Week 8 of the CFL season is in the books and, though some games left much to be desired, the officials called significantly fewer penalties after a flag-happy Week 7.
Below we’ve recognized the best and worst performances of the week from across the country. These awards are selected by 3DownNation’s contributors and will be presented weekly throughout the 2024 season on Tuesday mornings. Enjoy.
Offensive player of the week: QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player lit up Edmonton’s secondary on Sunday night, completing 17-of-25 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns, setting a new career-high. Though his production hasn’t often translated into wins this season, Mitchell has now thrown for 2,257 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions through seven games, putting him on pace for one of the best years of his career.
Honourable mention: RB Frankie Hickson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Defensive player of the week: DL Jake Ceresna, Toronto Argonauts
The six-year veteran was a one-man wrecking crew against Winnipeg on Saturday, recording four defensive tackles and two sacks as the Argonauts forced five takeaways en route to a 16-14 overtime win. Toronto is currently without defensive stalwarts Folarin Orimolade and Jared Brinkman due to injury but, with Ceresna in the middle, the team’s defence has still been able to generate a lot of pressure.
Honourable mention: SAM Redha Kramdi, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Special teams player of the week: KR Kalil Pimpleton, Ottawa Redblacks
The 25-year-old rookie out of Central Michigan had a monster day returning kicks for the Redblacks, recording eight punt returns for 162 yards and one kickoff return for 47 yards. Pimpleton’s best play came early in the third quarter when he brought a punt back 99 yards for a touchdown, all but sealing the win that improved Ottawa’s record for 5-2, marking the best start to a season in the team’s decade-long history.
Honourable mention: P Jake Julien, Edmonton Elks
Breakout player of the week: REC/KR Kalil Pimpleton, Ottawa Redblacks
‘The Zit’ was an honourable mention for this award two weeks ago and it didn’t take him long to win it outright, catching seven passes for a team-high 80 yards and recording nine returns for 209 yards and one touchdown. Pimpleton has quickly become a focal point of Ottawa’s offensive attack, earning a team-high 11 targets from franchise quarterback Dru Brown.
Honourable mention: QB Davis Alexander, Montreal Alouettes
Offensive line of the week: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The unit of Brendan Bordner, Brandon Revenberg, David Beard, Coulter Woodmansey, and Jordan Murray allowed only one sack during the team’s 44-28 throttling of Edmonton, helping Bo Levi Mitchell throw a career-high five touchdown passes. There were also plenty of rushing lanes available for James Butler, who finished the game with 21 carries for 98 yards.
Honourable mention: Saskatchewan Roughriders
Coach of the week: HC Bob Dyce, Ottawa Redblacks
The Winnipeg native had his team ready to play and then some this past week as the Redblacks dominated the visiting Stampeders by a score of 33-6. Special teams is Dyce’s area of expertise and Ottawa’s units have continued to produce despite injuries to returners DeVonte Dedmon and Tobias Harris as rookie Kalil Pimpleton scored a 99-yard punt return touchdown.
Honourable mention: STC Dennis McKnight, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
A little bit of magic from @treford_1 #GoElks
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) July 29, 2024
Best play of the week: QB Tre Ford, Edmonton Elks
The Canadian quarterback made a sensational move to dodge defensive tackle Casey Sayles before escaping the pocket, outrunning an angle from Jonathan Moxey while sprinting to the left sideline. Ford threw against his body to find Javon Leake open for a 22-yard completion, which set up a touchdown pass to Gavin Cobb four plays later. It was too little, too late for the Elks as the play came late in the fourth quarter but it was still a strong reminder of how electrifying Ford can be.
Honourable mention: REC Luther Hakunavanhu, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Worst play of the week: HC/OC Jarious Jackson, Edmonton Elks
This award is typically reserved for an actual player but this week it’s going to a coach who appears to be in well over his head. Jackson kept Tre Ford on the bench until the final 10 minutes of Edmonton’s loss to the Tiger-Cats on Sunday despite McLeod Bethel-Thompson having managed only 85 passing yards in just over three quarters of work. Ford immediately lit a fire on offence, ripping off three quick touchdown passes. Had Jackson played Ford significantly earlier, it’s possible the Elks would have won.
Honourable mention: K Boris Bede, Edmonton Elks
Best game of the week: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts
This was an ugly, sloppy game, though it remained solidly entertaining if for no other reason than to see how many ways the Blue Bombers could shoot themselves in the foot. Zach Collaros fought through near-constant pressure to throw for 317 yards and a touchdown, while Tarvarus McFadden recorded a pick-six on a ball that was tipped twice. This game also went to overtime, which added to the intrigue.
Honourable mention: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Montreal Alouettes
Worst game of the week: Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa Redblacks
It’s hard for a football game to be entertaining when only one team bothers to show up, which is exactly what happened at TD Place Stadium on Friday night. Calgary’s offence was pathetic, their defence was only marginally better, and they never really put up a fight. Redblacks fans surely loved this matchup, which is perfectly fair, but for everyone else, it was a major snoozer.
Honourable mention: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Elks
