Wynton McManis delivers wake-up call to last-place Argonauts: ‘We need everybody to hurt'
The 30-year-old Argonauts linebacker, who has been easing back into action from a knee injury, finds himself in unfamiliar territory with the team he joined in 2022. The Grey Cup defending champions, an abysmal 2-7, are feeling pressure to lock in and win. It can make emotions run high, especially for vocal leaders such as McManis.
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Montreal Gazette
6 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Inside the CFL: Nine thoughts on nine teams at season's halfway mark
CFL By As the CFL turns the corner this weekend on the final half of the regular-season schedule, here are nine thoughts on nine teams — with plenty of bonus reflections on the Alouettes. Montreal Kudos to the Als for having a winning record — barely — through nine games considering they're without injured starting quarterback Davis Alexander, receivers Tyson Philpot and Austin Mack, defensive-tackle Mustafa Johnson, cornerback Kabion Ento and returner James Letcher Jr. But Montreal also started the season 3-0, is on a two-game losing streak heading into B.C. Saturday night (7 p.m., TSN1, RDS, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM) and appears to be sinking fast. We'd suggest the Als are in danger of missing the playoffs, but Ottawa and Toronto might be worse. McLeod Bethel-Thompson clearly wasn't the solution when Alexander injured his hamstring, and now the Als have turned to Caleb Evans. While Bethel-Thompson now, conveniently, is on the six-game injured list (elbow), remember that he overthrew an open Tyler Snead in the end zone — with a bad elbow, supposedly — on the play preceding the Tyrell Ford interception that was returned for a touchdown. Had that play been converted, the Als probably would have beaten Edmonton — and Bethel-Thompson would be playing Saturday. Instead, Montreal lost by one point, as it did earlier this season at home against the Lions. And it also defeated the Argonauts by a point on July 17. The Als could be 7-2. They also could be 4-5. This team has trouble completing games and continually shoots itself in the foot with careless mistakes. An offside penalty against Geoffrey Cantin-Arku on a late kickoff last week forced the play to be repeated — which resulted in a 23-yard swing in Edmonton's favour — eventually leading to the winning touchdown. When the defence requires a stop, it has been unable to produce — as was the case against the Lions, leading to Sean Whyte's winning 43-yard field goal on the final play. It was a misconduct penalty against guard Pier-Olivier Lestage that provided B.C. with improved field position. We find it interesting head coach Jason Maas has put no timetable on Alexander's return from the six-game injured list, meaning it could be much more serious. This uncertainty should have Als fans concerned. We believed the Als were onto something following their 2023 Grey Cup victory. But that now appears to be an aberration. If the Als are under the salary cap, will owner Pierre Karl Péladeau do something to stop the bleeding? Or will he have a knee-jerk reaction come November should things continue in a downward spiral? It's not like he makes money on the team. Ottawa The Redblacks can be competitive when QB Dru Brown is on his game, but he's continually injured and left Thursday's game at Winnipeg after clutching his knee. This is a team that always appears stuck in neutral, never able to take the next step. Free agents — receiver Eugene Lewis, tailback William Stanback — are signed because management believes they'll provide the missing pieces to the puzzle. Instead, the club always appears to be lacking something. Toronto How the mighty have fallen. The Argos won the Grey Cup last season, but are floundering without injured QB Chad Kelly. Everyone underestimated how much his absence would mean. His replacement, Nick Arbuckle, was named the Cup's most valuable player, but has proven to be nothing more than a one-hit wonder. And head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, judging by his frequent post-game comments, appears to be at wit's end finding solutions. There's the potential of a second-half surge — like last season — should Kelly return. Hamilton It begins and ends with QB Bo Levi Mitchell. We thought, at age 35, he might be done. Instead, he's the CFL's leading passer and will probably be named its outstanding player. The addition of receiver Kenny Lawler has been huge and, combined with Tim White, provides the Tiger-Cats with two dangerous threats. The East Division goes through Hamilton. First-year GM Ted Goveia is battling cancer. Don't think the players aren't using this as motivation in their pursuit of a championship. Winnipeg The Blue Bombers have had a great run, with five consecutive Cup appearances, albeit three straight defeats. Is it over? Perhaps. The team's inconsistent. QB Zach Collaros, 36, shows his age and still throws too many interceptions. But Winnipeg still has RB Brady Oliveira and defensive-end Willie Jefferson. Saskatchewan Perhaps the most complete team from top to bottom, and QB Trevor Harris, at 39, is aging like fine wine. But if they reach the Grey Cup and the game comes down to a field goal, is Brett Lauther reliable? Calgary The Stampeders went 5-12-1 last season, ending their 18-year playoff streak. Calgary (6-3) already has surpassed that and has thrived under QB Vernon Adams Jr. Defensive-tackle Jaylon Hutchings has six sacks, while Canadian cornerback Adrian Greene has four interceptions. Edmonton Is it too late for the Elks, or can QB Cody Fajardo turn their season around? There are some pieces in RB Justin Rankin and returner Javon Leake, but this once-great franchise is stuck in mediocrity. B.C. Canadian QB Nathan Rourke, the league's highest-paid player, passed for 408 yards last week against Hamilton. The Lions are a dangerous and explosive offensive team, but have struggled defensively at times.
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Elks defeat Argos 28-20 for second straight win
EDMONTON – Steven Dunbar Jr.'s early fourth-quarter touchdown catch proved to be the difference as the Edmonton Elks emerged with a 28-20 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in a game between two teams clinging on to playoff hopes on Friday. The Elks (3-6) have now won two games in a row. The Argos (2-8) have lost three straight. The teams traded field goals on their first possessions, with Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu converting a 14-yard attempt after the Argos were set up by a 56-yard catch by Dave Ungerer, and Edmonton's Vincent Blanchard making a 30-yard boot through the uprights. Blanchard added a 20-yard field goal late in the opening quarter. Hajrullahu responded with a 45-yard field goal to start the second. Toronto's defence stepped up with a big play five minutes into the second as Wynton McManis intercepted Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo at the Edmonton 37. However, the Argos were held to a 20-yard field goal. Edmonton finally got the game's first major with just over a minute to play in the first half as running back Justin Rankin scampered in from two yards out. Toronto added a punt single before halftime. The Argos surged ahead midway through the third quarter as quarterback Nick Arbuckle floated a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jake Herslow. The Elks clawed back to within a point behind a 52-yard Blanchard field goal to make it 17-16 with four minutes remaining in the third. The Elks' defence came up big late in the third, forcing an Arbuckle fumble at the Edmonton 17, that was recovered by Robbie Smith. Edmonton marched all the way down the field, culminating in a four-yard TD pass deep into the end zone from Fajardo to Dunbar. They added a single off the ensuing kickoff to lead 24-17. Toronto came back with a 29-yard field goal from Hajrullahu. Blanchard attempted a 43-yard field goal but was wide for a single. The Argos attempted a fake punt with two minutes left in the fourth but were stopped short and turned the ball over on downs at their own 35, leading to a 22-yard field goal by Blanchard. Edmonton was able to stop a late Toronto drive to put the game away. NOTES Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Toronto had won four of the previous five meetings between the two squads. It was their first meeting of the season, with another coming in Week 15. They split the season series in 2024, with the games being decided by a total of four points. … The defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts entered the game having scored 31-plus points in their last three games and in five of their nine contests this season. However, their record when scoring that much was just 1-4. … Rankin was held to zero yards rushing on the ground in Edmonton's previous game for the second time this season. … Blanchard also handled punting duties with Cody Grace out with a knee injury suffered in the Elks' last game against Montreal. UP NEXT Argos: Host the B.C. Lions on Saturday. Elks: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Canada News.Net
19 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Roughriders host Tiger-Cats in potential Grey Cup peek
(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images) Is Saturday's showdown between the East-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the West-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina a potential Grey Cup preview? That answer won't be formulated until late November, but it's not wrong to opine that the matinee matchup could help shape the second half of the CFL season. 'If you're a CFL fan, you really look forward to watching a game like this,' Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris said to the Regina Leader-Post. Saskatchewan (7-1) enjoyed a bye week after a 34-6 thumping of Montreal Aug. 2 in Quebec. It owns a 1 1/2-game advantage over Calgary and a game in hand to boot. The Roughriders boast the league's best scoring differential at plus-59. Hamilton (6-3) possesses a one-game lead on Montreal in the East, although its six-game winning streak ended on Aug. 7 with a 41-38 home loss to B.C. The TiCats are 4-0 within their division and might have the league's best pitch-catch combo in Bo Levi Mitchell and Kenny Lawler. Mitchell has thrown for a league-high 2,856 yards and 21 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Lawler has been his favorite target with 783 yards, good for second in the league, and a CFL-best eight scores. 'We're talking about one of the best receivers in the league,' Saskatchewan coach Corey Mace said of Lawler. 'Sometimes (Mitchell) is going to trust his guy and he's going to put it up there.' The Roughriders counter with the 39-year-old Harris, who's completed at least 70 percent of his passes in 11 straight games dating to last season and has hit 13 touchdown passes against only four picks in 2025. 'I don't think there's a quarterback in football that gets the ball out quicker,' Hamilton coach Scott Milanovich said. 'His accuracy is as good or better than ever. All those years of experience are enabling him to know exactly where he wants to go with the football quicker.' Saskatchewan is aiming for a season sweep after rallying in the second half for a 28-23 win on June 14 in Hamilton. That was actually below both teams' per-game averages. The TiCats score 32.3 ppg to lead the league and the Roughriders are second at 29.1.
