Les stars de ROUGE et NOIR se disputent la tête dans de nombreuses catégories statistiques

Only four weeks remain in the CFL regular season, and much of the chatter league-wide has been the exceptionally tight playoff battles that exist virtually ubiquitously, but there are other races going on that deserve attention.

Offensively for the REDBLACKS, receiver Justin Hardy has put on quite the show in 2024, hauling in 90 passes on 121 targets for 1,241 yards. That’s impressive on its own, but consider this; through 17 weeks, he leads the CFL in each one of those stats.

In all likelihood, Hardy will relinquish his leads in at least some of those categories as he sits and watches Week 18 action from home with the REDBLACKS on bye. B.C. Lions’ wideout Justin McInnis is 38 yards behind, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ popular option Shemar Bridges trails by one target and seven receptions, but McInnis will have played an additional game in comparison to Hardy after this week.

Elsewhere on offence, Dustin Crum is within striking range of the top spot for rushing touchdowns. Last season, the Kent State alum finished tied with Brady Oliviera with nine for the most in the league, and the season before, Caleb Evans topped the charts for the REDBLACKS.

At present, Chris Streveler holds down the top position with 10 touchdowns, but will miss the rest of the season with an injury. Crum currently sits in the fourth spot, split by Tommy Stevens and Dakota Prukop, but still can chase down Ottawa’s third consecutive season with a rushing touchdown leader.

Where the REDBLACKS really have a chance to make some noise, however, is on the defensive side of the ball. In a season where sack numbers as a whole are down, Ottawa has a pair of players chasing the lead. Currently, Michael Wakefield is tied with Sione Teuhema and Jake Ceresna for the most, but Lorenzo Mauldin is only one back after securing his sixth sack of the campaign last week in Saskatchewan.

Wakefield, having already set a career-high in sacks this season, is also chasing down the forced fumbles leader. Currently, the Valdosta, Georgia native has a career-high three, while Tyrice Beverette in Montreal leads the charge with four.

Mauldin also has a pair of forced fumbles this season, putting him within striking distance, even late in the season.

When it comes to pick sixes, no one is better right now than Damon Webb, who is the only player in the CFL to have multiple this season. Even more impressively, he did it in just one game, taking a pair of errant passes to the house against the Toronto Argonauts a couple of weeks back.

For years, the REDBLACKS have prided themselves on special teams, and once again in 2024, they’ve had one of the better units in the CFL. Kicker Lewis Ward has hit the second-most field goals, while the REDBLACKS are one of only two teams who have returned both a punt and kickoff for a touchdown this season.

Even more REDBLACKS are nearing personal milestones. On offence, Dominique Rhymes is only 139 yards shy of his third 1,000-yard season, while Alijah McGhee and Webb battle for the team lead in interceptions defensively, currently tied with three.

For many of the names mentioned, and even those who aren’t, earning All-CFL honours is a big goal. With voting open now, you can help them reach those heights by submitting your votes today.