Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Shemar Bridges has been an excellent addition to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats offence in 2024.
The rookie receiver is currently fourth in the CFL in receiving yards (906) and has scored four touchdowns so far this year.
And he’s close to a record-breaking season.
The 26-year-old has hauled in 79 receptions and all he needs is 11 more to pass Derel Walker’s record (89) for first-year players. Will he write his name in the record books this week against the BC Lions? Find out on Friday night.
CFL.ca brings you this week’s Game Notes.
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DOWN THE STRETCH
(Team | Remaining schedule | Combined record)
West Division
- Winnipeg | EDM, @HAM, TOR, Bye, @MTL | 28-27-1 (.509)
- BC | HAM, CGY, @SSK, MTL, Bye | 26-27-3 (.491)
- Saskatchewan | OTT, @EDM, BC, Bye, CGY | 24-30-2 (.446)
- Edmonton | @WPG, SSK, @CGY, Bye, TOR | 25-29-2 (.464)
- Calgary | Bye, @BC, EDM, @HAM, @SSK | 23-32-1 (.420)
East Division
- Montreal | @TOR, Bye, OTT, @BC, WPG | 30-25-1 (.545)
- Ottawa | @SSK, Bye, @MTL, @TOR, HAM | 29-25-1 (.536)
- Toronto | MTL, Bye, @WPG, OTT, @EDM | 32-17-2 (.660)
- Hamilton | @BC, WPG, Bye, CGY, @OTT | 27-27-2 (.500)
| Game Notes | |
| Edmonton at Winnipeg | Download PDF |
| Hamilton at BC | Download PDF |
| Ottawa at Saskatchewan | Download PDF |
| Montreal at Toronto | Download PDF |
QUICK SLANTS
League-Wide
- Over the past four weeks, games have averaged 54.2 points per game and 766 yards of net offence.
- There have been 70 singles this season (36 per cent more than last year) with punters accounting for 44.
- Penalties this season are at the lowest level since 1974 – 14 per game.
- Home teams are 37-24-2 this season. All four visiting teams won last week.
- Punting (48.3 yards) and kickoff (65.6) averages are currently the highest in CFL history.
EDM at WPG
- To win the season series, Edmonton will need to win by at least 14 points.
- In each of Edmonton’s wins this season, they have led at the half.
- Edmonton owns the best red zone offence with 34 touchdowns in 46 opportunities (73.9 per cent)
- In the past two games, Edmonton has rushed for 408 yards on 52 attempts (7.8 yards per rush) with 16 going for 10+ yards.
- Justin Rankin ran for a career-high 157 yards last week – it was the highest mark that Winnipeg has yielded to a single rusher since 2014.
- Edmonton has three defensive players with five takeaways – Darrius Bratton, Devodric Bynum and Loucheiz Purifoy.
- Eugene Lewis needs 32 receiving yards to reach 6,000 in his career.
- Winnipeg has won the teams’ past 11 matchups with the Elks last victory coming on November 3, 2018.
- Winnipeg owns the second-ranked red zone defence, denying a major on 18 occasions in 37 opportunities (49 per cent).
- Brady Oliveira has reached the 1,000-yard mark for a third consecutive season with five 100+ yard efforts. He needs 15 more rushing yards to become the eighth Blue Bomber to reach 4,000 in his career.
- Sergio Castillo has set a new CFL single-season record for 50+ yard made field goals (nine).
HAM at BC
- The teams’ have split their last six games at BC Place with five being decided in the final three minutes.
- Hamilton is looking for its first four-game win streak since 2022.
- Bo Levi Mitchell has surpassed the 4,000 passing yard mark for the fifth time in his career. He leads the league with 19 30+ yard completions.
- Shemar Bridges needs 11 receptions to eclipse Derel Walker’s record (89) for first-year players.
- Before and after Chris Jones joined Hamilton:
- Games: 10 | 4
- Points allowed per game: 33.4 | 26.5
- Offensive touchdowns allowed per game: 3.5 | 2.25
- Interceptions for: 0.4 | 2.0
- BC has not swept the teams’ season series since 2016.
- The Lions are coming off a bye. They are on a 4-2 in their past six games on a week’s rest.
- Nathan Rourke is 1-0 as a starter against Hamilton.
- The Lions’ last win at BC Place came on July 13.
- In the teams’ first meeting, Justin McInnis recorded 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns and William Stanback tallied 156 yards from scrimmage, while adding two majors.
- Stanback is 41 rushing yards shy of his third career 1,000-yard season.
OTT at SSK
- In Week 10, the two teams tied 22-22 at TD Place.
- Ottawa is 6-2-1 versus the West.
- The REDBLACKS are 5-0 when leading after the first quarter and 6-1-1 in games decided in the final three minutes.
- Despite an 8-5-1 record, Ottawa has a -24-point differential.
- Jeremiah Masoli is 2-5 as a starter against Saskatchewan.
- Over the past four weeks, Dominique Rhymes has led all receivers with 372 yards.
- Since 2017, the teams are 5-5-1 head-to-head. However, the Roughriders are 4-2 at home.
- Saskatchewan leads the league in turnover ratio (+15).
- Trevor Harris is 7-4 as a starter against his former team.
- Last week, former REDBLACK Ryquell Armstead set a career-high 207 rushing yards in his first game with Saskatchewan.
- In the teams’ first meeting, Dohnte Meyers registered 101 receiving yards on eight catches.
- Kian Schaffer-Baker needs four receptions to reach 200 in his career.
MTL at TOR
- Montreal won the team’ most recent meeting at BMO Field, 30-20 in Week 4.
- Montreal has not claimed the season series since 2019.
- Montreal is on its longest unbeaten road streak (9-0-1) since 1979. At 6-0-1, the team is one win shy of breaking the club record for road victories in a single season.
- Alouettes quarterbacks have the highest efficiency rating on 20+ yard passes – 150.3 with 13 touchdowns to three interceptions.
- Jason Maas’s next victory will be his 62nd, moving him into 24th all-time past Chris Jones and John Payne.
- Tyrice Beverette needs six defensive tackles for 250 in his career.
- Beverette (114) and Darnell Sankey (100) lead the league in defensive plays.
- Jose Maltos has made 21 straight field goals – three off the Sean Whyte’s club record set in 2011.
- Toronto is 7-3 in the teams’ past 10 meetings.
- The Argonauts are the only team in the East to defeat Montreal (37-18 in Week 6).
- Chad Kelly is 3-1 against Montreal.
- After suffering an injury in Week 8, Wynton McManis returned last week to record eight defensive tackles.
- In his last three games, DaVaris Daniels has 15 receptions for 263 yards (17.5 yards per catch).
- DaShaun Amos leads the league with seven takeaways (five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
