CFL
Heading into their crucial outing with the Roughriders on Sunday, the Stampeders are acting like a choir of sorts.
“One game at a time,” they sang in unison.
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Five of the Stampeders’ next seven games will be against West Division rivals, giving them a every opportunity to either gallop into first place, or stumble down the stretch. |
Though they will likely refuse to admit it, the Stampeders wouldn’t be human if they haven’t at least peaked ahead to the next couple of games on their schedule.
Following their encounter with the Riders, the Stamps have dates with Western rivals against the Eskimos and Lions. If all goes according to plan, the Stamps will sweep the season series against the Riders, win the season series against the Esks, and set up a potential battle for first place with the Lions.
Again, that’s if all goes according to plan.
And if the Stampeders have learned anything this year, it is the fact that nothing comes easy. Between a series of last-play games and never-ending injuries, the Stampeders have demonstrated great resolve in clawing their way into second spot.
One of those players demonstrating great resolve is defensive lineman Cory Mace. He is one of just four Stampeders defensive players to have started all 11 games for the team (Malik Jackson, Juwan Simpson, Charleston Hughes the others).
Mace is not letting his thoughts wander beyond the Sunday showdown in Regina.
“It’s a big game, but then it’s also just another game in the season and we want to win them all,” noted Mace.
“We want to go out and win them all. It’s one of the most hostile places in the league to win in. I know they are going to bring their A-game and so do we to come out with a W.”
The Stampeders are also trying to get a handle on the Saskatchewan quarterback picture.
“I think in a situation like this, we’re expecting (Darian) Durant,” said Mace when assessing Saskatchewan’s quarterback lineup.
“But the plan remains the same. Whoever is back there, we have to make them feel uncomfortable.”
This game will be the third and final regular season meeting between the two clubs. The last game saw Calgary battle both a howling wind and the Riders, in defeating Saskatchewan 17-10. That victory kick-started the Stampeders’ current four-game win streak.
“The way the race is, every game is important,” noted Stampeders coach/GM John Hufnagel.
“When we were out there a month ago, we were a desperate team. We were coming off a discouraging home loss to Toronto. Now, I would say Saskatchewan is the more desperate team. I am making sure to prepare my team to remind them of the mindset the Roughrider players will have coming out of the locker room.”
The Stampeders are expected to have speedy receiver Romby Bryant back for the game. He missed the team’s last outing against Winnipeg with a leg injury. However, the team will be operating for this game and the rest of the season without veteran Canadian defensive lineman Justin Phillips. Like so many of the Stampeders this year, he is sidelined with a knee injury. In fact, since the Stampeders’ last trip to Regina, four players have undergone knee procedures!
Defensive lineman Kenny Pettway is also expected to return to the fold.
Now it is up to the Stampeders to keep their one-game-at-a-time focus in difficult Regina and keep moving up the standings.
