3DownNation CFL awards: the best and worst of Week 9

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

Week 9 of the CFL season is in the books, bringing a shocking blowout, an exhilarating fourth-quarter comeback, and a sensational first win of the season for the Edmonton Elks.

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: RB Javon Leake, Edmonton Elks

The native of Greensboro, N.C. made his first career start on Saturday in place of an injured Kevin Brown and had a game to remember, rushing 12 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns and catching three passes for 26 yards. Though he ran a relatively poor 4.65-second forty-yard dash coming out of the University of Maryland, Leake was clocked running 35.8 kilometres per hour on his early fourth-quarter touchdown, which is faster than any speed tabulated by an NFL player in 2023.

Honourable mention: QB Tre Ford, Edmonton Elks

Defensive player of the week: DL Willie Jefferson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The former league Most Outstanding Defensive Player was a game-wrecker against B.C., making one tackle, one sack, and two pass knockdowns, one of which forced a turnover on downs. Jefferson has been quiet at times this season but appears to have found his groove, especially with TyJuan Garbutt starting to provide pressure at Winnipeg’s other defensive end spot. The 33-year-old now has four sacks on the year.

Honourable mention: DL Mike Rose, Calgary Stampeders

Special teams player of the week: K Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The nine-year CFL veteran connected on all six of his field goal attempts against the Lions, including kicks from 51 and 60 yards with little wind at his back. Before the start of this year, there had been only two field goals of 60-plus yards made in CFL history. In nine games this season, Castillo has made two. This is the second time this season Castillo has received this recognition.

Honourable mention: KR Mario Alford, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Breakout player of the week: QB Davis Alexander, Montreal Alouettes

The 25-year-old was the runner-up for this award last week and earned it flat-out this time around after completing 19-of-27 pass attempts for 262 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his first career start. Alexander led the Alouettes to a 33-16 win on the road against Hamilton, which remains a tough place to play even with the Tiger-Cats struggling on defence this season. It doesn’t appear Montreal needs to be in any rush to bring Cody Fajardo off the injured list as long as they’ve got Alexander at the controls.

Honourable mention: DL TyJuan Garbutt, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Offensive line of the week: Edmonton Elks

The unit of Martez Ivey, David Foucault, Mark Korte, Shane Richards, and Brett Boyko helped pave the way for a jaw-dropping 276 rushing yards against the previously top-ranked rush defence in the CFL. Some of that yardage can be attributed to Tre Ford’s remarkable speed and the adjustments Saskatchewan had to make to account for it but, regardless, Edmonton’s offensive line was still the best of the week.

Honourable mention: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Coach of the week: DC Jordan Younger, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The first-year defensive coordinator coached an exceptional game on Thursday night as his unit allowed zero points, four first downs, 102 yards of net offence, and 18:08 time of possession against arguably the league’s best offence. Winnipeg’s defence also recorded two takeaways and a season-high four sacks, repeatedly collapsing the pocket around Vernon Adams Jr. If the Blue Bombers are going to continue playing this way on defence, they might still have a shot at hosting a playoff game.

Honourable mention: DLC Juwan Simpson, Calgary Stampeders

CALL IN THE CIRCUS!!!??

Cameron Echols (@CLupe_11) hauls down a prayer from Jake Maier and leaps into the end zone.#CFL #Stampeders #TogetherWeRide
pic.twitter.com/a9NAXKfhyD

— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) August 5, 2024

Best play of the week: REC Cameron Echols, Calgary Stampeders

The 29-year-old made a circus catch early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Argonauts, snagging the ball after it sailed just over the fingertips of cornerback Tarvarus McFadden. The grab was exceptional in and of itself, but Echols had the wherewithal to recognize that he wasn’t touched when he hit the turf near the four-yard line before getting up and powering through DaShaun Amos for the touchdown.

Honourable mention: QB Tre Ford, Edmonton Elks

Worst play of the week: the CFL command centre

What’s the point of reviewing plays if the people in charge of fixing bad calls can’t get it right? The command centre was tasked with reviewing an obvious fumble by Hamilton fullback James Tuck on Friday night and failed to overturn the call despite the Alouettes clearly recovering the ball almost immediately. The CFL’s officiating has been questionable at times over the past month but this was easily the worst mistake of the bunch.

Honourable mention: QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Best game of the week: Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders

73 points, 907 yards of offence, a kickoff return touchdown, an electric environment, and a dramatic win for a previously winless team? That sounds like a recipe for an instant classic. It’s still bewildering that the Elks chose to leave Tre Ford on the bench for seven games but, now that he’s leading the offence, it’s clear opposing defences are going to have to make major adjustments to stop Edmonton’s attack. This was one of the CFL’s most entertaining games of the season so far.

Honourable mention: Toronto Argonauts at Calgary Stampeders

Worst game of the week: B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers

It wasn’t a surprise that this game was a blowout, though most people expected the Lions to be on the winning end of a lopsided score. Instead, the team’s top-ranked offence registered only four first downs, reportedly tying a single-game record for the fewest in franchise history, and failed to score a single point. Credit to Winnipeg for an impressive victory on a short week but it’s tough to play an entertaining game when your opponent doesn’t show up.

Honourable mention: Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats