THE CANADIAN PRESS
The matchup everybody wanted: Eskimos and Stampeders for West bragging rights
Earlier this season, it was the battle of the 4-0 Eskimos against the 3-0 Stampeders. The Stampeders won 26-22.
On Labour Day, first place was on the line in a matchup of 7-1 teams — the best combined record for a Labour Day game since the 1993 season. The Stampeders won 28-13. And then it was the Stampeders in the Labour Day Rematch, too, by a score of 41-34.
| 2014 Western Final Playoff Centre |
|---|
|
The Battle of Alberta is set to go for the fourth time this season, now with a Grey Cup appearance on the line. Get everything you need to know about this matchup with CFL.ca’s Western Final Playoff Centre. |
Fast forward to present day, and the Eskimos and Stampeders will play each other again for the right to go the Grey Cup Championship in Vancouver.
On Sunday, it’s the Western Division Final from McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The 15-3 Stampeders against the 12-6 Eskimos — yes, the team that gave the Eskimos half of their six losses during the regular season.
Quarterback Mike Reilly says you can hit the reset button now.
“0-0,” he said. “Anybody that thinks those three games have any bearing on this game is flat wrong. I think Calgary knows that and we know that, and that’s the same way we played it against Saskatchewan — they didn’t care that we beat them two out of the three times we played them.”
“I guarantee Calgary doesn’t care that they beat us three times, because the only game that matters is this one. We know that they will be ready to play and we need to be ready to play.”
If this was hockey and a team was down 3-0 in a series, that team is likely toast. That’s the great thing about football: it doesn’t matter what you have done in the regular season. In the playoffs, it’s a one-game shot, not a best-of-seven series. The best teams don’t always win; it’s who is the best team is on that day.
For the Eskimos, you have to wonder, however, if the Stampeders come into Sunday’s contest with a psychological edge. The Eskimos have an 11-game losing streak in the regular season dating back to the 2011 season.
The Eskimos should have won the July 24 meeting, but they made too many mistakes despite controlling most of the football game.
In the Labour Day series. the Eskimos couldn’t stop Jon Cornish, who has been a thorn in their side for the last three seasons. Cornish rushed for 163 yards on Labour Day and 109 yards in the rematch.
The Eskimos offensively couldn’t find the end zone, and turnovers and penalties proved costly.
It was really the only time this season when you saw the Eskimos lose their composure, as they looked frustrated about not being able to beat their provincial rivals.
The only purpose those three games should serve for the Eskimos now is a learning tool. Other than that, those games should serve no other purpose.
What the Eskimos didn’t have in the last two meetings were the services of their starting quarterback Mike Reilly and running back John White.
Reilly is expected to start on Sunday and it’s not known how limited he will be, as he still deals with a nagging foot injury. He’s moving much better in practice compared to a week ago and he does have White as a weapon. If the Eskimos can run the football well against the Stampeders, then Reilly can become a game manager.
On defense, it’s simple: stop Jon Cornish.
Stopping the Stampeders isn’t so simple. They are the best team in the CFL that withstood injuries to so many key players, yet managed to overcome those injuries and earn victories.
Eskimos defensive back Pat Watkins says his team believes it is in the same class as the Stampeders and feels it can showcase that on Sunday.
“When you have three marks on our losing record because of them, obviously we have something to prove,” Watkins said. “Just that we belong on the same field as Calgary — they are a great team, the best record in the league.”
“At the same time, we know we left a lot of plays on the field and we wanted the chance to play them again and we earned the right to play them.”
It’s a classic matchup. The two best scoring teams in the CFL and the two best teams at preventing teams from scoring.
The biggest question of the week has been can the Eskimos beat the Calgary Stampeders?
All the Eskimos wanted was one more shot to prove that they can.
Welcome to the Western Final.
