THE CANADIAN PRESS
Alberta’s Canadian Football League rivalry between the Stampeders and Eskimos is back to being closely contested. After all, it was just two short years ago that Edmonton finished a second straight season last in the West Division with a 4-14 record in 2013.
Chris Jones was hired to coach the team in 2014 and he’s put Edmonton back among the elite teams in the league, but in order for the Eskies to become West Division Champions and legitimate Grey Cup contenders, they first have to beat their provincial rivals to the south.
Calgary has won 11 straight games in the series, including taking all four games with the Green and Gold in 2014. Most notable of those matchups was the Stampeders’ 43-18 beat down in last year’s Western Final.
“We’re not going to blow it out of proportion, but we certainly remember getting beat by them to say the least,” says veteran linebacker JC Sherritt.
“I buried that one for a little while,” says quarterback Mike Reilly, who played through a foot injury in that season-ending loss. “I took some time off — my body was in pretty rough shape after that game was over with.”
Edmonton’s No. 1 quarterback knows how important it is for his team to finally get over the Stampeders’ hurdle.
“You look at the team that won the Grey Cup and that’s Calgary and you know that’s who you have to beat because they’re the defending champs.”
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