The fourth week of the 2009 CFL season brings us past the one-fifth mark of the 19 week regular season. This week was all about the dichotomy between the contenders and the pretenders. The surprisingly successful Hamilton Tiger-Cats would test how good they were against the undefeated Alouettes. Elsewhere, floundering teams would meet in Winnipeg as the Argos came to town. Calgary battled B.C. in a West Division Final rematch from last season while Edmonton and Saskatchewan trying to snap their (short) losing skids.

Hamilton 8 @ Montreal 21 – Neither team exactly dazzled offensively but of the two, it was the defending East Division champions that got the win to stay undefeated for the 2009 season. Their quarterback also moved a step closer to history during the game.

It was the Ti-Cats that got on the board first. Nick Setta booted a pair of field goals for an early 6-0 lead. From there, it was all Als. Anthony Calvillo threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jamel Richardson (48 yds) and Brian Bratton (18 yds) in the second quarter to blow the game open. The rest of the scoring was handled by Montreal kicker Damon Duval. Duval kicked a rouge (on a missed field goal) and two field goals to make it a 21-6 lead early in the third. The final two points of the game were also scored by Duval but it was a conceded safety that allowed Hamilton to get their final score of the game.

With his first touchdown, Calvillo passed Hamilton legend Ron Lancaster for second on the all-time passing touchdown list. Calvillo’s 335 career TDs leaves him 59 behind the all-time record amount thrown by Damon Allen of 394 passing TDs in a career.

Toronto 19 @ Winnipeg 5 –It wasn’t much so much an offensive game as it was the duelling kickers/punters. In the end, the Argos, without leading receiver Arland Bruce, rode the leg of kicker Justin Medlock to a win on the road in Winnipeg.

It was the home side that managed to get on the board first with a 35 yard field goal by Anthony Serna. From there, the Argos took control. Specifically, Medlock controlled the game for the Argos. Medlock kicked three in the first half (from 22, 46 and 31 yards) to give the Argos the lead. Jamal Robertson had the lone major of the game with a 1 yard run to cap off a 7 play drive. Medlock kicked another 44 yard field goal before conceding a safety late in the fourth to cap off the scoring. The game was so bad for the Bombers that all three of their quarterbacks took snaps in what looked at times to be more of a pre-season game than in the middle of the regular season as head coach Mike Kelly searches for a way to snap what is now a two week losing skid.

Calgary 48 @ BC 10 –Just when it looked like the season was turning around for the Lions, it turned right back on its head. With Buck Pierce under centre instead of last week’s hero Jarious Jackson, the Leos couldn’t match the crushing offense put up by the Stamps.

However, the Lions were able to lead after the first quarter. The Stamps led off the game with a field goal and rouge before Jarious Jackson ran in a 1 yard TD to make it 7-4 after 15 minutes. From there, it was all Horsemen. Henry Burris threw a pair of five-yard TDs to the Jermaines, Jackson and Copeland. That teamed with another Sandro DeAngelis field goal made it 21-7 at the half. The second half started with more Calgary scoring. Once again, Burris found Jermaine Copeland from 7 yards out for the major. DeAngelis chipped in with a pair of field goals from over 40 yards out. The Stamps also got scoring from the ground game as Joffrey Reynolds scampered home for a pair of short-yardage runs for majors. The Lions did manage to score in the fourth quarter on a 45-yard Sean Whyte field goal. After struggling mightily at home, look for the Lions to start Jarious Jackson in its Week 5 matchup against Hamilton.

Edmonton 38 @ Saskatchewan 33 – It was a close game that was battled to the bitter end but some fortunate calls late in the game allowed the Eskimos to snap a two-game losing skid as they clawed back a 22 point deficit to get the win.

The game started with 22 unanswered points for the Green Riders. Less than four minutes in, Darian Durant found Wes Cates from 4 yards out for the major. After a rouge on the ensuing kickoff, the defence chipped in with a major of their own on the next drive. Lance Frazier picked off a Ricky Ray pass and rumbled 70 yards to pay dirt. The next major came early in the second quarter when Durant called his own number for a 18 yard running touchdown. Edmonton tried getting back in the game with a pair of Noel Prefontaine field goals and a 37 yard rushing touchdown by Calvin McCarty. After a Luca Congi field goal late in the first half, the Riders held a strong 25-13 lead at the half.

When the second half kicked off, the Eskies turned up the wick. They started with a 34 yard Prefontaine field goal. The special teams got in on the action next. Tristan Jackson returned a Saskatchewan punt 75 yards for a major. Before the quarter was out, Calvin McCarty rushed home for his second major of the game to make it 30-25 for the visitors. However, it was the home side that would come out fighting in the final frame. Chris Szarka rumbled home one yard for the major and the two-point conversion made it a three-point lead for the Green Riders. Very quickly, the Riders gave most of their lead back when they conceded a safety with 11 minutes remaining. On the next Esks drive, Arkee Whitlock busted loose for an 18 yard touchdown run but a missed two-point convert left Saskatchewan only needing a major to retake the lead. However, a short spot on a third and short and dropped pass on a third and long in the final three minutes sealed the win for the Eskimos.

Offensive Player of the Week:Anthony Calvillo (MTL) – 30/39, 404 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int
Defensive Player of the Week:Barrin Simpson (WPG) – 14 Tkls, 1 FF

East Division Standings
1. Montreal 4-0
2. Toronto 2-2
3. Hamilton 2-2
4. Winnipeg 1-3

West Division Standings
1. Calgary 2-2
2. Edmonton 2-2
3. Saskatchewan 2-2
4. BC 1-3

Week 5 Schedule:
Thursday:Montreal Alouettes at Edmonton Eskimos
Friday: BC Lions at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Saturday: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts
Saturday:Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders