{"id":913679,"date":"2026-09-29T05:12:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T05:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/913679\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T05:12:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T05:12:12","slug":"3downnation-cfl-awards-the-best-and-worst-of-week-17-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/913679\/","title":{"rendered":"3DownNation CFL awards: the best and worst of Week 17"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Week 17 in the CFL has come and gone, bringing with it a record-setting performance<\/a>, some dominant special teams, and the elimination of another team from playoff contention<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These awards are selected by\u00a03DownNation\u2019s contributors and will be presented weekly throughout the 2026 season. Enjoy.<\/p>\n

Offensive player of the week: QB Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions<\/p>\n

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The CFL\u2019s reigning Most Outstanding Player had his best game of the year against Saskatchewan, completing 22-of-28 pass attempts for 375 yards and four touchdowns. The 28-year-old was also B.C.\u2019s leading rusher on the day, carrying the ball three times for 37 yards. Rourke\u2019s performance helped the Lions win and eclipse the Roughriders for second place in the West Division with four weeks remaining in the regular-season.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: QB Vernon Adams Jr., Calgary Stampeders<\/p>\n

Defensive player of the week: DB Reggie Stubblefield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats<\/p>\n

The veteran strong-side linebacker was all over the field for the Tabbies, notching six defensive tackles. The 28-year-old also made a game-changing interception late in the game, when he wrestled the ball away from Brendan O\u2019Leary-Orange to get his team a first down deep in Edmonton territory. Hamilton may have lost the game, but it was still a great overall performance from Stubblefield.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: DB Adarius Pickett, Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n

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Photo: Edmonton Elks<\/p>\n

Special teams player of the week: K Vincent Blanchard, Edmonton Elks<\/p>\n

The Universit\u00e9 Laval product was simply sensational for the Elks on Saturday, going nine-for-nine on his field goal attempts. The performance included three kicks from 40-plus yards and two attempts in overtime. Blanchard broke the CFL record for field goals in a game<\/a>, which previously belonged to Dave Ridgway (1984 and 1988), Mark McLoughlin (1996), Paul Osbaldiston (1996), and Lirim Hajrullahu (2024).<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: KR Janarion Grant, Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n

Breakout player of the week: LB Kelechi Anyalebechi, Calgary Stampeders<\/p>\n

The six-foot, 234-pound defender recently entered the starting lineup for the Stampeders and had an ultra-productive performance against Ottawa, leading his team with 11 defensive tackles. The native of Pearland, Texas has now made 34 defensive tackles and four special teams tackles through nine regular-season games this year, his second in the CFL.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: REC Cade McDonald, Ottawa Redblacks<\/p>\n

Offensive line of the week: Hamilton Tiger-Cats<\/p>\n

The unit of Trevor Reid, Brandon Revenberg, Brayden Szeman, Liam Dobson, and Brayden Swartout did a nice job against a tough Edmonton front, allowing only one sack and helping Larry Rountree III rush 13 times for 91 yards and one touchdown. The unit also held up well even after Reid left the game due to injury, which pushed Revenberg to left tackle and drew Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay in at left guard.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: Saskatchewan Roughriders<\/p>\n

Coach of the week: HC Buck Pierce, B.C. Lions<\/p>\n

After starting the season 1-5, the Lions have just continued to win. The team knocked off the Roughriders to give their chances of hosting a playoff game a massive boost, and are now 7-1 over their last eight games. Pierce, who also runs the team\u2019s offence, helped the unit record 439 net yards, 31 points, and a whopping 10.0 yards per play.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: STC Mickey Donovan, Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n

So, about this game not mattering to the Toronto Argonauts\u2026<\/p>\n

Special teams coordinator Mickey Donovan seems to have a different take.#CFL<\/a> #Argos<\/a> #PullTogether<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mUNVVzO3zE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 3DownNation (@3DownNation) September 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Best play of the week: Janarion Grant\u2019s cross-field lateral to David Ungerer III<\/p>\n

Special teams can sometimes be the difference in a tight game, which was exactly the case on Friday night in Winnipeg. Grant, who had already scored a touchdown off a missed field goal earlier in the game, threw a long lateral out to Dave Ungerer III on a punt return. The play resulted in a 32-yard gain, which helped the Argonauts score the game-winning field goal with only 29 seconds left.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: Chad Kelly\u2019s touchdown pass to Damonte Coxie<\/p>\n

Worst play of the week: Brendan O\u2019Leary Orange\u2019s late-game drop<\/p>\n

The veteran receiver was wide open in the middle of Hamilton\u2019s zone defence on a key second-and-five in overtime. Cody Fajardo hit O\u2019Leary-Orange in the hands but he dropped the ball, forcing Vincent Blanchard to make a 37-yard field goal to keep the game going. Had O\u2019Leary-Orange made the catch, Edmonton would have had a first down at Hamilton\u2019s 13-yard line with a chance to win the game.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: Winnipeg\u2019s too-many-players penalty after a timeout<\/p>\n

Best game of the week: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Elks<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t necessarily the best-played game of the week, but it was the most entertaining as it went to a convert shootout in overtime. There were plenty of exciting twists and turns, a couple of nice plays after the catch by Hamilton receivers, a record-setting performance from Edmonton\u2019s kicker, and a stellar interception from Reggie Stubblefield.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions<\/p>\n

Worst game of the week: Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa Redblacks<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t an awful game, but it also wasn\u2019t very competitive. Vernon Adams Jr. threw the ball at will, finishing 24-of-30 for 422 yards and three touchdowns, as the Stampeders held a two-score lead for most of the second quarter and the entire second half. The loss pushed Ottawa to 0-14, tying the all-time CFL record for the worst start to a season.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention: Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers<\/p>\n

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