WizardTakes Michael Ball interview: CGFL picks and trophy dispute

In the WizardTakes Michael Ball interview, the Canadian football analyst picked the Regina Thunder over the Soo St. Marie Cougars and the Langley Rams over the Westshore Rebels. He also told Ball that the Saskatoon Hilltops’ failure to bring the PFC championship trophy to Regina was a mistake, but that the dispute had overshadowed the football.

What did WizardTakes say about the Westshore Rebels and Langley Rams reaching the BCFC final?

WizardTakes said the Westshore Rebels’ passing attack made their semifinal against the Okanagan Sun worth watching, while the Langley Rams advanced with a disciplined plan despite missing Daryl Overstreet Jr. He was disappointed that the VI Raiders did not make their game against Langley closer.

Westshore’s passing game against the Okanagan Sun

In WizardTakes’ account, Westshore quarterback Anthony Cancellari threw for just under 500 yards. He estimated that the teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense, with roughly 630 for Westshore and 550 for Okanagan. The Rebels kept moving the ball through the air, and he felt the Sun could not stop them.

Langley’s plan without Daryl Overstreet Jr.

WizardTakes saw the other semifinal as a missed opportunity for the VI Raiders. With Overstreet unavailable, he thought VI had a chance to show it could return to the level he associates with its history. Instead, he said the Raiders generated little offense until late in the game.

He credited Langley’s coaches for adjusting rather than asking backup quarterback Chase Thurston to replace Overstreet’s passing production. Thurston made useful throws, avoided turnovers and managed the game well, WizardTakes said. Looking ahead to the final, he noted that Westshore had handed Langley its only loss of the campaign and hoped Overstreet would be available for the rematch.

What did WizardTakes say about the Soo St. Marie Cougars and their OFC title?

WizardTakes said the Soo St. Marie Cougars won the OFC championship despite setting a championship-game record for penalties. He still considered their offense dangerous for Regina: quarterback Emerson Peterkin can extend plays, and running back Sam Mustafa gives the Cougars speed and receiving ability.

Penalties against London

An OFC statistician told WizardTakes that Soo St. Marie had set the championship-game penalty record. He pointed to one London drive extended by three Cougars pass-interference penalties on second down. Later, a roughing-the-passer call negated what he described as a potential game-sealing interception return for a touchdown, and London subsequently scored.

WizardTakes also credited London’s returning quarterback, its receivers and a defense that contained Mustafa and Peterkin. But he said the Cougars’ penalties were too consequential to set aside when assessing their performance.

What Regina will face on offense

Peterkin reminded WizardTakes of Overstreet: both can throw on the move or escape into open space. He compared Mustafa’s combination of speed, toughness, cuts and receiving skill to other backs he had watched in the league. The Cougars also have a large offensive line, including tackles he estimated at about 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-7.

He described Soo St. Marie’s defense as a collective unit that tends to produce a timely play rather than relying on one standout. WizardTakes attributed much of the second-year franchise’s quick rise to its coaching and recruiting, while stressing that its discipline against London would have to improve.

What did WizardTakes say about the Saskatoon Hilltops trophy controversy?

WizardTakes said the Saskatoon Hilltops appeared to have forgotten the PFC championship trophy when they traveled to play the Regina Thunder. He expected a penalty for the mistake, but disagreed with treating it as evidence of a deliberate slight. Michael Ball argued that a championship organization should not have left the trophy behind.

WizardTakes had seen the Hilltops’ trophy case near the entrance he used at their facility, so he understood why the omission seemed unusual. His explanation was more ordinary: someone may have assumed another person had arranged to bring it. He said the Hilltops had owned up to the mistake, and he could not confirm Ball’s question about whether the Thunder had ever failed to bring the trophy to a previous game.

WizardTakes put the controversy in perspective with the line he wanted fans to take from it:

At the end of the day, it's just been so blown out of proportion

He said the Thunder’s larger goal was the Canadian Bowl. Ball, by contrast, emphasized that fifth-year players had missed the chance to take a photograph with the conference trophy after beating Saskatoon. Ball proposed a specific future home-game penalty for the Hilltops; that proposal was Ball’s, not WizardTakes’.

What did WizardTakes say about the Regina Thunder beating the Saskatoon Hilltops?

WizardTakes said Regina had separated itself from Saskatoon over the season, making the Thunder the stronger side entering the PFC championship game. He thought the Hilltops’ difficulty pushing the ball downfield became decisive, while Regina got important contributions from its defense, return game and a bold short-yardage decision.

WizardTakes had rated Hilltops quarterback Griffin Sander highly but said Sander’s play had dropped below the standard he expected. Saskatoon also used a rookie quarterback who was hurt early. After an early interception return for a touchdown, WizardTakes felt the Hilltops had limited ways to answer; he praised one trick-play call but said it was not a sustainable offense.

For Regina, he highlighted Carwin Williams as a returner who makes an impact without many offensive touches. He also praised coach Scott McCauley’s decision to go for a third-down conversion deep in Thunder territory, calling it unusual for a coach he considers conservative. To WizardTakes, the call showed trust in quarterback Zelianko, the offensive line and the defense if the attempt failed.

He also noted the growth of a Thunder defensive lineman whose number 50 jersey had been damaged during games. WizardTakes had worked out with him and described him as a powerful player, though the discussion did not establish a definitive league record for interception returns or any postseason honor.

Why did WizardTakes pick the Regina Thunder over the Soo St. Marie Cougars?

WizardTakes gave Regina a slight edge over Soo St. Marie because the Thunder can run the ball, stop the run and play more consistently. He said the Cougars’ best performance could make the national semifinal close, but their penalty-heavy OFC final left him unwilling to pick them over Regina.

He considered rushing offense and run defense especially dependable when a team travels. The Thunder also had years of experience pursuing a bigger title, whereas Soo St. Marie was in its second season as a franchise. WizardTakes stressed that the Cougars had earned their place rather than dismissing them as a new team.

Travel remained a question because he did not know Regina’s arrangements. He said Soo St. Marie had moved from a poor grass surface to turf, so he did not expect the field itself to be a major factor. He did note that a Saturday evening game could leave visiting players waiting through much of the day before kickoff.

Why did WizardTakes pick the Langley Rams over the Westshore Rebels?

WizardTakes picked Langley over Westshore even without knowing whether Daryl Overstreet Jr. would play. He saw the Rams as the more consistent team and believed their staff could prepare Chase Thurston to start again if needed. Westshore’s recent form made the matchup close, but its uneven results gave him pause.

The Rebels had already beaten Langley once, and WizardTakes said Westshore looked strong enough to deserve a slight edge on current form alone. Yet he also pointed to a heavy loss to the Okanagan Sun shortly after that win as an example of how sharply the Rebels’ performances could change.

Overstreet’s availability mattered because WizardTakes viewed him as one of the league’s outstanding quarterbacks. Losing him during an earlier meeting had been difficult for Langley to absorb on the fly; with time to prepare, WizardTakes trusted the Rams’ plan more. He hoped both semifinals would be competitive, while acknowledging that close-looking matchups do not always stay close on the field.

Who is WizardTakes?

WizardTakes covers Canadian football.