Week 13 of the CFL season is in the books, featuring a great slate of Labour Day Weekend games. B.C. and Hamilton ended long losing skids, Edmonton and Winnipeg kept rolling, Saskatchewan suffered another heartbreaking loss, Ottawa floundered, Toronto wasn’t able to overcome an early deficit, and Calgary hit a new low.
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. Enjoy.
Offensive player of the week: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Edmonton Elks
The 36-year-old was brilliant in his team’s win over the Calgary Stampeders in the Labour Day Classic, throwing for a career-high 486 yards and three touchdowns. Tevin Jones, Kurleigh Gittens Jr., and Eugene Lewis all had over 100 yards through the air and Bethel-Thompson wasn’t sacked on 36 dropbacks, taking advantage of strong offensive line play and moving well in the pocket to buy extra time.
Honourable mention: REC Tim White, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Defensive player of the week: DB Jamal Peters, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
It seems clear that the six-foot-two, 220-pound defender loves playing against his former team as he made eight tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass knockdown to help Hamilton win the Labour Day Classic by a score of 31-28. Peters held Makai Polk to only one catch for seven yards in the big game and continues to provide a physical presence from his spot at boundary cornerback.
Honourable mention: DB Devodric Bynum, Edmonton Elks
PEYTON LOGAN GOES THE DISTANCE 😱#Stamps #Calgary #Elks #CFLpic.twitter.com/CZtDRrCi2D
— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) September 3, 2024
Special teams player of the week: KR Peyton Logan, Calgary Stampeders
The 25-year-old dodged an oncoming Eteva Mauga-Clements during a late fourth-quarter punt return, found a seam, and exploited it for a 104-yard touchdown. It was easily the best play for the Stampeders on the day, which Logan finished with two punt returns for 108 yards and one touchdown and three kickoff returns for 61 yards. It was the Memphis, Tenn. native’s first career punt return touchdown.
Honourable mention: P John Haggerty, Toronto Argonauts
Breakout player of the week: DB Devodric Bynum, Edmonton Elks
The 25-year-old native of Dallas, Texas has been in and out of the starting lineup all season for the Elks, though he might have earned a permanent job on Monday. Bynum made three tackles, two interceptions, and one pass knockdown in Edmonton’s win over Calgary, returning his two picks for a total of 14 yards. Both interceptions came deep in Elks territory, potentially taking Calgary points off the board.
Honourable mention: REC KeeSean Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Offensive line of the week: Edmonton Elks
The unit of Martez Ivey, David Foucault, Mark Korte, Shane Richards, and Brett Boyko was excellent on Monday, allowing zero sacks against the Stampeders and helping Javon Leake, Kevin Brown, Dakota Prukop, and Dillon Mitchell combine for 102 yards and one touchdown along the ground. The Elks have now won four of their last five games and the improved play of their offensive line has been a major factor in their turnaround.
Honourable mention: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Coach of the week: HC/OC Jarious Jackson, Edmonton Elks
Not only have the Elks been playing high-level football for the past month but they’ve been particularly good on offence regardless of whether they’ve had McLeod Bethel-Thompson or Tre Ford under centre. Edmonton won the Labour Day Classic for only the second time since 2012 and now sit four points out of first place in the West Division, which is remarkable since they started the season 0-7.
Honourable mention: OC Jordan Maksymic, B.C. Lions
Take a bow, Bo Levi Mitchell!!!
The Ticats’ Labour Day upset is secure thanks to this perfect throw to Brendan O’Leary-Orange (@NoNameAfiliated).#CFL #Ticats #TheHammer #LDC
pic.twitter.com/pS5nMO3SG4— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) September 2, 2024
Best play of the week: QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton needed to convert on second-and-eight with 54 seconds left to seal the Labour Day Classic and, instead of checking it down, Bo Levi Mitchell unleashed a long bomb. Brendan O’Leary-Orange was behind DaShaun Amos in coverage and the ball was placed perfectly, giving the Tiger-Cats a first down at Toronto’s five-yard line. It’s this type of high-risk, high-reward play with the game on the line that deserves recognition.
Honourable mention: KR Peyton Logan, Calgary Stampeders
WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?!?
Mario Alford muffs the Jamieson Sheahan (@JamSheahan) punt and Nick Hallett (@nhallett21) recovers to retake the lead!#CFL #Bombers #ForTheW
pic.twitter.com/2JgqpdyQlE— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) September 2, 2024
Worst play of the week: KR Mario Alford, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Mario Alford has made a ton of big plays during his decorated CFL career but his error in the Labour Day Classic in Regina was as costly as they come. Jamieson Sheahan hit a spinning punt that bounced awkwardly off the turf and Alford was unable to handle it as the ball ricocheted off his hands and into the end zone. Nick Hallett jumped on it for the Blue Bombers, giving them a late first-half lead they didn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.
Honourable mention: Calgary’s receivers colliding on a would-be touchdown
Best game of the week: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders
This game was an instant classic, featuring 68 points, 750 yards of offence, huge plays for both teams, a special teams touchdown, and an incredible finish that came right down to the wire. Mosaic Stadium, which hosted a regular season record crowd of 33,861, started to empty when Saskatchewan missed the two-point convert with 14 seconds left, though the fans who departed probably wish they’d have stayed once the Riders recovered the onside kick, which allowed Brett Lauther to try a potential game-winning 60-yard field goal.
Honourable mention: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Worst game of the week: Ottawa Redblacks at B.C. Lions
There weren’t any bad games this past week but this was the weakest of a strong bunch as the Lions rocketed out to a 31-6 lead and never looked back, winning 38-12. Nathan Rourke starting a game in his hometown was a nice storyline, though it was somewhat overshadowed by him blowing off his halftime interview with TSN. The broadcast was also plagued by technical issues, though this was somewhat understandable given Touchdown Pacific was a standalone event played at a temporary facility.
Honourable mention: Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders
