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| Derek D
October 15, 2012
12:04:02 PM
Entry #: 3993199
| CFL Playoffs – You Can’t Beat the Action!
By Derek Dickow, CFL Commissioner
Game one had a few storylines of interest.
CFL Legend Quarterback Russ Smith made comments that this was officially his last playoff run in his historic career. Smith has played more than 25 years and logged over 220 games played.
Red coach Anthony Toma, who has also played for 25 years said, “As far as Russ’ career, we all were in awe of his command. Early on, he played both sides of the ball and was phenomenal. He was unstoppable when he was on point and everybody knew they were playing with a great talent.
My memory of Russ will always be he was an icon and we learned a lot from his play call and offensive sets. Many quarterbacks in our league use his style and that made our league better. But after all the fun on the field, having a beer with Russ after the game was always great.”
Black coach Tarik Kama had this to say, “I wish Russ the best, the CFL lost a great player. Russ is a legend in this league. I wish him the best and hope he will come back and support the league.”
(On a personal note, winning back-to-back titles with Russ as our quarterback in 2002 & 2003 was unforgettable – we were unstoppable. It was a privilege to play for Russ and we will always consider the team with powerhouse Ray Dawood, a versatile Chris Zeer and coach Bobby Seman, arguably one of the greatest teams in CFL history.)
Let’s get back to Sunday and Black vs Green in game one.
Green, led by Coach Tony Attisha, came out swinging as the underdog. All league star Justin Orow made a return after suffering a broken wrist in week five. Coincidentally, that game was also against Black, but Green was significantly short staffed then, and Black won with ease.
Green had a bevy of injuries to deal with all season, this game was clearly no exception, but these are the ‘playoffs baby’ and there are no excuses in the CFL.
Black coach Kama, said “This morning was a grind. I had just come off an injury and Chuck (Karl Dallou) had filled in the last five weeks. I was a little rusty today. It was the greatest battle we had this year, back and forth and it came down to the last play.”
Black won with a final score of 20-13 and punches their ticket back in the Chy Cup Championship Game against Red.
Game Notes
Coach Attisha sent out a text to his players, “…everyone did everything that was asked of them and left it all on the field…true professionals and men of character.”…Ramzi Kizy, JR is 50-50 on retiring after a 25 year career…John-Paul Namou promises to wear shorts without pockets this Saturday…Dallou was quoted as saying, “I know shuck, ok Joe Jonna (pronounced jun-nah) lost and we have a chance, but brashed baba, to me, in my opinion, how do they not take a safety? Huh? Common shuck. Yeah, I’m ready, just give me the ball.”…Coach Kama is playing for his first Chy Cup as a coach.
History will have to wait for the first team to three-peat as Chy Cup Champions as we move on to Red vs White in game two.
In an epic CFL Playoff battle, White, led by coach Joey Jonna, stopped Red late in the forth quarter with less than a minute to go. Red had three time outs and if they were able to keep White from getting a first down, would get the ball back with another opportunity to score.
Red’s defense has been stellar since the trade(s), and they stepped up when they had to. They stopped White late in the forth quarter, and the question for White was what to do on forth down. Take a safety or punt was on everyone’s mind, but back-to-back defending champs White had other plans.
The score was 10-6 and White could have played it safe. Concede two points and pin Red all the way back at their own 20, with no timeouts and 60 yards to negotiate to win in less than 30 seconds. Hindsight is always 20/20 on the field, but White was trying to make a statement by going for it on forth down.
They clearly did, and it ends up arguably the most questionable call Jonna has made.
Those watching the game know how this story ends. Quarterback Zeer, who started the season coming off a broken clavicle bone, found playmaker Pat Kinaya in the end zone to take the lead 12-10 with 3 seconds to go.
Truly an unbelievable CFL finish.
Game Notes
Red has not lost a game since their last trade…White had stopped Red in end zone twice for two safeties in the game…Toma is playing for his first Chy Cup as a coach.
Chy Cup Championship Preview Coming…
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