Sports Take

It’s time for professional football to take over the summer yet again and a brand new season puts the optimism back into the hearts of fans from coast-to-coast, the CFL season is now officially here.

The CFL is notorious for having week one being the most unpredictable week of the season as old faces in new places plus the potential break out stars lurking in the back waiting to pounce on their opportunity, the new year is always worth watching.

Starting out the CFL season for Thursday Night Football is the Ottawa REDBLACKS visiting the Saskatchewan Roughriders featuring Trevor Harris starting at QB for the Riders, in 2024 he played in 12 games still throwing for 3264 yards with 20 TD and 9 interceptions.

Beside him will be a potential MOP candidate A.J. Ouellette who was sidelined by injury for half the season but looks to get back to being a force to be reckoned with. A one time thousand yard rusher looking to get back to that once again.

One of the guys who’ll be targeted by Harris will be Sam Emilus, a thousand yard receiver for the second time in his three year career so far and looking again to hit that milestone with Harris under the gun. However he’ll also be looking at increasing his touchdown totals from just 5 last season.

On the defensive side of the ball I’m looking at (who else) Rolan Milligan Jr. last years league leader in interceptions with 8 and Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year award winner.

Ottawa on the other hand will have Dru Brown in the starters spot with veteran Matthew Shiltz behind him, Brown racked up the third most passing yards in 2024 with close to 4000 yards, but the TD-INTs ratio was 18-10, not turning over the ball will make all the difference if the REDBLACKS look to be a better team this season.

Beside Brown will be Daniel Adeboboye in the starters spot ahead of William Stanback. Adeboboye had 63 carries for 244 yards last season in Toronto and Ottawa is looking for the Toronto native to be among the break out stars in his fourth CFL season.

The prime target in Ottawa is without question, Eugene Lewis. After a few rough seasons and a dramatic ending in Edmonton Lewis still finished with 1070 yards on 74 catches putting him 6th last season in yards, tack on 10 touchdowns on a struggling team and there’s no doubt Lewis could be the leading receiver in the CFL.

On the other side of the ball it starts with Lorenzo Mauldin IV leading the way, cementing himself as one of the best edge rushers in the CFL and looking to add to his sack totals entering his 5th CFL season.

I pick Ottawa to win this game and get the win on the road in hostile ground and get the ball rolling on what could be a fantastic season in Ottawa.