September 17, 2018

#TotalPickEm Week 14 Recap

The Canadian Press photo

Week 14 gave us incredible plays — Marcus Thigpen’s electrifying touchdown, and the special teams show put on by the Stamps and Ticats in Hamilton — and a couple of tough calls in #TotalPickEm.

As a result, we had our first 0-for week of the season; Montreal dropped a must-win contest at home against BC, Calgary earned a gritty win in Hamilton and the REDBLACKS stunned the Riders in Regina.

Atop the $5,000 global leaderboard, burzmiester5 is the leader after a 2-1 week; second-place paddlegirl and third-place tigercats4ever are both within two games.


Friday | BC 32, Montreal 14

The BC Lions took care of business in Montreal on Friday night, with the defence generating a whopping seven sacks and four interceptions in what became a run-away 32-14 win.

Montreal’s offensive line reverted back to its early-season poor form, with sophomore quarterback Antonio Pipkin coming under pressure virtually every time he dropped back.

To BC’s credit, the Lions offence did not miss a beat when Travis Lulay left the game with a shoulder injury; Jonathon Jennings entered off the bench for a competent 19-of-30, 180-yard performance.

Granted, Wally Buono’s team will face a much different challenge moving forward with a home-and-away with Hamilton on the docket. But Friday’s was a big win for BC, and reinserted the team back into the playoff race.

Montreal, on the flip side, is all but toast at 3-9, anchored to the bottom of the East Division and four points back of the Lions — who have a game in-hand — for the final playoff spot.


Saturday | Calgary 43, Hamilton 28

Bodies continue to fall in Stampeders camp, but Dave Dickenson’s Calgary team just keeps chugging along.

With Kamar Jorden already out for the year, DaVaris Daniels left Saturday’s game — only for Reggie Begelton to step up with a monstrous 150-yard receiving efforts.

It was a crazy game: Larry Dean opened the scoring with a pick-six, and both teams returned punts for touchdowns.

Ultimately, the Stamps proved they can out-punch just about anybody in a slugfest; Bo Levi Mitchell threw for a confident 270 yards along with a pair of touchdowns, while the narrative surrounding Jeremiah Masoli’s inability to do it against the best continues to grow. Hamilton’s starter was limited to 210 yards and threw two picks.

Calgary now heads into a bye, then plays a trio of sub-.500 teams: Safe bet.

Hamilton? Tricky doubleheader against BC. Buyer beware.


Saturday | Ottawa 30, Saskatchewan 25

Well, William Powell went off for 148 rush yards against what had been a dominant Saskatchewan defence. Just like we all expected.

The REDBLACKS quieted many doubters, and reclaimed sole possession of first place in the East Division in the process.

Trevor Harris was confident under centre for Ottawa, passing for 334 yards and a pair of touchdowns against an intimidating Riders defence.

More important, the REDBLACKS defence bent, but did not break in the face of a penalty-aided Riders comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Coordinator Noel Thorpe’s defence largely shut down Saskatchewan, and that’s nothing but a good sign going forward.


Week 14: 0-3

Season: 31-22 (.585)