RECAP: Semi-Final Saturday in the CFL
East Semi Final: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened the scoring with an 88-yard, 5-play drive, capped by a 32-yard touchdown reception from Ontaria Wilson. The Toronto Argonauts responded before the end of the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown catch by CFL Rookie of the Year, Tyler Kahmann. In the second quarter, the Argonauts capitalized on three Winnipeg turnovers, converting them into three field goals to take a 16-10 lead into halftime. Toronto extended their lead to 19-10 to start the third quarter after a 10-play, 73-yard drive resulted in their fourth consecutive field goal. The momentum shifted when the Blue Bombers’ defense provided a spark: defensive lineman David Reese returned a Chad Kelly fumble 58 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 19-17. After Lirim Hajrullahu added his fifth field goal of the day for Toronto early in the fourth quarter, Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly was forced to leave the game due to injury. With 90 seconds remaining, the Blue Bombers orchestrated a 5-play, 52-yard drive, ending in a 23-yard touchdown reception by Nic Demski. Demski then successfully converted the two-point attempt, securing a 25-22 victory for Winnipeg and setting up an East Final matchup against the Montreal Alouettes.
West Semi Final: Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions: The defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders opened strong, scoring on four of their first five drives—including 10 points off two BC turnovers—to take a 17-3 lead midway through the second quarter. The BC Lions responded before halftime, scoring 10 points in the final five minutes to close the gap to 17-13. After the Riders opened the second half with two field goals, the Lions countered with two touchdowns on their first drives to take a 27-23 lead into the fourth quarter. BC then added two more field goals while limiting Saskatchewan to just one, securing a 33-26 victory and a trip to Edmonton for the West Final. It is their 4th West Final visit in the past 5 years.
CFL FINALS:
- East Final: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Montreal Alouettes: Saturday, November 7: Throughout the final third of the regular season, the Blue Bombers demonstrated significant resilience to secure a playoff berth, culminating in a hard-fought victory over the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field in the Semi-Final. This win advances the team to the East Final, where they will face the Montreal Alouettes. The Alouettes clinched their postseason spot on September 4th and subsequently secured first place in the East Division following a 27-10 victory over the Bombers on October 3rd. On paper, the Montreal Alouettes are the overwhelming favorites in this game as they:
- have won their last 12 consecutive home games including last season’s East Semi-Final game where the Als defeated these Bombers 42-33.
- The Al’s last loss in Percival Molson Stadium was September 6, 2025 (26-9 loss to Hamilton).
- The Als are dressing 2 of the 3 CFL Most Outstanding Player nominees.
- They not only have one but two, 1400+ yd – 13 TD receivers.
- They have only thrown 6 interceptions all year.
- They have only missed 4 FG’s all year
However, the Blue Bombers should not be underestimated. They possess a veteran roster with significant playoff experience. When this pedigree is combined with the talents of all-time Canadian running back Brady Oliveira, dynamic receivers Nic Demski and Ontaria Wilson, and the reliable kicking of Sergio Castillo, the Bombers are well-positioned to execute a physical ground-and-pound game, secure a victory, and advance to Calgary as the East Division’s Grey Cup representative.
Ultimately, games are decided on the field, not on paper.
- West Semi Final: BC Lions at Edmonton Elks: Saturday, November 7: This is the biggest game in Edmonton since the 2015 West Final and marks the sixth consecutive year that the top two teams in the West have squared off at this stage:
- 2021 – #2 Saskatchewan 17 at #1 Winnipeg 21
- 2022 – #2 BC 20 at #1 Winnipeg 28
- 2023 – #2 BC 13 at #1 Winnipeg 24
- 2024 – #2 Saskatchewan 22 at #1 Winnipeg 38
- 2025 – #2 BC 21 at #1 Saskatchewan 24
Historically, Edmonton holds a 5-2 edge over the Lions in the West Final. The teams last met on July 17th, with the Elks winning 19-17 at Commonwealth Stadium, following a 36-24 Lions victory in Kelowna 13 days earlier. Since their last encounter, both teams have been on impressive runs, with the Elks going 8-4 and the Lions posting a 10-4 record.
The Strategic Matchup – BC Offense vs Elks Defense:
The Lions are led by West Division All-Star quarterback Nathan Rourke, who had an outstanding season, throwing for 4,614 yards and 24 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions and a passing efficiency of 111.8. The Elks’ defense has also performed well, holding opposing quarterbacks to 4,909 yards and 26 touchdowns while recording 27 interceptions and limiting them to an 85.8 passing efficiency. Additionally, running backs Zander Horvath (894 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry, 18 touchdowns) and James Butler (539 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry, 5 touchdowns) form a formidable duo. The Elks will look to counter this with the CFL’s top-ranked defense, led by linebackers Nick Anderson (65 tackles) and Joel Dublanko (73 tackles), which has maintained a disciplined front and held opponents to 4.8 yards per carry.
The Strategic Matchup – Edmonton Offense vs Lions Defense:
The Elks are anchored by CFL Most Outstanding Player nominee Cody Fajardo, who enjoyed a career year, recording 551 passing attempts, 382 completions, 4,788 passing yards, and 25 touchdowns. Fajardo enters this matchup with a 103.6 passing efficiency, facing a Lions defense that has tightened significantly since a slow start to the season; the Lions have allowed 5,308 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, maintaining a 103.8 passing efficiency against opponents. On the ground, the Elks feature a potent rushing attack led by Justin Rankin, who tallied 1,170 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and 9 touchdowns, with strong contributions from ShunDerrick Powell (344 yards at 7.2 yards per carry) and Javon Leake (215 yards at 5.8 yards per carry). They will be tested by a Lions defensive front that has held opponents to an average of 4.4 yards per carry, spearheaded by Jackson Findlay (92 tackles) and veteran Darnell Sankey (114 tackles).
The Strategic Matchup – Special Teams:The Elks have the West Division All-Star Punter, Jake Julien and Place-Kicker, Vincent Blanchard while the Lions are led by an all time great in Sean Whyte and punter, Carl Meyer. The Lions return game was led by Jermain Jackson last week while the Elks can counter with the dynamic, Javon Leake (92 returns, 1499 yds) or the newcomer, Montrell Washington (37 returns, 699 yds).
The West Final promises to live up to all the hype. With two elite quarterbacks, formidable defenses, powerful rushing attacks, world-class kickers, and ideal weather conditions, it is shaping up to be an instant classic. The Elks have worked tirelessly all season to secure home-field advantage, providing the benefits of a familiar environment and the unmatched energy of our home crowd. Coach Kilam’s crew is ready to bring the heat…are you?
