CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- What a week! Not counting Montreal’s domination of the Bombers on Saturday every game this weekend went down to the wire. First, the Eskimos and Stamps kicked the week off with a bang combining for 14 points in the final minute alone. Next, the BC Lions pulled off an incredible comeback against a revitalized Argos offence spoiling a record night for Justin Medlock. And then to cap off the weekend the Riders almost blew a 23-0 halftime lead against the Ticats only to win it in the fourth quarter.

And after all the dust settled the top story of the whole week just might be the field goal clinic put on by a first year kicker. Justin Medlock sits at the top of the freshman class in the Week #7 Rookie Report.

7 for 7 for number 7 in week 7

Seven is supposed to be a lucky number right? It would certainly seem so for Argos kicker Justin Medlock at least. Medlock had the game of his career on Friday night going an incredible seven for seven on field goals. Granted his career is only six games long, but let’s face it, seven for seven is impressive. Medlock’s seven makes tied him with former Argos greats Lance Chomyc and Noel Prefontaine for the team record for field goals in a game.

It’s not like his field goals were all chip shots either. The first year kicker out of UCLA was automatic for the Argos putting everything through the uprights including three field goals from 50+. When is the last time you remember anyone hitting three field goals from beyond 50 yards in a single game?

Overall, Medlock connected from 52, 15, 46, 51, 51, 32 and 17 yards. His performance on Friday bumped his accuracy up to 94.7% for the season, tying him with Sandro DeAngelis for the league lead. In fact, the rookie’s only miss in his 19 tries was on a 57-yarder that clanged off the upright.

Oh, and he was named the Gibson’s Finest Special Teams Player of the Week... not too bad for a guy who thought he would be spending the summer caddying for his girlfriend at the start of the season.

‘Kee’ to the running game

Arkee Whitlock had his best game of the season running the ball for the Eskimos in their thrilling victory over the Stamps on Thursday night. Whitlock ran for 106 yards on only nine carries in the victory, that’s an average of 11.8 yards per carry if you’re keeping track.

He also added 69 yards receiving, putting his total for the game up to a nice round 175 yards, easily his most productive game of the season. The lone blip for the first year back was a fumble in the third quarter.

Even still, you can’t help but be impressed at how the first year back has bounced back from his debut in Week #2. That game could have shattered the confidence of a lesser back, but since then Whitlock has really stepped up and proven his worth.

He’s Baaaaaaack

After catching a touchdown in each of the Lions first three games and racking up 143 yards receiving over that stretch Emmanuel Arceneaux looked like he was going to establish himself as one of the league’s premier receivers.

Over the next three weeks though Arceneaux was held to just 64 yards and failed to catch a touchdown pass. He finally got back in the end zone on Friday night with a 23-yard touchdown in the Lions’ second half comeback win over the Argos. Arceneaux finished the night with four grabs for 45 yards to go along with the TD.

Other Notable Rookies

Chad Lucas – This late addition to the Argos roster seems to have found the right chemistry with the Argos newly tabbed starting QB Cody Pickett. The two connected for eight Lucas receptions and 146 yards on Friday night. Look out for this combination in the upcoming weeks.

Mike Renaud – The Winnipeg punter was leading the Bombers in rushing at the half on Saturday night thanks to his 25-yard scamper on a fake punt. If you want to know how good the play was just take a look at defensive coordinator Mark Nelson’s face in our Week #7 image gallery.

DeAndra’ Cobb – The Tabbies electric running back was largely held in check by the Riders’ unorthodox D in Sunday’s loss to the Riders. Cobb was held to just 29 yards rushing in the game. To be fair though he was given only six carries as Hamilton was forced to go to the air after falling behind early. He also scored on an eight-yard TD run to tie the game at 23 during Hamilton’s second half comeback bid that came up just short.

Yvenson Bernard – Last week’s rookie report had the following to say about Bernard “Give it a few more weeks and Bernard might just be in the conversation about the top rookie running backs.” Not after Saturday’s performance. Bernard took a big step back from Week #6 running for only 13 yards on five carries as well as fumbling the ball on consecutive kick returns in the Bombers’ loss to the Als.

Jerald Brown – It was another impressive performance for the Als secondary on Saturday as they held Michael Bishop and the Bombers were held to only 155 yards passing and no touchdowns. Brown was a big part of the defensive effort leading Montreal with five tackles.

Martell Mallett – The Lions first year back had 54 yards rushing 12 yards receiving and 41 yards of kick returns in the Lions come from behind victory over the Argos Friday night.

Daren Heerspink – The Lions O-line only gave up a single sack, and provided Jarious Jackson with all the protection he needed to engineer the Lions second half comeback on Friday night thanks in part to the first year lineman.

Titus Ryan – The first year Stamp was solid on kick returns for including 146 yards on six kickoffs.

Ronnie Amadi – The first year DB recorded three tackles for the Stamps but was burned on the Eskimos first touchdown pass to Fred Stamps in the first quarter.

Jonathan Hefney – The Bombers DB provided one of the few positive highlights for the Winnipeg D on Saturday with his interception of Anthony Calvillo. He also had five tackles in the game and was one of the few Bombers who didn’t miss a tackle on Kerry Watkins’ 70-yard TD catch and run.

Travis Lulay – 0 for 1 with a headache. Not a good day for the Lions QB. And not to make light of an injury, especially one to the head, but Lulay's injury did allow Jarious Jackson to get back in the game and lead the Lions to a thrilling comeback victory.

Kye Stewart – Unfortunately for Stewart his season might be over just as it was taking off. The rookie linebacker suffered an injury to his right knee on the opening kickoff of Sunday's 33-23 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Riders are currently awaiting information on the extent of the injury but the impressive rookie's season may be finished.