WEEK 14 IN THE CFL

Stats and storylines heading into this week’s action

LOCKED DOWN IN COWTOWN

Calgary is on pace for the best defensive season on record since the CFL began compiling drive data in 2006.
Opponents have scored touchdowns on just one of every 10 possessions (15 TDs on 150 possessions). Last season, Montreal led the league by allowing a touchdown once every 7.4 possessions.
Calgary is holding teams to a league-low 18.0 offensive points per game – nearly a touchdown less than the league average.
Stampeders' defence also ranks first in:
- Opponent TDs allowed | 15
- Opponent yards per play | 5.9
- Opponent pass efficiency rating | 88.9
- Opponent second down conversion rate | 44.5 per cent
- Fewest opponent big plays | 19
- Forced turnovers | 28
In addition, the defence is tied for the league lead in return touchdowns with four

QUICK SLANTS

LEAGUE WIDE

OK Tire Labour Day Weekend games averaged 56 points
87,626 fans attended the three games last week
18 touchdowns in three games last week – an average of six per game
Only three games separate first and fourth place teams in the East Division
Teams are 25-25 at home this season
Official Murray Clark will work his 600^th career game on Saturday in Winnipeg.
Saskatchewan became the eighth team to win after trailing by 10+ points this season

BC (5-6) at OTT (3-8)

The first game of a home-and-home series between the two teams.
Both teams are coming off a bye; each won their first game after a bye this season.
BC has won nine of the past 10 games against Ottawa. Last year, both teams split their series with each team winning at home.
Nathan Rourke is 2-1 versus Ottawa and will make his 30^th career start (17-12). He needs 55 passing yards to pass Don Getty (8,950) to become third on the all-time Canadian passing list.
Rourke is riding a three-game streak with 300+ yards. In those games, he has passed for 1,116 yards, eight TDs and three interceptions.
Keon Hatcher Sr. is the lone receiver to eclipse the 1,000 receiving yard mark this season. In his last four games: 26 receptions, 435 yards two TDs.
James Butler has recorded at least 81 rushing yards in his last four games.
Ottawa has a +1 turnover ratio; BC is last with -11
Dustin Crum passed for 277 yards last game; second most in his career. He has scored a touchdown in his last four games. Crum is 0-1.
Justin Hardy (3,383) is 20 receiving yards shy of Jock Climie (3,403) for ninth on Ottawa’s all-time list.
Eugene Lewis needs 30 receiving yards for 7,000 in his career.

HAM (6-5) at MTL (5-6)

Week 4: HAM 35 – MTL 17
Montreal must win by 19+ points to claim the season series and move into first in the East.
Both teams are looking to snap a losing streak – Hamilton has dropped three straight; Montreal lost four straight.
The last time the Ticats won in Montreal was August 27, 2021
Hamilton is 4-2 on the road this season; Montreal is 2-4 at home.
Bo Levi Mitchell is 8-6 against Montreal in his career. Last week, he became the 12^th player with 250 career TD passes; needs two more to tie Tom Clements for 11^th all-time.
Kenny Lawler leads the league with a career-high 10 TD receptions. He needs 32 receiving yards to reach 1,000 on the season and 10 receptions for a career-high.
Last week, Kiondré Smith set a career-high with 171 receiving yards, including 108 after the catch. It marked his third game of the season with 138+ yards in a game.
Montreal in their last four games have scored three touchdowns in 49 possessions.
James Morgan has passed for 409 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games.
Tyler Snead needs one reception and 44 receiving yards to reach new career-highs.

BANJO BOWL: SSK (8-2) at WPG (6-5)

LDC: SSK 34 – WPG 30
A Saskatchewan victory would secure the season series win – their first since 2018
Winnipeg leads the rematch series, 13-7, with eight wins in the past nine meetings. Saskatchewan’s last win was in 2018 with Zach Collaros at the helm.
Saskatchewan is looking for its tenth win of the season; the last time they reached double digits was in 2019 (13-5).
Saskatchewan has swept the home-and-home set on seven occasions.
Last week, Trevor Harris had his lowest completion percentage of the season: 17-of-27 (63 per cent).
Harris needs one more touchdown pass for 200 in his career (45 with Saskatchewan)
Keesean Johnson leads the league with 30 second down conversion receptions.
Winnipeg has led by 10+ points in each of its last five games but lost two of them in the final minute.
Mike O’Shea is 8-2 in LDC rematches.
Zach Collaros will start his sixth Banjo Bowl. He is a perfect 5-0 in the matchup (four wins with Winnipeg, one with Saskatchewan).
Last week, Brady Oliveira was held to a season-low 24 rushing yards. He needs 109 rushing yards for 5,000 in his career.

LABOUR DAY REMATCH: CGY (8-3) at EDM (4-7)

LDC: CGY 28 – EDM 7
Calgary leads the rematches 18-17.
The Stampeders have swept the two-game set 12 times (most recently in 2022); there have been 17 splits.
Calgary is a perfect 6-0 against Western foes this season. A win would give them the season series win against Edmonton, along with series wins against Saskatchewan and Winnipeg.
Despite their 8-3 record, Calgary does not have a receiver in the leagues top 15 in receiving yards.
Vernon Adams had zero TD passes in his first three starts this season, but has one in seven straight games since, including five games with multiple TDs.
Dedrick Mills in his last three games: 289 rushing yards while averaging 5.7 yards per carry
Jacob Roberts last week recorded nine defensive tackles, a special teams tackle, a sack, and forced a fumble.
In his Stamps debut, Adam Bighill registered four defensive tackles.
The Elks have won the last two games in Edmonton against Calgary.
Edmonton is looking for its first win against a Western team this season.
Cody Fajardo needs 205 passing yards to reach 20,000 in his career. He’s a career 4-5-1 against the Stamps.
Justin Rankin recorded 48 rushing and receiving yards last week on 18 touches.

Associate Vice-President, Communications & Public Affairs, Canadian Football League

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