CFL Insights: Leaders of Labour Day ready to play

TORONTO — As August turns to September and the leaves change, so too does the Canadian Football League landscape.

It’s true, the games played on Mark’s Labour Day Weekend are all worth as much as every other game on the CFL schedule. Yet that first weekend in September is symbolic for something different. Something a little more meaningful than a couple of points in the standings.

We often say that the season starts Labour Day — when the Blue Bombers face the Roughriders, the Eskimos take on the Stampeders and the Argonauts battle the Tiger-Cats.

That time arrives this weekend and with it, we look at some of the leaders of Labour Day:

Ricky Ray, QB, Toronto Argonauts

The Argos’ veteran quarterback has battled for Labour Day supremacy in two different provinces throughout his prolific career. On Monday, Ray will make his fifth start on Labour Day wearing double blue and 13th in all after originally starting eight games as an Edmonton Eskimo.

Ray is the all-time leader in starts (12), touchdowns (16) and yards (3,255) in all Labour Day Classics, compiling a 5-7 record with 16 touchdowns, nine interceptions and four 300-yard games vs. the Stamps and Ticats.

Adarius Bowman, REC, Edmonton Eskimos

Bowman is the active leader in receiving yards on Labour Day, hauling in 38 passes for 622 yards and three touchdowns in seven games played. He’s also recorded three 100-yard games in the fall classic.

One of the CFL’s elite receivers, Bowman is expected to be active for Monday’s game after missing most of the 2017 season — just in time to try and help the Esks end their Labour Day losing streak vs. the Stamps.

Jerome Messam, RB, Calgary Stampeders

No current running back has had more success in the Labour Day Classic than Jerome Messam. In five games played, Messam has carried the football 62 times for 401 yards and six touchdowns.

Last season he crossed the century mark on Labour Day for the first time, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. But nothing is as impressive as the running back’s 6.5-yard rushing average over those five outings, which include the times he suited up for the Eskimos and Roughriders.

Rene Paredes, K, Calgary Stampeders

Chalk up another Labour Day legend for the CFL’s top-ranked team going into the weekend. Kickers don’t always get the glory but Rene Paredes has quietly put up stellar numbers on Labour Day, connecting on all 12 field goal tries with his longest coming from 47.

Paredes is known for his ability in the clutch and if Monday’s meeting comes down to a late kick, the Stampeders will have full faith in No. 30.

Pivotal battles

While Ricky Ray is the active and all-time leader on Labour Day, his opposition on Monday stands at the other end of the scale. Jeremiah Masoli has never thrown a pass on Labour Day but on Monday that will change.

From Masoli to Ray, we break down the starting quarterbacks in this weekend’s rivalries:

Week 11: Projected starts on Labour Day