By Perry Lefko
CFL.ca
The more Milt Stegall chases the record for career touchdowns, the more he is to be admired.
Watching Milt’s pursuit the last few games, moving closer to the record of 137 co-owned by legendary running backs George Reed and Mike Pringle, you can’t help but feel for him.
While his stated goal is purely to win games and, in turn, have a chance to get to the Grey Cup and experience the opportunity to win it for the first time in his career, the story line in the regular season, at least from anyone watching or chronicling Stegall, is the record. He is only two touchdowns short of tying it and one away from eclipsing it.
Every sinew of his body is exerted and extended on every play towards giving his maximum effort. The closer he is to the goal line the more he will do everything within his capability to cross that plane. You see his facial and body reaction when he comes within a yard or less from crossing that stripe and you know all he’s really trying to do is help his team score points.
And you admire how truly difficult it is to score when you’re not a running back.
When you’re a receiver, you have to run the perfect route and hope to beat the defender one-on-one to score a touchdown. Stegall is known for beating a defender in man coverage with the safety playing down low in some kind of blitz formation. When Stegall and his quarterback are in rhythm, it is instant recognition: Stegall runs to a spot and the quarterback aims to throw it there while facing pressure. When it works between the quarterback and Stegall, it’s magic.
Yet there are times when even though the play works, it falls short of perfection because some other defender chases down Stegall short of the goal line. And then it’s just a matter of the quarterback or the running back taking the plunge to the goal line. I’m not sure how many touchdowns Reed or Pringle scored inside the five-yard line but I’d have to think the totals are significant.
If the Blue Bombers decided to give Stegall the opportunity to score each time they neared the goal line, he’d easily have the record by now.
He’d also have a bruised and battered body.
And I’m sure Stegall wouldn’t want the record that way.
He doesn’t appear to be so selfish or consumed with the record pursuit that he’d feel the need to go to the head coach and say, “Give me the ball and let me get the major.” He is no Keyshawn Johnson or Randy Moss or any of those new-age egocentric receivers who are all about themselves.
Milt Stegall is a warrior, but he’s not an individual seeking self recognition.
When he makes history, it will be a thing of beauty, possibly eluding the coverage down the middle and galloping to glory like the prized thoroughbred he is.
Perry Lefko is the CFL’s Director of Communications
