Inside the CFL: Labour Day Classics for many a reason

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 7, 2023.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

It was the best of times and the worst of times in the CFL Labour Day weekend with a display of the three-down game at its best in Regina and, well, not so much in Calgary. Even the weather was a study in contrasts with a scorcher at Mosaic and a drizzly, freezing smoky day at McMahon.

For many people the CFL season really doesn’t get underway until the Labour Day weekend. That’s too bad because we’re already at the two-thirds mark so they’ve missed a lot of entertaining football.

It was a tale of two Jakes, three actually, considering that Jake Maier was his typical self in the second quarter, before emerging from a phone booth at half-time to lead his sway- back charges to an exciting victory that may well have saved the Stampeders’ season.

After the sensational Elk quarterback Tre Ford ran the Stampeders ragged in the first half and by five minutes into the third quarter had his team up 21-10. Maier opened the last thirty minutes with an impressive drive to the Edmonton four but stalled at the nine when running back Dedrick Mills took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. On the next play, Maier’s TD pass to Reggie Begleton was nullified by a holding call. But down fifteen as the final frame began, Maier engineered three touchdown drives to pull out a 35-31 win. After the game, Bunk House Boss Dave Dickenson said, “Mentally I’m exhausted and our guys are physically exhausted because they gave so much. Are we the greatest team? Maybe not but we keep on fighting.”

So do the Elks. But fourth quarter collapses are standard procedure for them. Lamented a dejected Chris Jones, “It’s as tough a loss as I’ve ever been involved with.” Ford picked up 135 of Edmonton’s 250 rushing yards but Jake Maier out-passed him. The youngster from Waterloo is an exceptional talent but he is still learning how to operate an offence.

My first Calgary Labour Day Classic was in 1972, when the defending Grey Cup champs lost 31-19 to their northern rivals. Until Monday all Classics except one have been played on rain free gorgeous sunny days, before sell-out crowds that included a large contingent of Eskimo fans. Although exciting, Monday’s game wasn’t a classic.

That wasn’t the case at Mosaic where the resurgent Roughriders having won three of their last four games are solidly ensconced in third place, four points ahead of Calgary and four behind B.C., thanks to brilliant performances by another third-stringer, Jake Dogala who engineered a 60 yard last minute drive to tie the mighty Bombers and send the game into overtime. Cool as a 6’7″ cucumber can be, he racked up a touchdown and two point convert to come away with a 32-30 victory and send the sell-out crowd home on cloud nine. In the meantime, the head-butting suspended Rider defender Pete Robertson joined up with Dorothy and Toto to see the Wizard about a brain.

The two biggest days of the regular season also saw a contrast between two Dickensons, Dave, seemingly a permanent fixture in Calgary, and brother Craig, perpetually on the bubble in Saskatchewan. Said Craig, “That will go down as one of the most enjoyable wins of my career.” For Dave, some of the anguish and pressure has lifted. It is very difficult to win both ends of a home and home series, so both Dickensons could feel the sting of defeat this week-end. But for now, let them savour the moment.

It is interesting to note that misfortune has allowed Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Ottawa and Hamilton to find their quarterback of the future. It’s also interesting in this year of the back-ups how many points are being scored. Given the football adage “offence sells tickets”, that’s good news for the CFL.

With a third of the season left, we’re now in the stretch drive. After their rematch in Winnipeg Saturday, Saskatchewan hosts Edmonton, goes to Ottawa and B.C. , are home to Hamilton , at Calgary and finish the regular season campaign in Regina versus Toronto.

Because the Tiger-Cats continue to struggle, Calgary has a shot at the crossover spot. After their Saturday trip to Commonwealth, the Stamps are home to Montreal, at Hamilton, home to Saskatchewan, off to B.C. and entertain Winnipeg. They have two bye weeks.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 51 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.