CISers in the CFL, Week 5: Getzlaf's game-winner

Chris Getzlaf ran the sweetest post since Emily.



The former Regina Ram's game-winning 65-yard touchdown catch for the Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Calgary Stampeders on Saturday is the highlight of the CFL season for Canadian university players. One of the 'Riders beat writers has already dubbed the play "the Miracle at McMahon" and if you saw how much Saskatchewan's defence struggled against the run, you would likely have to agree.

Montréal Alouettes (4-1) — The Eskimos running backs ran 18 times for just 62 yards last week, but that is little consolation to Shea Emry (UBC) and the Als defence after letting Edmonton throw the ball all over the yard. Matthieu Proulx (Laval) talked about that at length with RDS.ca on Monday, for those who (unlike me) overcame their Ontario educations to read French.

Edmonton Eskimos (3-2) — The TSN panel has been raving about Canadian running back Calvin McCarty for the past two weeks. It makes one worry about Jesse Lumsden.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2) — Getzlaf got the headlines, for sure. The brother of NHL star Ryan Getzlaf actually deserved a baseball metaphor. Going off for five catches, 101 yards and two TDs while filling in for Andy Fantuz (Western) was the best pinch-hitting performance by a Canadian since Matt Stairs homered to help the Philadelphia Phillies reach the World Series last fall.

The 'Riders got a big left from getting guard Gene Makowsky (U of S Huskies) back from injury. He helped clear the way for Wes Cates to gain 132 yards on 19 touches.

Jason Clermont (Regina) was quiet again, with 27 yards on two catches. One of those grabs was a big second-and-long conversion that led to a 'Riders touchdown. Fantuz, meantime, was held out of practice Monday.

You have to love the CFL West, where the two teams with winning records have been outscored on the season and the one team in the black with point differential is 2-3.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-2!) — No small amount for the Ticats already having matched the 2008 win total should go to LT Alexandre Gauthier (Laval), who's one-half of an improved set of offensive tackles which have been helping open holes for the Lil' Lightning Bolt, tailback DeAndra' Cobb.

B.C. Lions end Ricky Foley (York) noted as much before the Lions lost to Hamilton.

Defensive backs Sandy Beveridge (UBC) and Dylan Barker (U of S) each accounted for takeaways in the Ticats' 30-18 win. Beveridge — the only Ticat who was around during that 1-17 season in 2003 — had an interception. Barker also forced a fumble in kickoff coverage.

Marcel Bellefeuille, the former Ottawa Gee-Gees coach, might be an early leader to be coach of the year.

Calgary Stampeders (2-3) — Wideout Brett Ralph (Alberta) had two receptions for 25 yards in the Stamps' one-point home loss to Saskatchewan. The high winds in Alberta put a dent in Burke Dales' (Concordia) punting average, since he and the Saskatchewan's Jamie Boreham (Manitoba) were each below 40 yards.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-3) — Linebacker Neil McKinlay (SFU) had one of the Bombers' four interceptions vs. Toronto. Wideout Aaron Hargreaves (SFU) made one catch for 17 yards, presumably after shooting up a small flare to let Michael Bishop know it's good to actually look for a secondary receiver once in a while.

Toronto Argonauts (2-3) — Receivers Mike Bradwell (McMaster; two catches for 18 yards) and Chad Rempel (U of S; one for 18) were each factors in the passing game in the Argos' latest home loss. Veteran wideout Andre Talbot (Laurier) is on the nine-game injured list; one wonders if this paperwork before he retires.

B.C. Lions (1-4) — Middle linebacker Javy Glatt (UBC) had a sack in the Lions' latest debacle. Foley (York) was shut out.

A colleague remarked the the black retro uniforms the Leos wore a few weeks ago made them look like the old Ottawa Rough Riders. They don't need uniforms to look like Riders these days.

D-lineman James Edwards, who had a year of eligibility left at McMaster, has been signed. A "yield" sign would have better chance to slowing down opposing runners than the tackles B.C. has used.