A week after he sets the record for career touchdowns in the Canadian Football League, Anthony Calvillo is injured and knocked out of the game.
Such are the twists and turns of the game's greatest player and how his team, the Montreal Alouettes, can go from amazing to vulnerable predicated on his health.
His backup, Adrian McPherson, played well in spurts in relief of Calvillo in Montreal's 27-24 loss to Saskatchewan, suggesting he could be a starter for another team. He elected to re-sign with the Als, preferring to the learn from a future Hall of Famer and replace him at some point.
McPherson completed 12 of 19 passes with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran 10 times for 41 yards and had one touchdown. Too often it looked as though he was pointing his throws at the primary target and standing in the pocket.
It would be really interesting to see how he would do if he had a few games to showcase himself.
ROUGH STUFF: On the opposite side of the field, Roughriders' quarterback Darian Durant finally had a quality game this season. He completed 70 percent of his passes, and while he only totaled 177 yards, he didn't throw any interceptions. And his running, which he needs to do more regularly, really threw off the Als' defence.
And it now looks as if receiver Chris Getzlaf is stepping up his play, catching four passes against the Als after totaling only seven in the first three games.
The biggest improvement overall, however, was the Roughriders' attitude: they played with a certain anger and intensity that was badly missing in the first three games.
FIGHTING WORDS: Riders' play-by-play man Rod Pederson, who shares his thoughts in a variety of media outlets, posted this about the play in which Als' defensive back Dwight Anderson was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for roughing against the Riders' Weston Dressler. "Anderson deliberately gouged the eye of Weston Dressler last night. Weston's left eye is very bloodshot this morning and he was quite worried since he had laser eye surgery in the off-season. The Riders need to get a photo of it ASAP and get the league office to investigate. That was an absolute gutless play by a guy who couldn't cover Dressler all night. The CFL should investigate, fine and suspend, whether the Riders ask for supplementary discipline or not. After all, in Week 2 the Als got rookie Rider safety Craig Butler fined for FAR less. C'mon CFL, do the right thing."
Not saying Pederson is a homer, but not sure the Riders themselves could have offered a more passionate complaint.
AND ONE MORE ROD ITEM: He noted that the Riders did not give rookie head coach Greg Marshall the proverbial shower for his first win. Apparently it was about to happen, but the Riders fumbled in the final minute when they had a 10-point lead. The Riders won by three, and Marshall was so focused he forgot to remove his headset. That alone ruined the plan.
Then again, we've noticed the shower thing doesn't happen as often anymore.
MORE ON ANDERSON: He was considered a lose cannon in Calgary - certainly a trash talker - and when the Als signed him as a free agent in the off-season, the question was whether he'd keep his emotions intact. Anderson has had relative success adapting to the change from cornerback to defensive back, but after taking the penalty against Dressler he was removed from the field by the Als, who clearly were not happy.
CURIOUS CALLS: Montreal gambling unsuccessfully on a third-and-two with plenty of time in the game and trailing by two touchdowns. In the end, the Als lost by three.
Saskatchewan running the ball on first down inside the final minute and leading by 10 was also risky. Wes Cates fumbled while trying to run off-tackle, the Als recovered, scored a touchdown and, were it not for an unsuccessful onside kick, they might have had a chance to tie the game.
A STAR IS BORN: Receiver Chris Williams is listed at 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, but he played big and tall with eight catches for 189 yards and one touchdown against B.C. It is always impressive when a player who is small in stature becomes a key player in the CFL.
Meanwhile, we're enjoying the fact Arland Bruce 3D, who was injured in the Cats' second-last game and adopted the name Runako Reth, returned to action and made a few plays. His new name translates in African to Handsome King. If he plays like one of the best receivers in the league, he can go by any name he wants.
FOCUS ON KAVIS: As his team continues its amazing start (4-0), much attention has been focused on rookie head coach Kavis Reed. What is really interesting is Reed's focus. In each of the last two games, he has done something which clearly indicates he is in control of his team and his own attention. Last week, a defender intercepted a pass and did a touchdown celebration in the end zone with some teammates. Reed talked to the player immediately after he returned to the sideline and told him to knock off the hotdogging. In the win over Calgary, a melee broke out on the final play, and while Stamps' general manager/head coach John Hufnagel walked over to congratulate him, Reed was more concerned about directing his team off the field, even to the point it appeared he did not want his players shaking hands with the opposition.
WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT WILLIS: Remond Willis, a defensive lineman with Saskatchewan, and Odell Willis, a defensive lineman/end with Winnipeg, are not related, although they were somewhat prominent in separate games. Remond Willis is in his second year in the CFL and was with the Blue Bombers' organization last year, recording only a special teams tackle. The kid does not lack confidence. "I have speed, a lot of speed,'' he said in a Regina Leader-Post article in early July. "I'm 250 pounds of speed all day." The Riders need that speed to create some pressure up front. Odell Willis in his third season with Winnipeg and is leading the league in sacks with six. He had 11 last year, which was third-best in the league.
PLAYER IN STITCHES: Thought we'd seen everything in 15 years of covering the CFL, but seeing an equipment manager stitch a player's torn jersey is a first. Bombers equipment manager Brad Fotey showed his skills stitching up running back Fred Reid's jersey after it was ripped by Argo defensive end, Ronald Flemons. What appeared to originally be a horse-collar tackle was purely a demonstration of Flemons' strength.
SCOTT IN EDMONTON: Seeing a receiver with the name Scott in Edmonton now - as in Tyler Scott - evokes memories of another Eskimos' receiver named Scott - Tommy Scott. Tyler has a long way to go to become Tommy, who is a Hall of Famer.
SURPRISING STAT: Wally Buono now has 136 career losses in the regular season. Buono is the winningest head coach in CFL history, but he's been racking up losses with incredible regularity in recent years. In 13 years in Calgary, he had a record of 153-79-2 for a .659 win percentage. In eight-plus years in B.C., he has a 90-57-1 record for a .608 win percentage. Including this year and the last three, he has 27 wins and 31 losses - and there-in is the source of his team's woes and why the questions arose last week to owner David Braley.
