Inside the CFL: Wacky, wonderful Western semi sets stage for CFL playoffs

By GRAHAM KELLY on December 2, 2021.

What a wacky, wonderful Western semifinal the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders staged in Regina.

Four meetings between the teams were decided by a total of 13 points. Three times the games came down to a field goal. It is likely too much to expect Sunday’s final in Winnipeg to match it in terms of sheer entertainment and bang for the fan’s buck.

The form sheet was thrown out the window. Special team play was a great Stampeder strength. Last Sunday they surrendered a return for a touchdown, their first of the season. Place kicker Rene Paredes hadn’t missed three field goals in a game his entire career and was first in the league with a 91.7% success rate. Their special teams gave up a short kickoff which the Riders converted into a touchdown. Blame coaching for that one: it was the third time this year Saskatchewan successfully executed the short kick-off against Calgary. Returner Reg Begelton fumbled a punt.

Still, Cody Fajardo threw four interceptions, two more than Bo Levi Mitchell. Calgary DB Jonathan Moxey had three of them and ordinarily would have been the star of the game. The Stamps led in total offence and time of possession. Bo wasn’t bad, better than his counterpart whose efficiency rating was 41.1.

So what? He’s a leader. When the chips were down, Cody Fajardo put his team on his back and carried it to victory. Trailing 24-20 with 5:33 left in the fourth quarter, starting on his 35, Fajardo engineered a nine-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. Place kicker Brent Lauther rounded out the scoring in their 33-30 victory and a berth in the Western final.

However, whether it was poor play-calling by coordinator Jason Maas or the Stamps’ stout defence, Fajardo’s overall performance wasn’t that great. He and the rest of the offence will have to be a lot better to beat the Blue Bombers.

Long-time Winnipeg watchers are wondering if this 2021 edition is the best in Blue Bomber history. The defending Grey Cup champions’ record was 11-3. They lost the last games of the regular season to Montreal and Calgary, long after they clinched first place in the West. Toronto beat them 30-23 in August.

The Blue and Gold led the league in points and wins, the only stats that matter. They surrendered the fewest sacks, had the best turnover ratio, +18. Although they were without star running back Andrew Harris for most of the season, they still finished second in rushing. While only finishing seventh in passing yards, they had the most completions over 30 yards and led with average passing gain, 8.7. They can beat you with the big play or ball-control. They are the least-penalized team in the league. They don’t beat themselves.

Kenny Lawler was the CFL’s receiving leader with 64 catches for 1,014 yards. He’s the only Bomber in the league’s top 10. Further down are Nic Demski and Rasheed Bailey. The Riders have to shut down Lawler and Demski to have a chance to win. I believe Saskatchewan has the better receiving corps with Duke Williams, Ricardo Louis, Shaq Evans and Kian Schaffer-Baker. But Western all-star quarterback and nominee for Most Outstanding Player Zach Collaros led the league by miles with a passing efficiency mark of 111. Cody Fajardo’s was 90.9. Zach threw for 20 TDs with only six interceptions. Cody had 11 picks and 14 passing majors. Compared to Winnipeg’s best 16 sacks allowed, the Rider offensive line allowed 40. If you give a quarterback enough time, he’s going to find an open receiver, especially deep. The Bomber’s O-Line, led by Most Outstanding Offensive line finalist Stanley Bryant is one of the best I have ever seen.

As productive as their offence is, the Bomber defence was first in every important category. Led by ends Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, and Most Outstanding Defensive Player nominee, Adam Bighill, they have no obvious weakness.

The best Bomber team (1960) of the Bud Grant era lost the Western Final. Over half the time, the host has gone down to defeat. Winnipeg won both games Labour Day week. After beating Calgary, Fajardo said, “I had a huge dollop of Jesus in that game.” The Roughriders head to Winnipeg with a hope and a prayer.

Will it be enough?