Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

The favourites lived up to their billing as the top dogs will square off for the Grey Cup this year.

The Als scored early and often in the Eastern final.

It is not entirely surprising that both the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders won their respective games to qualify for the Grey Cup.

Both were favoured in their respective games - the Als by 10 over B.C., the Roughriders by three over Calgary.

But it is the manner in which both teams won that said a lot about their personality.

The Als have gone after the opponent's jugular all season, striking early and refusing to let up. This was no different. They took advantage of some early Lions' turnovers and built up an early 17-3 lead. Every time it appeared the Lions had some momentum, the Als struck back, leading to their 56-18 win.

And much of this comes directly from Marc Trestman, who may be the most intense head coach in the CFL in some time. Evidence of that came on one play when the Lions challenged a ruling that the Als had intercepted a pass by quarterback Casey Printers. The video replay official overturned the call, deeming Printers had been downed by contact. But Trestman promptly threw down a flag to challenge that ruling, which may have been a first. The video replay official stood by his ruling.

Trestman's competitiveness has been something he has installed in his team all year.

The Roughriders have not been nearly as dominant as the Als this season, winning games with grit. They showed that against the Stamps, overcoming a 10-0 deficit to win 24-17. But the one thing the Riders do, notably on offence, is produce points creatively. Offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice has made use of all of his receivers and has found a way to incorporate returner Jason Armstead into the offence. Not only did Armstead change the game with a 75-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter, which factored into a touchdown to give the Riders their first lead of the game, but he later produced a successful 42-yard pass off of a lateral, which led to a touchdown on the same series. It is that type of play that has defined the Roughriders' offence under LaPolice, who has found ways to incorporate backups into the lineup.

The Roughriders' receiving corps is not nearly as flashy as Montreal's, but it continues to rise to the occasion, producing three touchdowns from three separate players.

THE QUARTERBACK FACTOR: Anthony Calvillo didn't impress solely with his arm against B.C., tying a playoff record with five touchdown passes, but it was a 24-yard scamper that continues to define his versatility. At least once a game, he'll produce some timely yards with a run. Conversely, Riders' starting quarterback Darian Durant, now playing in his fourth season but his first full one, is showing all the signs of becoming the next star quarterback in the Canadian Football League. He had 18 completions in 25 attempts for only 204 yards and three touchdown passes - by comparison Calvillo was 19 of 28 for 312 yards - but he didn't make any mistakes.

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR HAWKINS: Als' backup running back Andrew Hawkins is clearly a flashy player who can run and catch the ball. His absence from the Cup because of an injury suffered in the game against the Lions could be a factor.

THE DEFENCE RESTS: The Riders made a calculated move to allow free-agent linebackers Anton McKenzie and Maurice Lloyd Middle sign with other teams because they had faith in their backups, one of whom, Rey Williams produced 10 tackles and three sacks against the Stamps. It is the team's ability to understand personnel that has made them a consistent force, in particular having to battle with injuries and free-agent losses since a new regime was installed after the 2006 season.

THE LEWIS FACTOR: Now that it has been reported that receiver Nik Lewis will undergo knee surgery in the next couple weeks, you wonder how much of a factor his health had been in the team's overall dropoff this year. With Ken-Yon Rambo gone early with a season-ending injury, the team never fully got in gear in offence. It showed against Saskatchewan.