Dickenson revels in Mitchell’s Western Final performance
CALGARY — The Stampeders scored early and they scored often on their way to claiming the West Division title and solidifying their trip to Toronto for the 104th Grey Cup.
Bo Levi Mitchell orchestrated a touchdown drive on the Stamps’ opening possession of the ball game – as he found Lamar Durant in the end zone, the first of two majors for the receiver on the evening – and never looked back.
“To me, it was important to keep the fans in the game,” head coach Dave Dickenson said of the opening drive score. “I was most concerned if we fell behind and guys pressed. When we’ve lost in the past guys have kind of pressed and tried to do too much. It was important to come out (and execute). We had a plan, it was well executed and guys made some plays.”
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The drive started what was almost a complete domination over the BC Lions at McMahon Stadium, where Calgary finished a perfect 10-0 in 2016. The Stampeders held the Lions off the scoreboard in the first half and allowed just two touchdowns, one from Emmanuel Arceneaux and another from Chris Rainey, in the third and fourth quarters respectively.
“Confidence started out high right from the start but everyone was so locked into our game plan,” Mitchell said of the fast start. “When I woke up this morning I felt like we were going to come out like that.”
The contest was the club’s first game in three weeks, after having a Week 20 bye and a bye to the Western Final, but they didn’t let that time away from the field phase them.
“A fast start to any game was huge, especially when you haven’t played in a little bit,” Mitchell said. “The start happened from Roy (Finch) and the special teams on the return. When you get out to the 40 or 50 yard line, it puts you in that mindset like ‘alright, we gotta score a touchdown. Field goal isn’t good enough’. When those guys do that it makes things a little easier for us on offence.”
And things looked easy for the Stampeders’ pivot as he showed exactly why he was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Player, connecting on 21-of-28 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
“We talk about his feet and not scrambling,” Dickenson said of his quarterback. “Well, the touchdown to DaVaris (Daniels), we didn’t block it worth a dang, and Bo made the play happen and put it right on the money for the touchdown. He’s gotta come up for that same effort and that same grit for one more week. I can’t say enough about how he’s played this year and how he handles himself.”
Daniels caught 107 yards on the night, including the major in the second quarter. Mitchell’s other favourite target on the night was Marquay McDaniel, who had 131 yards on four catches and a major score.
“They’re good and they play physical,” Dickenson said of McDaniel and Daniels. “Lamar Durant too, he had a couple touchdowns. We do a lot of different things (on offence). We ask lots of our guys. You can’t play for us if you don’t study and commit to the offence and the schemes and those guys did it. We played physical as well. I liked having Bakari (Grant) and Kamar (Jorden) in there as well. I thought we were very dangerous.”
It’ll be up to those receivers, Mitchell and the Calgary defence, to bring their best next week to Toronto. They’ll be facing the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the final showdown – the same REDBLACKS team that were defeated last season in the 103rd Grey Cup.
“You’re facing a team that’s been there last year, and it didn’t go their way,” Dickenson said. “In my opinion they’ll be super, super hungry. I want to make sure our guys are as well. They’re (Ottawa) playing well. Henry’s giving them some life there and they made their plays. I think it should be a great game and we’re going to have to play our best to beat them.”
