4 unforgettable OK Tire Labour Day Weekend games in CFL history

To those new to the game, the OK Tire Labour Day Weekend may seem like any other weekend on the calendar.

But those who came before us know that anything can truly happen on Labour Day Weekend in the CFL.

Anything at all.

We’ve seen brawls between bitter rivals, defensive standoffs and - with all due respect to those who adore low-scoring chess matches — offensive explosions that showcase the very best of the game we love.

Here's a sampling:

Exhibit A: Sept. 5, 2016: Hamilton Tiger-Cats 49, Toronto Argonauts 36

Feeling down and out? Like you’re losing in the game of life? If so, we recommend going back and watching highlights of the highest-scoring Labour Day Classic between the QEW rivals. Quarterback Zach Collaros, now with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and the Tiger-Cats recorded a touchdown on the opening drive. Then they fell apart in spectacular fashion with three (!) turnovers and a blocked punt in the second quarter.

Hamilton surrendered 24 unanswered points and looked entirely dead in the water before staging a historic second-half rally against Hall of Fame quarterback Ricky Ray. Collaros shredded the Toronto secondary, completing precision touchdown strikes to Chad Owens, Luke Tasker and Terrence Toliver. Then defensive back Emanuel Davis intercepted a Ray pass and ran it all the way back for a defensive touchdown. This game currently ranks as the highest-scoring Labour Day Classic in league history.

Exhibit B: Sept. 1, 1991: Saskatchewan 56, Winnipeg 23

They call it the Labour Day Classic for a reason, and the 1991 edition lives and breathes to this day in the collective memories of the Saskatchewan Roughrider faithful. (Due to modern-day loyalties, you might not want to bring this game up with Winnipeg defensive assistant Richie Hall, who played in the Saskatchewan secondary that day at Taylor Field.) The Riders forced five turnovers, including two interceptions by free safety Glen Suitor — best known these days as a colour commentator for TSN. On that day, the Saskatchewan defence embodied the aggressive, take-no-prisoners personality of their new head coach, the late Don Matthews.

On the other side of the ball, Saskatchewan amassed 663 yards of total offence. Quarterback Kent Austin threw for 461 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran into the end zone for another major. “I’ll write this down as a butt-kicking,” Darryl Rogers, Winnipeg’s head coach at the time, told reporters after the game.

For Saskatchewan, that butt-kicking was a bright moment in an otherwise brutal season for the Roughriders, who finished 6-12 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1987.

Exhibit C: Sept. 2, 1991: Calgary 48, Edmonton 36

The Stampeder touchdown horse got quite the workout throughout the 1991 season under second-year head coach Wally Buono, especially during the Labour Day Classic against the bitter rivals from the Alberta capital.

Masterminded by then-offensive coordinator John Hufnagel - now the senior advisor to Toronto Argonauts general manager Michael (Pinball) Clemons and head coach Mike Miller — the Stampeders were known for their Six Pack attack featuring receivers Pee Wee Smith, Dave Sapunjis, Derrick Crawford, Carl Bland, and Allen Pitts.

The idea of pulling blockers out to flood the field with five or six receivers was unusual (putting it mildly) at the time, and it worked. Danny Barrett and Edmonton quarterback Tracy Ham traded touchdown drives, with the Stampeders outlasting Edmonton for provincial bragging rights.

Exhibit D: Sept. 2, 1999: BC 44, Montreal 23

Granted, this may not be a traditional Labour Day weekend matchup, but the 1999 tilt between the Lions and Alouettes proved to be a showcase featuring some of the biggest names in the history of the game including Montreal running back Mike Pringle, BC linebacker Carl Kidd, Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo and BC kicker/punter Lui Passaglia.

In spite of Montreal’s star power, Damon Allen and the Lions rolled over the Alouettes at BC Place Stadium. Lions defensive ends Herman Smith and Daved Benefield - whose son Ty Benefield sits atop the preseason edition of the CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings — terrorized both Calvillo and fellow quarterback Tracy Ham. Smith sealed the victory in the third quarter with an interception off Ham that he took to the house in a game that lives on in the memories of Calvillo, now the offensive coordinator in Montreal, former All-CFL defensive back Barron Miles, now the defensive backs coach in Calgary, and former Als slotback Andre Bolduc, now the running backs coach in Winnipeg.