3DownNation CFL awards: the best and worst of Week 10

Photo: Matt Johnson/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Week 10 of the CFL season is in the books with the Alouettes completing their sweep of the Tiger-Cats, Edmonton winning a second straight game, the Argonauts scoring two non-offensive touchdowns to beat Calgary, and Saskatchewan and Ottawa battling to a rain-soaked tie at TD Place Stadium.

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: REC Charleston Rambo, Montreal Alouettes

The six-foot-one, 185-pound native of Cedar Hill, Texas was tasked with replacing Austin Mack in Montreal’s offence this season and recently caught fire, catching six passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns in his team’s win over Hamilton. If field-side wide receiver Tyson Philpot is out long-term, expect Rambo to get even more looks on the boundary side whether it’s Cody Fajardo or Davis Alexander under centre.

Honourable mention: REC Tevin Jones, Edmonton Elks

Defensive player of the week: DB DaShaun Amos, Toronto Argonauts

The former West Division all-star wasn’t tested often during his team’s win over Calgary but made the most of a fourth-quarter pass intended for Marken Michel as he intercepted it and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. The six-foot, 188-pound native of Midlothian, Va. has now made 10 defensive tackles and three interceptions over nine games this season at field-side halfback.

Honourable mention: LB Darnell Sankey, Montreal Alouettes

JANARION GRANT 86 YARDS TO THE HOUSE ‼️?#CFLGameDay: LIVE on TSN
?: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/G4yLPmLQa5

— CFL (@CFL) August 10, 2024

Special teams player of the week: KR Janarion Grant, Toronto Argonauts

The 30-year-old two-time Grey Cup champion scored his fourth return touchdown of the season, giving his team a second-half lead in a tight game against the Stampeders. He broke contain around Calgary’s first wave of defenders before directing Tyshon Blackburn to block punter Cody Grace, giving him a clear path to the end zone. Grant is now only two punt return touchdowns shy of tying the CFL’s all-time single-season record, which is held by Henry ‘Gizmo’ Williams and Chris Williams.

Honourable mention: P Richie Leone, Ottawa Redblacks

Breakout player of the week: REC Charleston Rambo, Montreal Alouettes

The 25-year-old out of the University of Miami drew a ton of buzz during training camp and we’re starting to see why as he and second-year quarterback Davis Alexander have developed quick chemistry. With 31 catches for 410 yards and four touchdowns on the year, Rambo will surely receive consideration for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award come the end of the season.

Honourable mention: REC Dohnte Meyers, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Offensive line of the week: Montreal Alouettes

The unit of Nick Callender, Pier-Olivier Lestage, Justin Lawrence, Philippe Gagnon, and Joshua Donovan held Hamilton’s defensive front mostly at bay during their 33-23 win on Saturday, limiting the Tiger-Cats to one sack. Walter Fletcher and Sean Thomas-Erlington combined for 95 rushing yards on only 12 carries, while Dominique Davis scored on a one-yard touchdown plunge. This is the second time Montreal has won this award this season.

Honourable mention: Toronto Argonauts

Coach of the week: STC Mickey Donovan, Toronto Argonauts

Toronto’s special teams units put on a clinic during the team’s win against Calgary as Janarion Grant scored on an 86-yard punt return touchdown, Benjie Franklin forced a fumble on the opening kickoff, Lirim Hajrullahu went a perfect three-for-three on his field goals, and John Haggerty averaged 43.3 net yards on seven punts. The Argonauts are off to a 5-4 start to the season despite not having strong quarterback play and their special teams units are a big reason why.

Honourable mention: HC Jason Maas, Montreal Alouettes

HE. CAN’T. BE. STOPPED. @ReggieBegelton ?#CFLGameDay: LIVE on TSN
?: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/YbEitjz5TU

— CFL (@CFL) August 10, 2024

Best play of the week: REC Reggie Begelton, Calgary Stampeders

It’s one thing to carry your team on your back but it’s quite another to carry your opponent. That’s exactly what Reggie Begelton did on Friday night when he caught a pass from Jake Maier at Toronto’s 32-yard line and powered through Mason Pierce, Benjie Franklin, Robert Priester, and DaShaun Amos for 30 yards after the catch. Tommy Stevens scored on a two-yard touchdown plunge on the following play, giving Calgary a lead they would later squander.

Honourable mention: REC Tevin Jones, Edmonton Elks

NO FLY ZONE ?

Darnell Sankey soars into the air and steals this pass!#CFLGameDay: LIVE on TSN, RDS, & CBSSN
?: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/ImjGaAsZ9V

— CFL (@CFL) August 10, 2024

Worst play of the week: QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Quarterbacks are taught to avoid double coverage and not throw across their bodies, which is why it was surprising to see a two-time M.O.P. break both rules on the same play. Hamilton’s offensive line provided Mitchell with a ton of time to throw on first down but he elected not to throw to a wide-open Kiondre Smith — who was calling for the ball, if you watch the play closely — but fire it into the middle of the field where Darnell Sankey made the interception. The mistake was bad enough for Scott Milanovich to make a quarterback change only five minutes into the game.

Honourable mention: K Boris Bede, Edmonton Elks

Best game of the week: Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts

The final score may have been somewhat lopsided at 39-25 but this was a one-score game until the final two minutes as these teams were very evenly matched. DaShaun Amos made a brilliant break on a pick-six, Janarion Grant continued his dominance, Reggie Begelton made an incredible catch-and-run, and Ralph Holley caught Tommy Stevens in the back-field on third-and-one. This wasn’t the best game of the season so far by any stretch but it was a perfectly solid edition of Friday Night Football.

Honourable mention: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Montreal Alouettes

Worst game of the week: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ottawa Redblacks

This game was a rain-soaked snoozer until late in the fourth quarter when it became memorable for all the wrong reasons. The command centre made multiple head-scratching calls, the game ended in an unsatisfying tie, and all hell broke loose on the Ottawa Redblacks’ bench amid an altercation with an unidentified individual who wasn’t supposed to be there. When these two teams meet again next month, here’s hoping the game is memorable for the right reasons.

Honourable mention: B.C. Lions at Edmonton Elks