 pass attempts for 332 yards and a touchdown in the season opener. That unit was in command most of the night, although two turnovers inside the red zone left points off the board.</div>
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Glenn will have plenty of options to throw to on the first half of Thursday’s double header, having found eight different receivers last week including Duron Carter, who had seven receptions for 69 yards in his first game as an Alouette after returning this off-season, and Nik Lewis, who collected 51 yards on six catches.</div>
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Lewis, Carter, Stafford and S.J. Green form one of the CFL’s most formidable pass-catching units and could make the Alouettes a much-improved offensive team throughout 2016.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cfl.ca/2016/06/29/report-redblacks-place-henry-burris-six-game-injured-list/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Burris has reportedly been placed on the six-game injured list</a>, meaning, for now, the REDBLACKS are Harris’s team.Trevor Harris will make his first start behind centre as a REDBLACK when Ottawa takes the field filling in for starting quarterback Henry Burris, who suffered a pinky injury on his throwing hand in the REDBLACKS’ thrilling 45-37 overtime victory against Edmonton in Week 1.</div>
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“He’ll (Burris) be back and we’ll be welcoming him with open arms when he’s back,” said Harris. “For the time being, I’ll be ready to roll. That’s why you want to make sure, for coach Campbell’s sake, you can’t have too many quality quarterbacks and my job is to come in and be a quality quarterback for this team.”</div>
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Harris wasted little time after taking the field to justify the REDBLACKS’ decision to sign him this off-season – one possession to be exact – throwing a long bomb to Chris Williams for a 71-yard touchdown on his first passing attempt. The former Argonaut pivot impressed in the rest of his debut as well, connecting on 17 of 19 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns.</div>
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“To have that confidence that no matter which one (Harris or Burris) is in there that we can still go out there and execute our game plan and beat a team like Edmonton on the road when we actually had a few mistakes,” said Williams. “We had some turn overs and a blocked punt for a touchdown so we really didn’t execute our best but we executed enough to win the game.”</div>
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Montreal’s red hot defence – a defence that allowed a league-low 14 points and only one touchdown drive last week – will be another story for Harris to deal with. Defensive end John Bowman will be the biggest pest, having already collected seven tackles and two sacks in the first game of the regular season.</div>
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While Ottawa put up gaudy numbers against the Eskimos’ depleted secondary, points won’t come as easy against Montreal. That also means the REDBLACKS’ defence will have to be stingier than it was against Mike Reilly and the Eskimos.</div>
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“We just have to go out there and do what we do,” said REDBLACKS’ defensive back Jerrell Gavins. “It’s not necessarily about what they do, it’s more about what we can do prevent them from doing what they’re usually successful at.”</div>
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The REDBLACKS ended the 2015 season series victorious, finishing a perfect 3-0 against Montreal in their stellar second season as a franchise.</div>
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Montreal took all three the season before.</div>
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Based on history alone, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top this week.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-60568735087691097532016-06-26T00:30:00.001-07:002016-06-26T00:30:29.196-07:00RAIN MAN: RAINEY’S PUNT RETURN LEADS LIONS FROM BEHIND OVER STAMPS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Chris Rainey scored two touchdowns and made a clutch second-down catch late in the game, helping the Lions grind out a 20-18 home-opening win against the Calgary Stampeders.</div>
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Rainey scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 73-yard punt return with 13:35 left in the fourth quarter while Rene Paredes missed two field goals and a convert for the Stampeders, helping the Lions come from behind to surprise the Stampeders and kick off their season with a 1-0 record.</div>
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The return by Rainey was a fitting turning point in a game dominated by defence and special teams, as both Jonathon Jennings and Bo Levi Mitchell looked ordinary while the other facets made all of the game’s biggest plays.</div>
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The Stampeders blocked three punts but failed to take advantages of some golden opportunities, including a first and goal at the one that resulted in a turnover on downs after four straight plays of failing to find the end zone, along with an early fumble by Mitchell.</div>
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<img alt="CFL.ca" class="wp-image-344136 size-large" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/michael-brooks-2016-1-1600x902.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/michael-brooks-2016-1-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/michael-brooks-2016-1-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/michael-brooks-2016-1-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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While the Stamps held a two-score lead at one point in the third, it was Rainey’s one-yard touchdown run that pulled the Lions close and then, after a quick stop by the Lions’ defence, a spectacular return by one of the game’s most electrifying return men that made the difference.</div>
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In his first opening-day start, Jennings threw for 248 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions on 24-of-42 passing. Bryan Burnham had a game-high 88 yards on five catches as he looks to emerge as a top threat for the Lions in his third season in the league.</div>
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Mitchell threw for 233 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in the loss for the Stampeders. His favourite receiver was Kamar Jorden, who finished with 73 yards on three catches including the game’s only receiving touchdown.</div>
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With all the questions about who Mitchell might throw to in 2016, the 27-year-old Jorden answered the bell early for the Stamps’ offence when he hooked up with his quarterback for a 48-yard pickup on the game’s opening drive.</div>
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Looking to get on the board early and take the Lions’ home-opening crowd out of the game, Mitchell was sacked on a second-and-seven play by T.J. Lee on the blitz and lost a hold of the football. Big interior Mic’hael Brooks came up with the loose ball, immediately ending the threat and giving the Lions’ some early momentum.</div>
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More than anything, however, the impressive defensive play set the tone for how the rest of the game would unfold.</div>
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While all eyes were on the young pivots Mitchell and Jennings, neither could find the spark early on as defensive coordinators and former CFL players Mark Washington and DeVone Claybooks had their defences dialed in.</div>
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The Stamps got the football back and Mitchell put them back in scoring range, but Paredes missed his first field goal try from 47 yards out and Calgary opened the game with a single to make it 1-0.</div>
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Paredes wouldn’t make the same mistake on his next try, making good on a 43-yard field goal try to make it 4-0 Calgary, while Jennings and the Lions’ offence continued to struggle with back-to-back two-and-outs.</div>
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<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="aligncenter wp-image-344250" height="200" sizes="(max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055975-300x206.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055975-300x206.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055975-800x550.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055975-1600x1100.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="291" /></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-344241" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-300x200.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-300x200.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-800x533.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055929-1600x1067.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-344190" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055757-300x198.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055757-300x198.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055757-800x529.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055757-1600x1057.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-344202" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055628-300x197.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055628-300x197.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055628-800x526.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12055628-1600x1052.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></td></tr>
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Third-year Stamps starter Mitchell continued to move the ball for the Stampeders but the offence couldn’t find ways to capitalize early on. With nine minutes to go in the half and a four-point lead, Calgary was stuffed on four straight plays at the BC goal line, including an off-side accepted against the Lions, leaving another Stamps possession without anything to show for.</div>
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It wasn’t long later the Stampeders finally cracked the code and finished a drive. Mitchell completed his first three passes of the drive, including a 25-yard pickup to Lemar Durant, setting up an 18-yard touchdown to Jorden to give Calgary a 10-0 lead after Paredes missed the extra point.</div>
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The Lions responded with a late field goal from Richie Leone, but in the end the first half was defined by three blocked punts on special teams for the Stampeders and a Calgary offence that couldn’t cash in on its chances.</div>
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Jennings got in a rhythm in the third and set up a Leone field goal midway through the quarter to shrink the Lions’ deficit to four, but the Stampeders didn’t take long to respond.</div>
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While the Lions struggled in the run game in the first game after the Andrew Harris era, the Stampeders couldn’t muster much on the ground either despite having the big Jerome Messam in the lineup to replace the retired Jon Cornish. Yet when a 59-yard kickoff return by Roy Finch and a 31-yard completion to Durant put Calgary in prime scoring position, it was the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Brampton, Ont. native in Messam who finished off the drive with the two-yard touchdown.</div>
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Messam’s first touchdown of the season extended Calgary’s lead to 17-6, and the Lions needed an answer from their 24-year-old sophomore quarterback in a hurry.</div>
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You could get the sense that Jennings was getting into more of a rhythm against a young Stampeder defence as the game progressed, and he only heated up heading towards the end of the third quarter. Jennings hit Burnham for a 15-yard pickup to get sticks moving, then after a 10-yard completion to Shawn Gore drew a pass interference penalty on the Stamps’ defence.</div>
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Two more completions to Burnham and the newcomer Nick Moore put the ball at the one, and from there it was the former University of Florida running back Rainey finishing the drive off with the one-yard touchdown run. Arceneaux couldn’t haul in the pass on the two-point conversion, but the Lions cut the Stampeder lead to 17-12 at the end of the third.</div>
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A quick stop by the BC defence and it wasn’t long after that the Lions turned the tables completely. On the very next punt, Rainey found an opening down the sideline, sprinting for a 72-yard punt return touchdown, his second major of the game.</div>
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Moore scored on the two-point conversion, giving BC a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter — the Lions’ first lead of the game.</div>
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As Mitchell looked to mount a response on the following drive, the Lions’ defence stepped up again, this time sacking Mitchell for the second time of the night on second down to stop the Calgary offence in its tracks. Alex Bazzie’s sack of Mitchell and a punt out of bounds by Rob Maver gave the Lions solid field position just half a quarter away from starting their season with a win.</div>
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Yet you just knew the Stampeders weren’t going to give up. Their defence made a quick stop to get the ball back in the hands of Mitchell, who promptly completed four straight passes, including one to offensive lineman turned eligible receiver Dan Federkeil for 21 yards.</div>
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But immediately after Adam Bighill ended the drive with a sack, the Stampeders looked to tie the game on a 31-yard field goal by Paredes with just over three minutes remaining. After struggling with two early misses, including an extra point, the veteran kicker again fired wide.</div>
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Thanks to some effective running by Jennings and a highlight-reel grab by Rainey at the sticks in addition to a first down run by Jeremiah Johnson, that was the last chance the Stampeders would get.</div>
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Johnson finished with 44 yards on nine carries to pace the Lions’ rushing attack while Messam, replacing the retired Jon Cornish, was held to 16 yards and a touchdown on seven carries against a stingy BC run defence. Moore was an active part of the Lions’ passing attack in his first game back in B.C. after signing with the Lions, while Emmanuel Arceneaux was held to just 39 yards on four carries.</div>
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The win for the Lions ended a run of four straight wins for the Stampeders, including this year’s pre-season game and last year’s Western Semi-Final. It also puts them all alone at the top of the West Division following Week 1, as the Stamps, Eskimos and Bombers are 0-1 while the Riders were idle. They’ll look to keep the momentum rolling with a visit to Tim Hortons Field to face the Ticats on Canada Day.</div>
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After allowing only three points in the first half and leading through most of the first three quarters, the Stampeders let one slip away Saturday night and will try to get back on the board in their home-opener, also on Canada Day vs. the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-5044283629104751032016-06-25T21:40:00.001-07:002016-06-25T21:40:18.969-07:00REDBLACKS REVENGE: OTTAWA WINS GREY CUP REMATCH IN OT THRILLER<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Ottawa REDBLACKS got their revenge over the Edmonton Eskimos, winning the Grey Cup rematch 45-37 in an overtime thriller.</div>
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It was Trevor Harris, not Henry Burris, who led the REDBLACKS to victory after the reigning Most Outstanding Player appeared to jam the pinky finger on his throwing hand in the third quarter and could not return to the game.</div>
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Following a 19-yard rush by rookie running back Trevon Van, Harris found Brad Sinopoli in the end zone to give the REDBLACKS the lead in the extra frame. Greg Ellingson would convert on the two-point attempt and the defence did the rest, stopping Mike Reilly on third down to clinch the victory.</div>
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The win was the REDBLACKS’ first over the Eskimos since joining the league in 2014.</div>
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Harris was impressive in his Ottawa debut, completing 17 of 19 passes for 292 yards and throwing three touchdowns. Burris threw for 251 yards with a touchdown and a pick.</div>
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The final minute of the game featured a 39-yard field goal by Sean Whyte to give the Eskimos a 37-34 lead, but Chris Milo booted a 55-yarder to tie the game as time expired to send the game to overtime.</div>
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Harris continued to lead the REDBLACKS offence in the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 31-24 after a 38-yard Milo field goal. Adarius Bowman and the Esks responded with a 40-yard gain and Whyte added a 35-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 31-27. It didn’t take long for Ottawa to answer back as Ellingson took a short pass 56 yards downfield. Milo hit another field goal to put the REDBLACKS back up by seven. Derel Walker delivered a returning blow, moving the Esks 64 yards downfield before John White punched in a touchdown to tie the game.</div>
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White finished the game with a rushing touchdown on 43 yards and 11 carries and a receiving touchdown on 51 yards.</div>
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The offensive showdown started right on the opening drive. A 20-yard reception by White was the highlight of the Esks’ opening drive that ended in a single.</div>
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Starting at midfield midway through the first quarter after pinning the Esks deep in their zone, Burris and the REDBLACKS went to work. Burris threaded a 19-yard pass to Ernest Jackson but their drive would end there. In the red zone, Van fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Kenny Ladler to end the threat.</div>
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In the final minutes of the opening frame, Arnaud Gascon-Nadon sacked Reilly in the end zone, putting the REDBLACKS up 2-1 with the safety. They would add a single on their next drive to go up 3-1 and carry a lead into the second quarter.</div>
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A pair of first downs by Jake Harty and Brad Sinopoli moved the chains downfield for Ottawa but they could not put any more points on the board.</div>
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Reilly and the Esks offence went back to work, hooking up with new weapon Chris Getzlaf for a 21-yard gain and Nate Coehoorn to move the team into field goal distance. Sean Whyte hit a 29-yard field goal to put the Esks back up 4-3.</div>
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A series of short passes from Burris brought the REDBLACKS into scoring territory where Van cut through a seam for a 14-yard rush. Kienan Lafrance scored the first touchdown of the game on a four-yard reception and Ernest Jackson caught the two-point conversion as Ottawa went ahead 11-4.</div>
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A 55-yard reception by Walker brought Edmonton into the midfield. Bowman caught back-to-back passes before John White found a hole for a 27-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game.</div>
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Following a 12-yard Sinopoli reception, Milo nailed a 45-yard field goal in the last play of the first half to give the REDBLACKS the 14-11 lead.</div>
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The REDBLACKS opened the second half on offence but couldn’t get anything going. Milo’s punt attempt was blocked by Ruben Frank and the rookie brought it back for a touchdown to give the Esks the lead back. The defence would get back to work as Odell Willis intercepted Burris to put the Esks in great field position. Edmonton would hit another field goal to put themselves ahead 21-14.</div>
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Not long later, Burris appeared to jam his finger and left the field with the training staff. Off-season signee Harris, in his first play as a member of the REDBLACKS, came into the game and immediately hooked up with Chris Williams on a 71-yard touchdown to tie the game 21-21. It was the longest pass of Harris’ career.</div>
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The seesaw battle continued but moved in favour of the REDBLACKS as Harris and Williams connected again, this time on a 37-yard major as Ottawa regained the lead, 28-21.</div>
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Reilly and the Esks picked up the pace on offence, quickly moving downfield and adding another Whyte field goal as the third quarter dwindled down.</div>
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This marked the first matchup of Esks head coach Jason Maas against his former team. The ex-REDBLACKS offensive coordinator left for Edmonton in the off-season following the departure of Chris Jones.</div>
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Next week, the REDBLACKS visit the Montreal Alouettes while the Eskimos get an early bye.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-89745930085678588482016-06-25T14:23:00.001-07:002016-06-25T14:23:19.591-07:00STAMPS, LIONS HEAT UP WESTERN RIVALRY IN B.C.<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders are getting a little close for comfort these days.</div>
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The two West Division rivals kick off their season at Vancouver’s BC Place on Saturday night, where they’ll meet for the fourth time in five games.</div>
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“We don’t like them, they don’t like us,” Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian told BCLions.com. “The most physical team is going to win.”</div>
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The Stampeders took last year’s season series 2-0 and outscored the Lions by 33 points before winning the Western Semi-Final in convincing fashion, 35-9. As though the Lions didn’t already have a bitter taste in their mouths, the Stamps went ahead and claimed the pre-season finale in Vancouver last weekend, 31-21.</div>
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On the back half of a Saturday night CFL double-header, now it becomes real. Dave Dickenson will make his debut as a head coach while the all-time wins leader Wally Buono puts on the headset for the first time since 2011 for the Lions in what will be an important starting point for both sides.</div>
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“The first two games (pre-season) were meaningful too,” Buono insisted. “I enjoyed the experience. It’s been a month now that we’ve been working at this and obviously this is an important game.</div>
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“It’s important to win a game against a very football team and it’s important to win at home.”</div>
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For the Lions it’s a chance to end what’s been a difficult stretch of games against the Stampeders and, more importantly, assert themselves early on in what could be one of the most heated West Division races in recent memory.</div>
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Despite a busy off-season with many veteran additions and the return of Buono to the sideline, the Lions have been one of the least-talked about teams heading into the 2016 season.</div>
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Former Ticats Brandon Stewart and Mike Edem bolster a veteran secondary that includes breakout halfback T.J. Lee and long-time Lion Ryan Phillips.</div>
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Also getting plenty of talk coming out of camp is Loucheiz Purifoy, who will line up at nickel for the Lions. The 23-year-old is a dark horse on the Lions’ defence and should have plenty of opportunities to make plays.</div>
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“The thing about him, he makes plays,” said Buono. “The more playmakers you have, especially in the secondary, those are things that help you win the game.”</div>
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Elimimian is hardly new to the team but his presence was badly missed in 2015 after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury back in the summer. With Elimimian and Adam Bighill, the Lions have the last two Most Outstanding Defensive Player winners, also known as Team 100 and the league’s fiercest linebacker duo in the league.</div>
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If the Lions’ defence can return to 2011 form, the year the Lions won the Grey Cup on home turf and Buono’s last year on the sideline, this is a team that could cause plenty of trouble in the West.“I’m excited to suit up,” said Elimimian. “Any time you don’t play, you miss it. I think we have the best linebackers in the CFL.”</div>
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Of course it starts and ends with Jonathon Jennings, who will make his first opening day start. Jennings is under huge expectations this season after a flashy 23-year-old debut season in the league.</div>
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“He’s got a persona that you want quarterbacks to have,” Buono said. “He interacts and gets along well with everybody, yet he’s not afraid to take responsibility or to be a leader.”</div>
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In addition to a new-look defence and a young quarterback heading into his sophomore season, the Lions will also test their new-look offensive line. First round pick Charles Vaillancourt will make his first career start at guard, while at tackle Antonio Johnson takes over for Levy Adcock who is recovering from pneumonia.</div>
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While the Lions are out to make some noise and prove people wrong, the Stampeders may have their own chip on their shoulder. They’ve heard their fair share of doubts from prognosticators this off-season – despite going 14-4 last year and losing in the playoffs only to the eventual Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Final.</div>
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Plenty of changes have occurred in Cowtown, especially on the sideline where John Hufnagel turns over the headset to Dickenson, the former Stamps and Lions quarterback who will make his head coaching debut.</div>
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The Stampeders also lost veteran defensive coordinator Rich Stubler along with defensive mainstays Keon Raymond and Juwan Simpson, while on the offensive side of the ball Eric Rogers and Jeff Fuller departed to the NFL while Jon Cornish retired.</div>
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Still, 26-year-old Bo Levi Mitchell has emerged as an elite CFL quarterback and gives his team a chance to win on any given night.</div>
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“Oh man, we’re itching to get out there,” said Mitchell. “It was nice to get out there and play with the guys, but we know we’re gonna see a different BC team.</div>
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“They can put points on the board fast and we know they have a stout defence so it’s going to be a tight game.”</div>
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<img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="wp-image-341991 size-large" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/jonathon-jennings-2016-1-1600x902.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/jonathon-jennings-2016-1-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/jonathon-jennings-2016-1-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/jonathon-jennings-2016-1-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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Mitchell will throw to Marquay McDaniel, Bakari Grant and, among others, Kamar Jorden, considered among many a candidate to break out in 2016.</div>
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Jerome Messam will carry the football for the Stamps after being acquired late last season in a trade with the Roughriders, while paving the way will be 2016 CFL Draft pick Roman Grozman, who makes his first career start at a position he’s never played before at centre while Pierre Lavertu recovers from an injury.</div>
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“I think I had maybe three of four practices in university,” said Grozman, a graduate of Concordia. “I pretty much learned it here. Any opportunity to get on the field or the roster I’ll take it.”</div>
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Safety Josh Bell will not play for the Stamps due to injury. Jamar Wall slides over to his spot while Ciante Evans fills in at halfback. Tommie Campbell will make his first career start at corner opposite Fred Bennett on a new-look Stampeders secondary.</div>
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For the Lions, Jeremiah Johnson will get the call at running back a year after leading the league in touchdowns. He has big shoes to fill after long-time Lion Andrew Harris departed to Winnipeg as a free agent.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-75101247267115357912016-06-25T13:38:00.001-07:002016-06-25T13:38:10.371-07:00ESKS, REDBLACKS KICK OFF SEASON WITH ANNUAL GREY CUP REMATCH<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One team stood in the way last November for the Ottawa REDBLACKS, who face more of the same on Saturday night when they kick off their 2016 season against the Edmonton Eskimos.</div>
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The annual Week 1 Grey Cup rematch takes place at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, where the Green and Gold will raise the championship banner nearly seven months after a 26-20 victory in the 103rd Grey Cup Championship over Ottawa.</div>
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For the REDBLACKS there’s no doubt it will be an evening of mixed emotions, as they themselves were just one play away from now being called the defending Grey Cup Champions.</div>
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“You never want to lose a championship,” REDBLACKS linebacker Damaso Munoz told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “But we did and it made us better and stronger as a team and as a family.”</div>
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The REDBLACKS held a fourth-quarter lead in that game until Eskimos short-yardage quarterback Jordan Lynch scored what would turn out to be the game-winning touchdown. It was a bitter end to a season that will never be forgotten in the nation’s capital, as Ottawa defied the odds and bounced back from a two-win season with a 12-6 record, an East Division title and an appearance in the Grey Cup.</div>
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But while some, like Munoz, will use that game as motivation for Saturday’s opener, others have moved on.</div>
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“It’s hard to forget, but at the same time it’s two different teams and a new season. It’s a totally different situation,” said receiver Brad Sinopoli. “It’s not motivation for our team. We’re not talking about last year, we’re just going in trying to get our first victory.”</div>
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For both Munoz and Sinopoli and everyone else, that’s what matters most – starting the season 1-0. The matchup between these emerging cross-division rivals may be the same, but much more has changed.</div>
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For starters, Jason Maas has gone from being the offensive coordinator of the Ottawa REDBLACKS to the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. Maas orchestrated the CFL’s number one offensive attack last season but was hired by the Eskimos after they lost Chris Jones and almost all of their coaching staff to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.</div>
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What’s more, the first- and third-ranked defences in the CFL (Ottawa and Edmonton respectively) are each only half intact.</div>
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REDBLACKS rookie and 22-year-old Jonathan Rose will face a tough first task as the team’s starting corner against Maas’s aggressive, up-tempo offence as Ottawa moves forward without defensive backs Brandyn Thompson and 2015 All-Star Jovon Johnson.</div>
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Aston Whiteside makes his return to the REDBLACKS’ depth chart after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, but outside of him and Zack Evans it’ll be all new faces on Defensive Coordinator Mark Nelson’s defensive line.</div>
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If pre-season is any indication, Burris and the REDBLACKS are ready to pick up exactly where they left off late last season — something they’re excited to do now that it’ll all count for real.Despite all the changes on defence, however, Ottawa’s offence will provide some semblance of continuity this season — even without Maas in the fold. Jaime Elizondo arrives from the Argos with the same offensive philosophy as Maas, while Most Outstanding Player and franchise quarterback Henry Burris will have his four 1,000-yard receivers from last season to throw to.</div>
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“Training camp is training camp,” said Burris. “You enjoy the process of coming out here and practising and getting ready for the season but you get to a point where it’s like, man, enough of this, let’s get to the real stuff.”</div>
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The Eskimos will have a few major wrinkles themselves. They’re the defending champions and the odds-on favourite to win it again this season, but to do that they’ll have to overcome some big changes on both sides of the ball.</div>
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It was Jones who helped spark the turnaround from 4-14 in 2013 to 14-4 in 2015, but now he’s gone and the Eskimos are Maas’s team. Maas brings from Ottawa the same offensive philosophy as the departed Steve McAdoo but will look to speed things up the same way he did last year when the REDBLACKS led the CFL in total offence (386.3 yards per game), passing yards (322.6 yards per game) and average time of possession (33:10).</div>
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Grey Cup MVP Mike Reilly, <a href="http://www.cfl.ca/2016/06/21/grey-cup-mvp-reilly-tops-tsns-top-50-cfl-players-2016/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">named the CFL’s top player for 2016 by TSN</a>, teams up with 2015 league-leading receiver Adarius Bowman and Most Outstanding Rookie Derel Walker to form a dynamic offensive attack, but the Eskimos know this year they’ll have a target on their back.</div>
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“It’s different for us because this is the first time we’re defending the Grey Cup in more than a decade,” Reilly told Eskimos.com. “We’ve certainly been on the other end of it and we know what it’s like to play against a championship team. Last year was Calgary. They were getting everybody’s best shot and this year, we’ll be getting everybody’s best shot.”</div>
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The biggest changes for the Eskimos come on the defensive side of the ball, where Pat Watkins and Marcell Young are the only returning starters in the defensive secondary. Aaron Grymes left for the NFL while Otha Foster joined Chris Jones in Saskatchewan. Just last week they learned they’d be without starting corner John Ojo for the season after he suffered a ruptured Achilles.</div>
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Recent free agent signing Cord Parks moves from halfback to corner while Deion Belue (halfback) and Kenny Ladler (SAM linebacker) are young players expected to take on major roles for the Eskimos this season.</div>
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Either way that unit will have its hands full against Burris and his array of game-breaking receivers.</div>
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“When the team gets to go against a quarterback like this with a strong arm, we look forward to playing against him,” said Deon Lacey, the Esks’ starting WILL linebacker. “The guys are eager to get it rolling and knowing we have the Grey Cup rematch, the guys are eager to get it done.”</div>
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“They have to be tenacious and be able to do it for 60 minutes,” added Maas, who knows this week’s opponent particularly well.</div>
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For all the off-season talk about whether the Eskimos are still the top dog in the West, the team isn’t thinking about any of that or what happened last year.</div>
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“There’s not been a thought of the past since we started training camp,” said Maas. “We all took a moment of silence to congratulate everybody and since then, it’s been ‘what have you done for me lately.’”</div>
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“This is what you play for,” added veteran middle linebacker JC Sherritt. “These are the games that count. The goal is to start fast in this league. Right out of the gate, we get one of the best offences in the league to test us, so we’re excited.”</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-85117754378926603822016-06-24T23:58:00.001-07:002016-06-24T23:58:18.307-07:00ALOUETTE AIR SHOW TAKES FLIGHT IN SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER BOMBERS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Duron Carter picked up exactly where he left off while Kevin Glenn couldn’t be stopped, as the Alouette offence took flight in a 22-14 win over the Bombers on Friday night.</div>
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It was a date Bombers fans had circled on the calendar all off-season as many new faces made their debut in Winnipeg royal blue, but in the end it was the Alouettes making the statement with the season-opening win.</div>
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Glenn threw for 332 yards and a touchdown on 30-of-42 passing in his first opening-day start as an Alouette, while Carter caught a game-high eight passes for 96 yards as the Als’ offence combined for over 400 yards in a winning effort.</div>
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Equally impressive was Montreal’s defence under Noel Thorpe, which stymied Drew Willy all night, recording five quarterback sacks and forcing one interception.</div>
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Andrew Harris was effective in his long-awaited Bomber debut, rushing for 80 yards on 13 carries (a 6.2-yard average) and chipping in six catches for 40 yards. Ryan Smith was quiet along with the rest of the Bombers’ passing attack, recording three catches for 28 yards.</div>
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Weston Dressler made three catches in the first quarter before leaving the game with an injury following a hit along the sideline. He did not return, finishing the game with 22 yards on three catches.</div>
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While the Bomber offence struggled to get in sync out of the gate, an hour-long delay due to lightning in the area put a damper on Investors Group Field early. A 41-yard field goal by Boris Bede and a safety conceded by the Bombers gave the Als a 5-0 lead through 15 minutes, while the Als’ defence continued to set the pace by holding Willy at bay.</div>
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The Alouettes continued to carry the play as Glenn was comfortable and efficient against the Bombers’ Richie Hall defence, but a dominant first half by Chris Randle that included an interception and a fumble recovery, both in the shadow of his own goal-post, kept the Alouettes out of the end zone through most of the first 30 minutes.</div>
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Still, Willy and his new acquisitions minus Dressler failed to take advantage. Glenn completed six straight passes, including a highlight-reel tip-toe catch by Carter along the sideline, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Brandon Bridge on second down to put the Als ahead 12-0.</div>
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Bad turned to worse for the Bombers when Chip Cox intercepted Willy’s pass on the very next offensive play, taking it deep into Winnipeg territory on the 30-yard return. But it wasn’t long after that Randle picked up his second turnover of the game when Sutton fumbled just in front of the Bombers’ goal line.</div>
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Medlock missed his first field goal try as a Bomber soon after, hitting the upright from 47 yards out with half a minute left in the second quarter — but down 12-0 the Bombers could go into the room at halftime knowing they dodged a bullet and were still very much in the football game.</div>
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Not lost among the big-name acquisitions by the Bombers, it was the strong-legged Medlock, also the most accurate kicker in CFL history, that gave Winnipeg some much-needed momentum early in the third quarter. Medlock drilled a 58-yard field goal right down the middle of the uprights, tying the longest field goal in Bomber history and cutting Winnipeg’s deficit to 12-3.</div>
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But any bit of momentum the Bombers mustered was quickly washed away. On the very next possession, Glenn and his hot hand found Carter over the top on the deep ball to give the Alouettes the ball inside the five. Glenn went right to S.J. Green along the left sideline in the end zone, and the veteran duo connected for six to extend Montreal’s lead to 19-3.</div>
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The Alouettes added a field goal to extend the lead to 19, while the Bombers showed signs of life midway through the fourth when Willy moved them inside the red zone. But on a third-down gamble, Willy was stuffed on a great individual effort by Bear Woods, turning over the football and putting it back in Montreal’s hands.</div>
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The Als conceded a safety to make it a 16-point game, but the Bombers were again stuffed on third down on another sack by Montreal’s defensive front, this one from Jesse Joseph.</div>
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Winnipeg made it a little bit interesting late in the fourth when a highlight-reel 63-yard grab by Darvin Adams set up a Willy to Adams connection for the Bombers’ first touchdown of the game. The Bombers converted the two-point conversion to make it an eight-point game.</div>
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Just when it seemed like the Als had the clock wound down, the Bombers made a stop and Bede pushed a rare miss to give the Bombers life. Willy took the field near his own goal line with 55 seconds left, but needing the whole field and eight more points, time ran out on the Bombers.</div>
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Last year’s sack-leader in John Bowman got off to a strong start in his 2016 campaign recording a pair of sacks while adding a team-high seven defensive tackles. But at the end of the day it was Anthony Calvillo and Jacques Chapdelaine’s offence that soared for the Alouettes as six different receivers caught three or more passes.</div>
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Ian Wild led the game with eight tackles for the Bombers while Randle finished his day with six tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Bede hit two of three field goals in the win while Medlock finished his first game as a Bomber with one successful kick on two tries.</div>
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After a slow start, Willy finished the game with 303 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception on 25-of-34 passing.</div>
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The Als will look to capitalize on their early momentum in their home opener on June 30 in a pivotal matchup with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.</div>
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For the Bombers it’ll be back to the drawing board after a frustrating home-opener. They’ll travel to Calgary in Week 2 for a Canada Day matchup with Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-4900918194478028272016-06-24T17:51:00.001-07:002016-06-24T17:51:05.010-07:00ARGOS UPDATE INJURY STATUS OF SAFETY JERMAINE GABRIEL<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Toronto Argonauts updated fans and media on the status of starting Jermaine Gabriel Friday.</div>
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“(Jermaine) is at home resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery from an injury he suffered in last night’s game,” the club said in a statement. “Gabriel received precautionary treatment on the field by the Argonauts’ medical staff which was followed by treatment and tests at a local hospital. Gabriel has been cleared from any major injuries.”</div>
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Gabriel went down after inadvertently colliding with a fellow teammate in the fourth quarter of the Argos’ season opener vs. the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-55794414860848079182016-06-24T16:14:00.001-07:002016-06-24T16:16:23.903-07:00ALS, BOMBERS READY TO TURN WORDS INTO ACTION<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
For the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes, the time has arrived to turn words into action.</div>
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The Bombers expect to win a lot of football games. The Alouettes expect to score a lot of points.</div>
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Both teams have high hopes heading into their cross-division matchup on Friday night at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field, but after busy off-seasons for two teams that failed to make the playoffs in 2015, only one will start off 1-0.</div>
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The Bombers feel like they need it badly.</div>
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“This year is a little bit more exciting,” said Jamaal Westerman in an interview with BlueBombers.com. “You’ve got the new jerseys, the fans are rocking – the first game is always something special. You always want to set the tone for your season in the first game.”</div>
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After a 5-13 season marred by injury to Drew Willy and inconsistent play on both sides of the ball, the Bombers needed a facelift and they got it; in more ways than one. Not only will they appear different as they come out of the tunnel in royal blue, but Andrew Harris, Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith will be among those wearing the new threads.</div>
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General Manager Kyle Walters spent his off-season adding a plethora of proven talent to his roster, the next phase in a Bombers building project that’s reached its most advanced stage.</div>
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Walters gave Willy a new offensive coordinator in Paul LaPolice and some explosive weapons to get the ball to. He fortified his D-line by surrounding Westerman with big men Euclid Cummings and Keith Shologan in the middle. Even the special teams got a boost with the addition of the CFL’s most accurate kicker of all time in Justin Medlock.</div>
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Against another team looking to turn over a new leaf in 2016, now is the time for the Bombers to justify all the hype.</div>
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“That’s the plan, to go out there and win,” said Head Coach Mike O’Shea. “For the fans. For the city. These are all important things that I know on the business side we all think about, and the players themselves, they recognize the importance of our fan base and they respect that.</div>
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“Winning’s always good for everybody. “</div>
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For the Bombers that starts on the offensive side of the ball, an area of deficiency last season in Winnipeg. They didn’t set a franchise record for sacks like in 2014 but still ranked second-last in the department last season, while the offence ranked dead last in the CFL with 291 yards per game.</div>
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Winnipeg native Harris will make his Bombers debut after being listed as questionable following a mid-week injury, while Willy will get to test out his new-look offence from LaPolice and throw to his speedy new receivers in Dressler and Smith for the first time.</div>
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Yet while the Bombers will look to improve substantially on the offensive side of the ball, the key to their success may come on defence. Richie Hall returns as his second season as the defensive coordinator and has a veteran group to work with this season after coaching the league’s second-worst ranked defence in 2015.Getting the ball out quick against an Alouettes defensive front that includes last year’s sack leader John Bowman will be key for that unit, which wants to prove it can be far more productive than a season ago.</div>
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Hall and Westerman, both in their second season as Bombers, expect marked improvement with another year in the system.</div>
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“Instead of starting off at ground zero, we’re starting off halfway up,” said Hall. “It’s shown in our preparation and how they’ve carried themselves in film sessions.”</div>
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Added Westerman: “A lot of guys are in our second year in the defence which should allow us to communicate better, play a little faster and just have a better understanding of our strengths and our weaknesses.”</div>
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Westerman said the Alouettes are a well-rounded team with talent and depth in all three phases, but he and Hall face an unenviable task in Week 1 of trying to shut down veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn and his star-powered receiving corps.</div>
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Not everyone is giving the Alouettes a chance to win the East but they’ve got a deep roster and one difference between the Als this year and in every season since Anthony Calvillo retired is they’ve got a veteran starter.</div>
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Glenn enters his 16th season and has now had a full off-season under his belt with the team while learning Offensive Coordinator Calvillo’s brand new offence.</div>
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“Whenever you have an experienced quarterback it makes things a lot smoother and you’re able to pick up things a lot faster,” said Calvillo in an interview with MontrealAlouettes.com, who will work closely with another offensive guru in Jacques Chapdelaine.</div>
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“I’m excited that he’s here and he’s going to be able to help us go out there and win.”</div>
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The Alouettes have gone through changes on both sides of the ball after their worst season since returning to the league. They missed the playoffs for the first time and possessed the CFL’s third-worst offence.</div>
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The defence wasn’t a lot better (fifth in the league with 340.6 yards per game) and also made changes. Jovon Johnson was an all-star in 2015 with the REDBLACKS and signed with the Als to play defensive halfback. Vaughn Martin joined the Alouettes from the NFL to play defensive tackle. And just this past week, the Aouettes released two veteran defensive backs in Mitchell White and Dominique Ellis.</div>
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The heart of that defence will be the big men up front.</div>
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<img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="wp-image-338880 size-large" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/andrew-harris-2016-3-1600x902.jpg" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/andrew-harris-2016-3-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/andrew-harris-2016-3-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/andrew-harris-2016-3-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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“Alan-Michael Cash could be the most underrated player in the league,” said Bowman. “Gabriel Knapton, who has been very consistent for the past two years and Aaron Lavarias, who is an excellent replacement at defensive end.”</div>
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In the end, for the Als it all comes down to their offence. No team in the CFL can boast a trio of receivers like S.J. Green, Kenny Stafford and Duron Carter, and if Glenn can get them the ball consistently the Alouettes will be difficult to stop. Meanwhile, Tyrell Sutton was last season’s CFL rushing king.</div>
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You know Noel Thorpe will put out a competitive defence, but can the Alouettes score enough points this season? If they can, and Green believes they will, the Alouettes could sneak up on a lot of teams this season.</div>
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“I believe we will score a lot of points this season,” predicted Green. “We have players who can split opposing defenses and our quarterbacks are excellent at throwing the ball.</div>
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“It will be a very good season – we have high expectations.”</div>
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So does every other team that’s undefeated. On Saturday, one of these teams will get the season started off right. Somewhere there will be a sigh of relief.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-37905117055724499052016-06-24T13:18:00.001-07:002016-06-24T13:18:35.919-07:00TICATS STEAL THE THUNDER; TAKE DOWN ARGOS IN BMO FIELD OPENER<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Argos fans will never forget the first game they played at BMO Field, but on Thursday night in Toronto it was for all the wrong reasons.</div>
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Simoni Lawrence recovered a fumble and scored on a pick-six while former Argonaut Chad Owens put the game away in the fourth, giving the Ticats a 42-20 victory in front of 24, 812 during the first regular season game at BMO Field.</div>
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Jeremiah Masoli was lights out for the Ticats, completing 27 of 37 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns including 15 straight completions. On the other side of the stick, Argos pivot Ricky Ray was given no time to get comfortable as the Ticats’ front seven seemed to win all of the battles.</div>
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Ray finished with 282 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns thrown to Vidal Hazelton on 26-of-36 passing but was sacked five times, fumbled once and also threw an interception. Lawrence was the biggest source of the Argos’ offensive frustrations, accumulating two sacks, a fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown to go with six tackles.</div>
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In the end it was the Ticats getting the picture perfect start to their CFL season, kicking things off with a 1-0 start to their 2016 campaign despite not having quarterback Zach Collaros and franchise defensive tackle Ted Laurent on the field.</div>
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On a day the Argos and their fans waited a very along time for, past Argo greats Rocket Ismail, Joe Theismann, Damon Allen and Pinball Clemons were introduced before the game and Jacob Hoggard of Hedley sang the national anthem.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">But the pre-game sizzle fizzled fast for the home team. The Ticats took the early edge in field position and took a 2-0 lead on a conceded safety, the very first points of the 2016 CFL season. The field position trade-off was quickly rendered pointless for the Argos, a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty giving the Ticats the ball in Argo territory within striking distance once again.</span><br />
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On the ensuing second-and-10, Masoli took a shot at the end zone for the wily veteran Andy Fantuz, who hauled in the deflection by Argos defensive back Isiah Green to score the first ever touchdown at BMO Field. The 39-yard score put the Ticats out in front 9-0, giving them full momentum and hushing the Argos faithful.</div>
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Argos fans soon found out the visitors were not going to be polite house guests. The defence kept Ray scrambling through the first half, then after a sack on second down Lirim Hajrullahu’s punt was blocked and recovered deep in Argo territory.</div>
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Maher added two more field goals before halftime for the Ticats to go up 18-0, while the Boatmen took back some of the momentum with a pair of Hajrullahu field goals, including one from 52 yards on the final play of the first half.</div>
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With a chance to erase what looked like a disastrous first half, Ray completed back to back passes to Hazelton and Miles to move the Argos into Ticat territory. But it was all wiped away soon after, when Ray was hit from behind and lost control of the ball. Lawrence recovered the fumble to end the drive.</div>
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The Argos made a quick stop and got in position for a 52-yard field goal by Hajrullahu, cutting the deficit to 18-6 at halftime, but in the second half any momentum was quickly extinguished. Lawrence continued what had quickly become a career night, intercepting a deflected pass and returning it 36 yards for six points the other way, putting the Ticats ahead 25-6.</div>
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Close to reaching the point of no return, the Argos had an answer. Getting more and more comfortable as the night progressed, the 36-year-old Ray completed five straight passes, including two to Kenny Shaw and two to Tori Gurley. Scott Milanovich challenged for pass-interference on an incomplete pass to extend the drive, and on the very next play Ray found Hazelton for the one-yard touchdown to get the fans out of their seats.</div>
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Before they could even sit down, the Argo offence was trotting back on the field. Banks fumbled the ensuing return and Ray went right back on the field to connect with Hazelton again from 10 yards out.</div>
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Suddenly BMO Field was alive and so were the Argos, now trailing the Ticats 25-20 in the third quarter.</div>
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Facing some urgency for the first time all night, though, Kent Austin’s club mounted a much-needed response. It started with a 32-yard pickup by a wide open Luke Tasker and finished as quickly as it started, with Banks creating space against Akwasi Owusu-Ansah in the back of the end zone and restoring the Ticats’ two-score lead.</div>
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The Argos showed some life with a 38-yard completion to Shaw but were stopped again by the Ticats’ dominant pass rush on a sack against Ray. Pinned deep in their own end, the Ticats needed to move the football and milk the clock.</div>
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They did that, starting with a 19-yard pass to Owens then slowly but steadily moving up the field. Masoli completed nine straight passes, book-ending the drive with a touchdown pass to Owens to put the game on ice and give the Ticats a 39-20 lead with just over seven minutes left.</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Shaw led the game with seven catches for 109 yards while Brandon Whitaker found little room to run, finishing his night with two yards on three carries to go with three catches.</span></div>
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Fantuz had a big night for the Ticats after signing a contract extension in the off-season, tallying up 99 yards and a touchdown in the win, including the first at BMO Field. C.J. Gable carried the ball nine times for 29 yards and did not catch a pass.</div>
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Maher connected on all four of his field goal tries while Hajrullahu was a perfect two-for-two.</div>
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Argos left tackle Josh Bourke left the game late in the first half, while safety Jermaine Gabriel needed to be stretchered off with five minutes left in the game.</div>
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The Ticats will carry their momentum into their home-opener against the BC Lions in a Canada Day showdown July 1. The Argos, meanwhile, are on the road for their next two, starting with a matchup in Regina against Chris Jones and the Riders on June 30.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-42046580881755352732016-06-23T15:51:00.001-07:002016-06-23T15:51:22.369-07:00ARGOS, TICATS KICK OFF 2016 SEASON AT BMO FIELD<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Treat it like any other week and let the goosebumps hit you the night before – or, if you can hold them off, the morning of.</div>
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Argos defensive end Ricky Foley probably isn’t the only one thinking that way heading into Thursday night’s season-opening tilt with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at BMO Field. After all, for the Argos it’s more than just the start of a new season or a clash with a rival – it’s a new beginning.</div>
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“It’s like a playoff game for me, to be honest with you,” Foley told Argonauts.ca. “I know how big it is for this city, how big it is for this organization.”</div>
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Head Coach Scott Milanovich still hasn’t fully come to terms with it.</div>
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“There’s just a lot of excitement right now for the guys,” the Argos’ fifth-year head coach added. “I walk through that locker-room and it still seems too good to be true for us from some of the things we’ve had to deal with.</div>
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“It’s exciting watching them get some of the things that they deserve.”</div>
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After years of settling for less, Thursday’s season-opener at newly-renovated BMO Field has been a long time coming for the Argos. An outdoor venue on the Lakeshore; brand new locker-rooms; tailgating outside – football the way it’s meant to be enjoyed whether you’re a fan or a player.</div>
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It starts with a rivalry clash against the Ticats, the same team that eliminated the Argos late last year in the Eastern Semi-Final at Tim Hortons Field. For two teams expected to contend for an East Division title, Thursday’s matchup means as much on the field as it does off it.</div>
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The Argos enter the season with plenty of reason for optimism, not just for their new setting. It starts with who’s under centre. Getting the start for the Argos is one of the CFL’s all-time most accurate passers in Ricky Ray, who’s worked closely with throwing guru Tom House to get his shoulder back in shape.</div>
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By all accounts the veteran pivot is looking far from old Ray but instead the Ray of old.</div>
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“I’m feeling really good,” said Ray. “I haven’t been super healthy here of late and coming into this camp I felt really good and had no problems.</div>
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“I’m feeling great physically. I just want to get out there and play a little bit more, get some hits, and get back into the football mode.”</div>
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He also gets some help in front of him, where perennial all-star tackle Josh Bourke joined the Argos from Montreal along with former fourth overall pick and versatile guard/centre Corey Watman from the Riders.Ray will lead an offence that was rebuilt last season with an assortment of first- or second-year CFL receivers, from the towering Tori Gurley who led the CFL with 10 touchdown receptions to the athletic Vidal Hazelton.</div>
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While Ray and the Argos hope continuity will help them improve an offence that ranked sixth overall last season, the worst of Milanovich’s tenure as Argos head coach, the biggest improvement may come on the defensive side of the ball.</div>
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One of the CFL’s top defensive minds in Rich Stubler came to the Argos from Calgary, while the Argos have also recruited a few former Ticats in Justin Hickman, Bryan Hall and Brian Bulcke. Bulcke won’t play in Thursday’s game as he’s been placed on the six-game injured list, but the Ticats should expect a different-looking Argo defence than the one they’ve grown accustomed to facing.</div>
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“I’ve played in this league a while, I’ve always respected [Stubler] as one of the better coordinators,” said Ticats tackle Brian Simmons. “It’s not going to be the typical Toronto D we’ve seen in the past.</div>
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“I think they’re going to be very active, they’re going to try to do things to confuse us with their looks and their fronts,” he added. “We’re prepared for it and honestly I’m just ready to compete.”</div>
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Not lost on the Argos is the importance of starting off this new era on the right foot. With so many extra eyes, the Boatmen hope to capitalize early and get momentum on their side.</div>
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“This is something we can hold strong and not lose at home, so it’s a big thing for us,” said Hazelton. “It’s a big deal. We can’t wait to get out there and perform in front of our crowd.”</div>
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Added Milanovich: “We’re all aware of the importance of the new beginning and the stadium and getting off on the right foot with our fans. We’re really anticipating a great new start for us.”</div>
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<img alt="Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca" class="wp-image-342546 size-large" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hazelton_Davis_2016_q-1600x902.jpg" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hazelton_Davis_2016_q-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hazelton_Davis_2016_q-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Hazelton_Davis_2016_q-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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The Ticats are also quite aware of the situation and would love nothing more than to play spoiler against their most hated rivals. They’ve had the Argos’ number over recent years, last season taking all four head-to-head matchups including the Eastern Semi-Final.</div>
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Some key faces are out of the fray for Thursday’s matchup for the Ticats, from safety Craig Butler (out for the season) and defensive tackle Ted Laurent (placed on the one-game) to quarterback Zach Collaros, who continues to recover from the torn ACL that ended his 2015 season.</div>
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On the offensive side of the ball, Jeremiah Masoli gets the start after earning the job in pre-season over 24-year-old Jeff Mathews. Masoli picked up where he left off in last year’s Eastern Final, throwing for 179 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-24 passing in two pre-season games.</div>
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Masoli will play an important role for the Ticats in his first career opening-day start.</div>
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“I’m very excited,” Masoli told Ticats.ca. “I’m just honoured to be able to share the field with these guys and represent the city and give it my all.”</div>
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“It’s going to be a great challenge for our team. First opening day, you know they’re going to be revved up and ready to go for their first game in their new stadium but it’s nothing but added fuel for our fire.”</div>
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While Masoli will face some familiar foes in former teammates Hall and Hickman on the Argos’ D-line, he’ll be throwing the football to one of the biggest Ticats villains in recent memory. Chad Owens is the biggest name among many to switch sides in the Toronto-Hamilton rivalry and will no doubt have a chip on his shoulder after leaving the Argos in the off-season.</div>
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“This is the closest you’re going to get to a playoff game,” Owens said. “Even though it’s Week 1, it’s probably going to feel like a playoff game. It’s going to be a playoff-type atmosphere and that’s just what it is.</div>
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“It’s a big-time rivalry, the fans get into it. We know what’s at stake.”</div>
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Owens joins other dynamic Ticats receivers Tiquan Underwood, Luke Tasker and Brandon Banks, while the biggest focus in Hamilton may be on the defence. Laurent’s absence leaves a big hole on the D-line, while Geoff Tisdale is the Ticats’ starting boundary cornerback after signing with the team only this week.</div>
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Free agent add John Chick will start at the end and should be a force for the Ticats, but all in all Defensive Coordinator Orlondo Steinauer has his work cut out for him with many new faces in the lineup.</div>
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“They’re working hard,” said Steinauer. “They’re putting in the time and effort. They’re watching film. They’re really working hard to give ourselves the best opportunity to win the football game and that’s all you can really ask for.”<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="pickem" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></div>
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“It’s a long season. This is an important start for us. We’re excited for it.”</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-43950651117941219402016-06-18T21:44:00.001-07:002016-06-18T21:44:43.358-07:00ESKS CLOSE OUT PRE-SEASON WITH 25-11 VICTORY OVER RIDERS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
So far so good for Jason Maas and the Eskimos; at least by pre-season standards. The new Edmonton sideline boss helped guide his team to another exhibition win, a 25-11 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Saturday at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.</div>
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With 122 yards and an 85-yard touchdown on the day, Joe McKnight was the story for the Eskimos as he powered the Esks ground attack. he averaged over 12 yards per carry on the afternoon.</div>
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Edmonton came out with the guns blazing with a three play 65-yard touchdown drive in which the big play was a Mike Reilly to Derel Walker 59-yard pitch and catch. Chris Getzlaf completed the drive with a five yard catch in the back of the end zone for the early 7-0 lead.</div>
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After an Eskimo punt-single made it 8-0, the Riders bent but didn’t break when an 11-play, 89-yard Eskimos drive was snuffed out on 3<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">rd</span> and goal by a Johnny Dixon tackle of an Adarius Bowman run at the one-yard line.</div>
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A Sean Whyte field goal pushed the Edmonton lead to 11-0 after the first quarter.</div>
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The second quarter saw the Riders pick up the first interception of the game when Kevin Francis picked Thomas DeMarco taking it into Eskimos territory. That drive was snuffed out when Cord Parks intercepted Darian Durant deep in Edmonton territory to snuff out the drive.</div>
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Another punt single pushed the Edmonton lead to 12-0 when the Riders offence kicked it in gear. An eight play, 75-yard drive was capped with a John Chiles 5 yard run and the Riders were in the game trailing 12-8.</div>
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The first half scoring was finished with an 80-yard Tyler Crapigna kick-off single and at the half it was Edmonton leading 12-8.</div>
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Philip Simms began the second half as the Riders quarterback, and received a little help with a Samuel Eguavoen interception taken back to his own 46-yard line. Simms drove the ball deep into Edmonton territory when the Eskimos Josh Woodman picked the CFL rookie in the end zone to kill the Rider drive.</div>
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The ensuing drive was a one and done when McKnight took the hand-off and went 85 yards for the touchdown to extend the Edmonton lead to 19-8.</div>
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Sean Whyte had himself a game, nailing a couple more field goals putting Edmonton up for good 25-8.</div>
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Rookie Rider kicker, Quinn Van Gylyswyk came in and drilled a 46-yard field goal to get the Green and White a little closer making the final 25-11 Edmonton.</div>
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<img alt="Darian_Durant_2016_PS_1" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-341340" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Darian_Durant_2016_PS_1-800x451.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Darian_Durant_2016_PS_1-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Darian_Durant_2016_PS_1-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Darian_Durant_2016_PS_1-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
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The Eskimos finish the preseason undefeated at 2-0 while the Riders go winless in the preseason for the second year in a row (0-2).</div>
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After playing the first two drives, Eskimos quarterback, Mike Reilly took a seat with Thomas DeMarco and Jordan Lynch split time the rest of the game. On the Rider side of the football, Darian Durant played the full first half, and after Philip Simms played the first two series in the second half, B.J. Coleman entered the football game with Brett Smith cleaning things up late in the fourth quarter.</div>
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Edmonton will open up the 2016 CFL season at home with a Grey Cup rematch. The Ottawa REDBLACKS will pay a visit to The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton next Saturday night. </div>
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The Riders will now enjoy a rare week-one bye with their Farewell Season to Mosaic Stadium kicking off Thursday, June 30<span style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span> at 8pm hosting the Toronto Argos. </div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-12372520376507042212016-06-18T12:48:00.000-07:002016-06-18T12:48:10.586-07:00ESKS, RIDERS FACE FINAL LITMUS TEST AS JONES RETURNS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It may only be exhibition play but the off-season’s biggest story is about to have another small but note-worthy chapter entered what has been an intriguing tale involving Chris Jones, the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.</div>
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Jones will make his return to Edmonton for the first time since winning a Grey Cup and then taking a job in Saskatchewan shortly thereafter.</div>
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The South Pittsburgh, Tennessee native brings his Riders squad to Edmonton for a 4pm ET start against the Esks as the two teams prepare for the kickoff of the regular season next week.</div>
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The return is significant to fans and media but if it holds any for Jones himself, he sure isn’t leading on as such.</div>
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“I have thought more about what we need to do as a football team than more so than coming back (to Edmonton),” he told reporters Friday afternoon. “It was a good two-year ride here but like anything else, I have a job to do and that is where my focus is.”</div>
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Jones’ departure was well-documented both in his decision to head to a division rival and do so with the Grey Cup victory less than a week old. That said, despite the fact he brought Edmonton its first championship in a decade, he isn’t betting on a overly-positive reception from the Commonwealth faithful.</div>
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“I am sure it will be typical for when you leave somewhere; it won’t be the friendliest of welcomes I am sure,” he continued with a grin.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cfl.ca/2016/06/16/long-read-will-james-franklin-next-big-thing/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="james-franklin-2016-5" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-340428" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/james-franklin-2016-5-800x451.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/james-franklin-2016-5-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/james-franklin-2016-5-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/james-franklin-2016-5-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
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Less worried about a reception, Jones is trying to sift through a roster that has one more chance to show its potential; one with significant changes and new faces.</div>
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“We had a rebuild in Toronto and a rebuild in Calgary where there were guys where we had a lot of guys that had never worked together so it is not uncharted territory,” Jones explained. “Its been a good training camp,very fast and very competitive. Especially defensively there are a lot of new faces so we have a lot of work to do.”</div>
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On the other sideline is Jason Maas who is trying to fill Jones’ shoes while keeping his team focused on preperation and the start of the games that count in the standings.</div>
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Getting out of Saturday’s contest healthy is one priority but so too is ensuring that game plans are executed and focus it at a premium.</div>
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“This game is all about getting ready for Ottawa,” Maas said bluntly. “It is a tune up for us and we have to be hitting on all cylinders when we get out there. I don’t want anyone thinking about anything except the play they are in.”</div>
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Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly was used sparingly last week in a 23-13 pre-season win over the Calgary Stampeders and says, for everyone on the team, this is the last opportunity to sharpen up before they need to start defending their championship crown.</div>
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“It’s another dry run before the regular season starts but any reps we can have against an opponent live is a great opportunity,” Reilly said.</div>
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Edmonton will indeed turn their focus to Ottawa immediately following Saturday’s contest but the Riders have a Week 1 bye giving them an opportunity to build some much-needed chemistry on a roster that has been overhauled.</div>
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Kickoff is at 4pm ET Saturday and can be followed live on CFL.ca via CFL Game Tracker.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-76933815367906672222016-06-18T09:36:00.000-07:002016-06-18T09:36:32.025-07:00STAMPS TOP LIONS AS THEY WRAP PRE-SEASON ACTION<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
In their final tune-up before Week 1, the Calgary Stampeders evened their pre-season record at 1-1 with a 31-21 win over the Lions at BC Place on Friday night.</div>
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A touchdown pass from both Bo Levi Mitchell and Drew Tate was enough to give the visitors the edge as they put in their final tune up before they open the season against the same opponent in the same venue a week from now.</div>
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BC managed to move the chains on their first two plays from scrimmage as the home side marched down the field in short order. Jonathon Jennings then connected with Brian Burnham on a 21-yard touchdown toss before Emmanuel Arceneaux put BC up 8-0 early on following the two-point convert.</div>
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When the defence returned to the field, a Frank Beltre sack forced a punt from Richie Leone, which was returned 50 yards by Roy Finch of the Stamps.</div>
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On the ensuing drive, the Stampeders’ Jerome Messam rumbled up the middle for a lengthy pickup before receiving a pass out of the backfield for an 11-yard major. Mitchell would connect with Marquay McDaniel on the following two-point attempt to tie the game at 11-11.</div>
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Greg Wilson’s second-down reception over the middle kept Calgary’s next possession alive, as did an eventual third-down sneak from Canadian pivot Andrew Buckley. The pair of conversions enabled Paredes to trot on for a 52-yard field goal try and the Venezuelan native split the uprights for a three-point advantage.</div>
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Just as the second stanza came to a close, Leone was good from 32 yards out, evening up the scoreboard as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms.</div>
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Taking over for Mitchell to begin the third was Tate, who orchestrated an encouraging drive before throwing an interception in the end zone as the pass found the hands of T.J. Lee instead of DaVaris Daniels.</div>
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The Lions also substituted for their backup signal caller to start the second half, although Travis Lulay committed a fumble on his initial drop-back. The loose ball was recovered by Ja’Gared Davis and culminated in a 26-yard kick from Paredes to reclaim the lead.</div>
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A 64-yard catch-and-run by Devonn Brown soon after set up the Leos at Calgary’s two-yard line. Anthony Allen busted through for the subsequent score to put BC ahead by four.</div>
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Finding space in the back of the end zone at the conclusion of the third frame was Bakari Grant. The former Hamilton Tiger-Cat helped polish off an 11-play series that took 5:27 off the clock.</div>
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<img alt="Jonathon_Jennings_2016_PS_2" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-341175" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Jonathon_Jennings_2016_PS_2-800x451.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Jonathon_Jennings_2016_PS_2-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Jonathon_Jennings_2016_PS_2-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Jonathon_Jennings_2016_PS_2-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Responding in swift fashion was the combination of Lulay and Stephen Adekolu with the two hooking up for a 45-yard passing play. It then went from bad to worse for the Stamps when Uriah Grant extended BC’s drive upon being flagged for roughing the passer. But the defence ended up limiting the damage, holding the Lions to a 20-yard field goal.</div>
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Recent signee G.J. Kinne then took reps under centre for the Stampeders, but the QB promptly lost control of the football for the team’s first turnover of the evening.</div>
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Former Washington Huskie Keith Price would turn it right back over to the visitors when Ciante Evans picked off the CFL rookie. That preceded an impressive snag from Josh Harper and a Paredes field goal from 36 yards out.</div>
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Before Greg McGee took over for Price, Jamal Nixon’s punt return to just shy of midfield – coupled with Lache Seastrunk’s 10-yard rushing score – secured the win for the Stamps.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-32662704565132290452016-06-18T07:28:00.001-07:002016-06-18T07:28:17.047-07:00ALS HOLD OFF ARGOS AS THEY READY FOR REGULAR SEASON<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A first half touchdown by Duron Carter and a second half major by BJ Cunningham gave the Alouettes all they needed as they topped the Toronto Argonauts 22-15 Friday night in Montreal as their pre-season schedule came to a close.</div>
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The two teams entered their final litmus tests with contradicting philosophies under centre. The Alouettes going with projected opening day starter Kevin Glenn and the Argos sitting Ricky Ray and putting the ball in the hands of Logan Kilgore.</div>
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The Argos playing with their season opener just six days away kept the majority of the starters at home, electing to evaluate depth after a pre-season win over Hamilton last week at BMO Field.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Kilgore is</span><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><a href="http://www.cfl.ca/games/2268/hamilton-tiger-cats-vs-toronto-argonauts/#preview" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;">coming off an impressive showing last week </a><span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">where he completed 8 of 13 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter of work.</span><br />
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Kilgore <a href="http://www.cfl.ca/2016/06/15/argos-peg-kilgore-as-rays-backup/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;">was officially named Ray’s backup</a> after Ottawa signed Trevor Harris in the off-season and the team parted ways with Adrian McPherson earlier in the week. The Middle Tennessee State grad connected with rookie WR Marketih Ambles on a corner route for a 40-yard gain on his first possession and set up the game’s first score off a Lirim Hajrullahu 42-yard boot.</div>
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The Als missed two field goals, from 58 and 48-yards out and only netted a single out of the field position and the Argos led 3-1 as the second quarter began.</div>
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While the Argos switched to Cody Fajardo in the second quarter, the Als stuck with Glenn and despite a shaky start, got into a groove midway through the second frame.</div>
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Glenn stepped into a pass and delivered it right into the waiting arms of receiver Carter who was in behind coverage. Carter, who has returned to the Als after a spectacular 2014 season, and raced 78 yards untouched for the games first major and an 8-3 Montreal lead with 6:35 before halftime.</div>
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Both Carter and Glenn would be shut down for the evening after the touchdown and Rakeem Cato entered to close out the second half. Glenn finished 7 of 14 for 109 yards and the major.</div>
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Cato wasted no time getting comfortable, cutting on a would-be tackler on a QB draw and racing 31 yards to put the Alouettes inside the Toronto 10 yard line. Three plays later, former Clemson Tigers pivot Tajh Boyd plunged in from one yard out to increase the lead to 15-3 heading into halftime.</div>
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The majority of the third quarter went by without incident with Mitchell Gale taking over the controls of the Argos offence and the Alouettes turning to Vernon Adams with four minutes left in the frame. Adams came to the Alouettes with no shortage of hype after being acquired for a first round pick. The Alouettes are hoping that he can mimic his success at Oregon where he passed for 2,643 yards and 26 touchdowns in his final season as a Duck.</div>
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His start was rocky to say the least – on his second play from scrimmage, a botched snap couldn’t be corralled and an Adams’ fumble quickly turned into six the other way when Argos rookie DB Josh Mitchell scooped up the loose ball and raced 57-yard down the sideline for a touchdown to close the gap to 15-9.</div>
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Adams would settle in with a little help from a Billy Parker interception that set the Alouettes up just outside the Argos’ redzone. Adams capitalize by scrambling right and tossing a 16-yard touchstone pass to sophomore receiver Cunningham to put the Montreal lead at 22-9 as the fourth quarter began.</div>
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Adams’ short stint was done there as Boyd took over the Als offence.</div>
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Boyd’s first drive stalled and his second ended prematurely when newcomer Aaron Berry picked off a pass and returned it to the Montreal 38 yard line. Gale completed a pass before handing off to RB Edwin Baker who punched in a 3-yard score to cut the Montreal advantage to 7 with just under eight minutes remaining.</div>
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The Argonauts will open the 2016 CFL schedule as they officially move into their new home at BMO Field, hosting the rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Meanwhile, the Alouettes will open the season in Winnipeg.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-82365698893136916072016-06-18T01:33:00.001-07:002016-06-18T01:33:40.403-07:00TICATS CLOSE OUT PRE-SEASON WITH CONVINCING WIN OVER REDBLACKS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A strong first quarter set the tone on Friday night for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who never looked back en route to a convincing 42-25 win over the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS in the pre-season finale for both teams.</div>
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The Ticats were buoyed by strong first-half performances from a trio of starters; quarterback Jeremiah Masoli put in a confident 9-for-15, 136-yard performance under centre, slotback Chad Owens terrorized the Ottawa secondary, and running back C.J. Gable looked sharp in limited reps.</div>
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Hamilton rushed out to a 7-0 lead courtesy of an efficient drive led by Masoli and Gable. After taking a Kendall Montgomery sack on the game’s first play from scrimmage, Masoli drove the Tiger-Cats into REDBLACKS territory, setting up a pair of Gable runs which took the Tabbies into the end zone.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">REDBLACKS starting quarterback Danny O’Brien threw an unlucky interception on just his third attempt of the night. O’Brien’s pass over the middle, intended for Travis Greene, bounced off the Ottawa running back’s hands and into those of Hamilton linebacker Rico Murray.</span><br />
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Chris Milo drilled a 25-yard field goal later in the first quarter to get Ottawa on the board and cut his team’s deficit to 7-3.</div>
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Masoli went right back to work on the ensuing drive, hooking up with Chad Owens twice — the second time in the end zone — for 66 yards and a touchdown to stretch the hosts’ lead to 14-3.</div>
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Hamilton opened the second quarter with a statement play on special teams, as Quinton Pointer took a pitch on a third-down fake punt and motored 52 yards to the end zone. After Cody Mandell missed the PAT, the Ticats led 20-3.</div>
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A couple of singles on a missed 49-yard field goal and a punt through the end zone for Cody Mandell then stretched Hamilton’s lead to 22-3.</div>
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Hamilton closed out the second quarter the way it began with another special-teams touchdown.</div>
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Capitalizing on a muffed punt by Ottawa return man Dior Mathis, Ticats defensive back Trey Wolfe swooped in, recovered the loose ball, took it to the house and celebrated in style with an end zone backflip. Mandell missed another PAT, and Hamilton’s lead sat at 28-3.</div>
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A 43-yard Chris Milo field goal wrapped up the first-half scoring; Hamilton’s stars and special teams had staked them out to a comfortable lead on home turf against a young Ottawa squad.</div>
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The game slowed down with substitutions en masse in the second half; the REDBLACKS picked up their first touchdown halfway through the third quarter on a 1-yard Travis Greene run, then Brent Maher nailed a 47-yard field goal for the Ticats, who led 31-14 after three quarters.</div>
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Backup quarterback Jeff Matthews began the fourth quarter by plunging in for a touchdown from the 1-yard line on the second play of the quarter. Maher hit the PAT to push Hamilton’s lead to 38-14.</div>
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With all kinds of subs into the game in both uniforms and on both sides of the ball, REDBLACKS starting quarterback Danny O’Brien returned to the game, drove the length of the field, and finished off a tidy 11-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. Ottawa completed the ensuing two-point convert to cut its deficit to 38-22.</div>
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Hamilton’s lead grew to 41-22 on a 44-yard field goal from Brett Maher, who later tallied a single on a 62-yard field goal attempt.</div>
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Chris Milo added a late 26-yard field goal to round out the night’s scoring.</div>
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Notable defensive performances for Hamilton included Travis Lee’s team-high six tackles and Jonathan Langa’s two interceptions. Doug Moss paced the REDBLACKS defence with five tackles.</div>
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The battle between Danny O’Brien and Brock Jensen for the third-string quarterback job was a storyline for Ottawa entering Friday’s game. Neither truly shone in the defeat, nor did either look out of place; O’Brien was 17-of-20 for 151 yards and threw an interception, while Jensen was 13-of-21 for 146 yards and tossed two interceptions.</div>
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The Ticats and REDBLACKS will both hit the road to open the 2016 CFL regular season; Hamilton will travel up the highway to Toronto and face the Argonauts at BMO Field on Thursday night (7:30 p.m. ET), while Ottawa will trek to Edmonton for a Saturday-night date with the Eskimos (7 p.m. ET).</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-90545608263980808262016-06-17T11:53:00.000-07:002016-06-17T11:53:36.162-07:00LIONS LOOK TO SEND STAMPS A MESSAGE IN PRE-SEASON FINALE<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders will try and show each other as little as possible on Friday night, as they finish off pre-season with a preview of their Week 1 matchup at BC Place.</div>
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It’s not often you face the same squad in the final exhibition game and Week 1 of the regular season, but that’s the scenario these West Division foes are facing a week before their June 25 matchup when they kick things off for real.</div>
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Still, while the usual questions come up about schemes and not wanting to reveal any secrets, Lions receiver Marco Iannuzzi sees it as less of a dilemma than an opportunity.</div>
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“We have to send a message to Calgary,” Iannuzzi told BCLions.com. “We want to show them we’ve had a productive camp and that we’re here to smash heads.”</div>
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The Lions and Head Coach and General Manager Wally Buono maintain camp has been very productive thus far, but there’s still work to be done. That’s especially the case for a few positions in particular, where Buono must figure out who’s going to start on top of who will make his 46-man roster when cut-down day arrives Sunday.</div>
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Jonathon Jennings and Travis Lulay will get the bulk of the playing time at quarterback, Buono acknowledged going into Friday’s game, but while Jennings is the projected regular season starter, the biggest question on either side of the ball for BC comes at the running back position.</div>
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Former Roughrider Anthony Allen will dress after missing the Lions’ pre-season-opening 28-16 win over Saskatchewan, meaning he’ll get the chance to battle with fellow rushers Jeremiah Johnson and rookie J.C. Coleman for the starting job.</div>
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“I’m just trying to show that I am consistent and can take what I do on the practice field and take that to the game field and help the team out,” said Allen.</div>
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The third-year veteran who rushed for 930 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season in 2014 finds himself playing catch-up after missing some time and watching his closest competitor Johnson average 7.5 yards per carry last weekend.</div>
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But as he returns from a knee injury, Allen says he’s just happy to have a chance and won’t put any extra pressure on himself.</div>
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“When you put extra pressure on yourself then you’re trying to overcompensate,” said Allen. “I have never worn orange before so it’s definitely exciting to wear a new colour. I’m so excited that I hope I don’t pull a hamstring trying to run so fast.”</div>
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The diminutive speedster Coleman is the dark horse in the competition and has also put in a strong camp so far, including a strong pre-season effort with 32 yards on seven carries.</div>
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While all eyes will be on the running backs, Buono will continue to keep a close eye on his re-structured O-line. The Lions moved some pieces around this training camp, including franchise tackle Jovan Olafioye to the left side where he’ll protect either Jennings or Lulay’s blindside.</div>
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Cody Husband, meanwhile, continues to take reps at centre, while 2016 fifth overall pick Charles Vaillancourt is listed as the starting right guard.</div>
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“Playing different positions is something I’ve always had to do,” said Husband, previously a guard. “It’s just about making sure I know the offence more than I usually do.</div>
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“It’s been nice because we’ve had mostly the same guys throughout the whole camp so we’ve been able to mesh and learn together.”</div>
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The Lions will line up almost all of their projected Week 1 starters and so will the visiting Stampeders, meaning for at least a short time Friday’s matchup will closely resemble the following week’s affair. How long they’ll remain in the game is another question, but if the Stampeders take the same approach as last week then their starters won’t play long.</div>
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The Stamps turned the ball over six times and failed to score an offensive touchdown in a 23-13 loss to the Eskimos last weekend at McMahon Stadium, but the result isn’t indicative of how Calgary’s starters played.</div>
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Bo Levi Mitchell played only one drive and went 5-of-6 through the air for 56 yards, showing good chemistry with Joe West and capping the drive off with one of two Rene Paredes field goals on the night.</div>
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Head Coach Dave Dickenson said the effort was strong but there were too many mistakes from the Stampeders’ group as a whole, but it was no discredit to the starters.</div>
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Shane Bergman returns to action as the Stamps’ left guard while rookie Roman Grozman continues to get reps at centre in the absence of Pierre Lavertu, but other than that it’s mostly status quo for Dickenson’s bunch. It sounds like Lavertu is likely to return for the opener but cannot suit up on Friday night.</div>
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“We’ve got a pretty healthy group now,” said Dickenson in an interview with Stampeders.com. “They know that we made some cuts but there are still a few spots that are competing and certainly a lot of starting spots up for competing jobs, so the urgency hopefully will be there and we’ll play well.”</div>
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Recent roster additions in quarterback G.J. Kinne and receiver Josh Harper are expected to make their CFL debuts after signing with the Stamps this week. Kinne has spent time with the NFL’s New York Jets, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Harper was with the Stamps at the start of camp before his release in late May.</div>
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Veteran fullback Rob Cote is also expected to get some work for the first time in 2016 after sitting out last weekend’s game at McMahon.</div>
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While the Stampeders aim for their first pre-season win, the Lions hope to improve to 2-0 in the pre-season after last week’s road win. T.J. Lee, Ronnie Yell and rookie Anthony Thompson each recorded an interception for the Lions, while Shawn Gore hauled in the team’s lone touchdown on the evening.</div>
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The Stampeders ended BC’s 2015 campaign with a playoff win at McMahon Stadium in the Western Semi-Final with a 35-9 victory. The Stamps didn’t surrender a touchdown while the defence didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher or 100-yard receiver in the game.</div>
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Having also faced off in pre-season action the last two years, Calgary claimed a 20-6 victory at McMahon in 2015 while the Lions held their ground in the Den in 2014 with a winning edge of 37-13.</div>
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The Stampeders will head back home for a short time before quickly returning to Vancouver, as the teams will do it all again one June 25 with a whole lot more riding on it.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-4745046802274592622016-06-17T09:32:00.000-07:002016-06-17T09:32:37.473-07:00KILGORE GETS THE START AS ALS, ARGOS FINISH OFF PRE-SEASON<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
While some teams are busy setting depth charts and closing out the few last remaining position battles, the Argos and Alouettes are looking to do some fine-tuning.</div>
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Montreal’s Percival-Molson Stadium will be the site for one final dress rehearsal, as East Division rivals close out their pre-season slate in one of three games taking place Friday night across the league.</div>
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It’s a chance to settle all outstanding matters before Sunday’s deadline to cut rosters down to 46 players and, more importantly, get it all right before the season-opener.</div>
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“There are a couple of battles that are still ongoing,” Argos head coach Scott Milanovich told Argonauts.ca. “There are some guys we know are going to be starters, but there are still some battles.</div>
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“We don’t pick the team until Saturday and if these guys want to be part of this team, this is their last opportunity on Friday to make the team.”</div>
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While some minor tweaks are to be made, it appears Milanovich is mostly comfortable with his team heading into its June 23 season-opener against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at BMO Field.</div>
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Ricky Ray will not start at quarterback after taking just four reps and completing one of three passing attempts in last week’s 25-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while Logan Kilgore will start his second straight game under centre.</div>
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There’s no debate over the pecking order in the Argos’ huddle after Milanovich confirmed this week that Ray is his opening-day starter and the backup job is Kilgore’s to lose after going 8-of-13 for 107 yards and a touchdown in the pre-season opener.</div>
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“He’s had a really good camp and he carried it into the pre-season game,” said Milanovich. “He’s going to start again on Friday.</div>
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“We’re just trying to get him as much exposure as we can and still give those other guys a chance to fight for the number three spot.”</div>
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Fighting for that third spot are Mitchell Gale and Cody Fajardo, both of whom played last weekend and will get a solid crack at the job following the release of Adrian McPherson. But a greater emphasis will be on Kilgore on Friday night, as he looks to prove he’s a capable backup to Ray and potentially the Argos’ quarterback of the future.</div>
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Last week Kilgore, who showed well early last year but was sidelined a good chunk of the season to injury, played his part in two first-quarter scoring drives that limited the Ticats to only two first quarter possessions.</div>
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“He kind of picked up where he left off last year,” said Milanovich. “You can see the comfort level with his feet, the rhythm of his reads. He’s just a guy that looks comfortable running the offence.”</div>
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The Argos will leave the majority of their starters on both sides of the ball at home, not just Ray, as Devon Wylie, national Malcolm Williams and 2016 draft pick Llevi Noel draw starting assignments as they try to earn roster spots, while Wylie will also return kicks.</div>
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For many of the players in the lineup, Friday night’s contest is far more than just a dress rehearsal.</div>
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“Just that the coaches can count on me to be a playmaker and a guy that will go as hard as he can every down,” said Wylie, asked what he wants to put on film. “Someone that they can put in the game and know ‘hey, if we need a play to be made we can count on Wylie’.”</div>
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While the Argos rest most of their starters, the Alouettes are taking the opposite approach. Bear Woods will not be active but outside of that, the lineup fielded by the Als will closely resemble the one seen on June 24 when they open their season in Winnipeg.</div>
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The Alouettes will look for a better result than their 36-13 loss to the Bombers in their pre-season opener, although the score in that game isn’t indicative of how they played. The Als’ defence shut down Drew Willy and the highly-talented Bombers’ starters, taking a 3-0 lead out of the first quarter in Winnipeg.</div>
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Veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn, meanwhile, will look to build on a solid start in which he completed 14 of 19 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.</div>
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“Last pre-season game was a good pre-season game, I think we did a good job of coming out and moving the ball as the first unit,” said Glenn.</div>
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Glenn will get the start again on Friday and work with the team’s regular starters on offence, including S.J. Green, Duron Carter, Kenny Stafford and running back Tyrell Sutton, who didn’t play in the opener after last year winning the rushing title.</div>
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The name of the game for the Als’ offence will be executing in a game situation as that unit remains in the early stages of mastering Offensive Corodinator Anthony Calvillo and Jacques Chapdelaine’s new-look offence.</div>
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“I think the adjustments we need to do is make sure we get in our books and we understand all the plays when we get a chance to call them in the game,” said Glenn. “Also getting in game shape, making sure we can sustain those drives we want to put together in the game.”</div>
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While Glenn threw a game-high 19 passes last game, Rakeem Cato, Vernon Adams Jr., Brandon Bridge and Jimmy Underdahl all took reps. Cato, considered to be on the roster bubble with the Als’ roster depth, showed well in completing five of six passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.</div>
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Adams Jr., meanwhile, the one everyone was excited to see after being acquired by the Als for a first round pick, went 1-for-4 with an interception in his first CFL action.</div>
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The Argos and Als meet for the first time in regular season action on July 25 at Toronto’s BMO Field, then for the second and final time on Oct. 2 in Montreal.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-44617223320985464292016-06-17T09:24:00.001-07:002016-06-17T09:24:20.028-07:00CLOSE EYES ON THE QBS AS TICATS HOST REDBLACKS<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
East Division rivals will face their final pre-season test on Friday night, when the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Hamilton Tiger-Cats clash at Tim Hortons Field.</div>
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Although there may not be as much on the line compared to when the two teams last faced each other in the 2015 Eastern Final, there’s still plenty to play for.</div>
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The deadline for each team to make final cuts and reduce their rosters to 46 active players is June 19, meaning Friday will be the last opportunity for players from both teams to prove their worth and showcase their skills in a game situation.</div>
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While the REDBLACKS are leaving the majority of their starters back in Ottawa after winning their pre-season opener 18-14 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Monday, the Ticats in particular face some important questions entering the finale.</div>
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They start at quarterback, where Jeremiah Masoli and Jeff Mathews are vying for the opportunity to start on June 23 in the team’s season-opener vs. the Argos at BMO Field. While Zach Collaros continues his rehab from a torn ACL, one of Masoli or Mathews will get a valuable opportunity at the helm of the Ticats’ offence.</div>
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<img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="wp-image-340053 size-large" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-1600x902.jpg" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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Masoli will once again get the start at pivot for the Ticats on Friday night after going 6-of-9 for 43 yards in Hamilton’s opening preseason game on June 11; a 25-16 loss to the rival Toronto Argonauts.</div>
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Masoli has started both games but Austin says the position remains wide open.</div>
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“I wouldn’t look too far into that,” Austin told Ticats.ca when asked about Masoli starting. “We’re trying to put our guys in situations during the week in practice and during the games to get an evaluation of how they handle the game, how they manage different situations. Their efficiency on first and 10, second and long – all those things.”</div>
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Evaluating the quarterbacks was easier said than done against the Argos, when Masoli and the offence could only get on the field twice in the first quarter. The Argo offence orchestrated two long scoring drives while the Ticats were blanked 10-0 in the first 15 minutes.</div>
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After Masoli exited, two long field goals by Brett Maher and a 50-yard touchdown pass from Mathews to Tiquan Underwood put Hamilton up 13-10 at halftime. The Ticats were unable to hold off a 12-point, fourth-quarter surge from the Argos and managed only a field goal in the entire second half as most of the starters were held out after halftime.</div>
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After all four quarterbacks saw the field last weekend, an injury to Jacory Harris has put him on the six-game list, meaning Jake Waters could also get substantial playing time.</div>
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Equally important is what happens on the defensive side of the ball. With Chase Minnifield released and Demond Washington placed on the six-game injured list, the Ticats have two cornerback positions to fill.</div>
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Courtney Stephen held down the position for the Ticats in the past but has moved to safety in place of Craig Butler, who’s lost for the season.</div>
<span style="background-color: #f4f4f4; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer says that now is the time for players to step up.</span><br />
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“I would hope that they as players would relish this opportunity,” Steinauer said after Wednesday’s practice. “Maybe they were a number two on the depth chart last week, but now they’re the guy. All you can really give people in this game is opportunity. And that’s just true in life.</div>
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“You get opportunity and what you do with it is up to you.”</div>
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The REDBLACKS are coming off of an 18-14 victory over the Blue Bombers on June 13 that should give them plenty of confidence going into the regular season. That was especially crucial considering the short layoff between games, as most of the team’s starters are not traveling to Hamilton.</div>
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Head Coach Rick Campbell and the REDBLACKS will go on the road soon after, where they’ll open their season on June 25 in Edmonton in a Grey Cup rematch.</div>
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“We’re expecting to not take as many as 30 people on this trip,” Campbell told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “The motivation behind that is that we’re trying to do everything we can to be ready to go for Edmonton on the 25.</div>
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“We’re just trying to be smart,” he added. “We’ve been asked to play two pre-season games four days apart and we’re just trying to make sure we’re doing the right things to be getting ready to go for the regular season.”</div>
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Fans had a chance to see what last year’s league-leading offence could do under new offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo, as the first-team unit was in mid-season form against the Bombers.</div>
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Ottawa’s one-two punch at quarterback was on full display, as both Henry Burris and Trevor Harris looked impressive at pivot. Burris paced the REDBLACKS in the first half by completing 13-of-21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown while Harris threw 7-for-13 and 107 yards through parts of the first half and third quarter.</div>
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<img alt="Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS" class="wp-image-340371 size-large" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/william-powell-2016-tc-1-1600x902.jpg" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/william-powell-2016-tc-1-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/william-powell-2016-tc-1-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/william-powell-2016-tc-1-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1600" /></div>
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Burris’s performance was a big reason the 41-year-old won’t be needed in Hamilton this weekend.</div>
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“He got in a lot of reps, we had the ball a lot more than they did in the first half. I think he’s in a good place,” said Campbell.</div>
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Danny O’Brien is listed number one on the REDBLACKS’ depth chart after getting mop-up duty in Ottawa last weekend, while none of last year’s 1,000-yard receivers will be dressing.</div>
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One position to watch will be running back, as Campbell suddenly must replace William Powell. Powell suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the first half of last weekend’s game.</div>
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Travis Greene, Kienan Lafrance and Travon Van are all candidates to fill that role, and all three will play in Friday’s game. Van has stood out the most so far, dating back to the REDBLACKS’ mini-camp in April.</div>
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The game will be streamed live on CFL.ca via Ticats.ca and Ticats TV, and will feature a pregame, halftime, and post-game show. The broadcast will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-12651714268512272012016-06-15T16:03:00.001-07:002016-06-15T16:03:28.143-07:00REDBLACKS LOSE POWELL FOR SEASON TO ACHILLES INJURY<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One of football’s most devastating injuries, it appears the Achilles has ended another promising player’s season.</div>
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Tim Baines of the <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ottawa Sun</em> reported Wednesday that Ottawa REDBLACKS running back William Powell will miss the entire 2016 season with an Achilles injury. While no further details have been revealed, the injury was suffered during the first half of the team’s opening pre-season game, an 18-14 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.</div>
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<a class="PrettyLink hashtag customisable" data-query-source="hashtag_click" data-scribe="element:hashtag" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ottawa?src=hash" rel="tag" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="PrettyLink-prefix">#</span><span class="PrettyLink-value">Ottawa</span></a> <a class="PrettyLink hashtag customisable" data-query-source="hashtag_click" data-scribe="element:hashtag" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Redblacks?src=hash" rel="tag" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="PrettyLink-prefix">#</span><span class="PrettyLink-value">Redblacks</span></a> RB William Powell, Achilles, out for season. <a class="PrettyLink hashtag customisable" data-query-source="hashtag_click" data-scribe="element:hashtag" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash" rel="tag" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2b7bb9; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="PrettyLink-prefix">#</span><span class="PrettyLink-value">CFL</span></a></div>
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<a class="u-linkBlend u-url customisable-highlight long-permalink" data-datetime="2016-06-15T13:47:01+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp" href="https://twitter.com/TimCBaines/status/743077353874677760" style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: inherit; outline: 0px; text-decoration: inherit;">7:47 AM - 15 Jun 2016</a></div>
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Powell had two carries for 18 yards in his brief pre-season action, including a 15-yard sprint in the first quarter. Last season the 28-year-old arrived from the NFL and rushed for 447 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 76 carries for an average of 5.9 yards.</div>
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He also added 158 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air, playing a major role in helping spark the REDBLACKS’ East Division title and eventual run to the Grey Cup Championship against the Edmonton Eskimos.</div>
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REDBLACKS general manager Marcel Desjardins <a href="https://twitter.com/TimCBaines/status/743077969002934272" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b5262f; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">told Baines he plans to fill the position in-house</a>, leaving Travis Greene and Travon Van among leading candidates to step into a starting role as well as national running back Kienan Lafrance.</div>
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Van and Greene were used extensively in the team’s first pre-season game, combining for 14 carries and two catches. While Green checked in with 29 yards on seven carries, Van has to be the favourite for the position after a strong mini-camp back in April and a good showing in pre-season action thus far.</div>
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<img alt="THE CANADIAN PRESS" class="wp-image-340053 size-medium" height="451" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" src="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-800x451.jpg" srcset="http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-300x169.jpg 300w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-800x451.jpg 800w, http://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/travon-van-2016-2-1600x902.jpg 1600w" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="800" /></div>
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A 25-year-old Montana graduate, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Van rushed for 38 yards on seven carries and a 5.4-yard average against Winnipeg along with a near-touchdown that was ruled out of bounce.</div>
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The REDBLACKS have until June 25 when they open their season in Edmonton to figure it out. Until then, they’ll take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in pre-season action on Friday, June 17.</div>
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Baines also reported the REDBLACKS will be without offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan (wrist) and fullback Brendan Gillanders (knee) for 8-10 weeks.</div>
Andrew Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463945607182861351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8704851627470756814.post-54298676437684437312016-06-15T15:56:00.000-07:002016-06-15T15:56:39.755-07:00Ultimate CFL News Preseason Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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