CALGARY 鈥� The Calgary Stampeders won鈥檛 take the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lightly when the two teams play at McMahon Stadium on Saturday night.
The Blue Bombers have surprisingly started the season with three straight losses, but Calgary quarterback Jake Maier doesn鈥檛 put much stock into Winnipeg鈥檚 sluggish start.
"As players we have a ton of respect for them, even where they are right now in the standings and what their record is," Maier said. "There鈥檚 not a single individual in this organization that鈥檚 falling for that trap or buying into anything."
The Blue Bombers are looking to end their struggles by posting their seventh straight win over Calgary (1-1). The Stampeders' last win over Winnipeg was back in November 2021.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e got good players on that team,鈥� said Stampeders linebacker Cameron Judge. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e well coached. They鈥檝e had our number lately, so I鈥檓 not even paying attention to that (0-3 record).
鈥淲e definitely want to beat them regardless of the situation. You鈥檝e just got to come with your pads ready to play a long, physical, tough, 60-minute game. The rest will take care of itself at that point.鈥�
Maier will make his 30th consecutive start at quarterback for Calgary, which is the longest by any Stampeder since Henry Burris's streak of 69 games in a row ended in 2011. Included in his all-time record of 14-18 is five losses to Winnipeg, the only CFL club he has never beaten.
鈥淚t鈥檚 another opportunity to play really good football at home,鈥� said Maier. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the No. 1 priority right now is defending this place, because we haven鈥檛 done a very good job of that the last couple years either. We just want to play well at home and they鈥檙e just the team that鈥檚 coming into town.鈥�
Meanwhile, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros has compiled a stellar 7-1 record against the Stamps during his time with the Bombers. Boasting a career record of 73-43 (9-5 versus the Stamps), Collaros has never lost a head-to-head start against Maier.
鈥淐algary鈥檚 a great organization, so I think executing your game plan, believing in our core values, all those things, certainly help,鈥� said Collaros. "It鈥檚 always a battle and we expect that fully (on Saturday). We鈥檙e going to have to execute at a high level, play physical, play our brand of football, because we know they鈥檙e going to bring it. They鈥檙e at home. They鈥檝e had a good start to the season and are a very talented group in all three phases."
Regardless of the records and previous results from matchups between the two West Division rivals, Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said he believes he has his players ready for a tough battle against Winnipeg, which has appeared in four straight CFL championship finals, winning the Grey Cup in 2019 and 202
鈥淚 do think they鈥檝e had a good run,鈥� said Dickenson of the Bombers. 鈥淭hey have a lot of good players. They鈥檙e well coached, but the focus has to be on the Calgary Stampeders.
鈥淎ny team in our league can beat us if we鈥檙e not doing what we鈥檙e supposed to do and playing winning football. It鈥檚 really not as much about the opponent. We know we鈥檝e got to beat the teams in the west, though. That鈥檚 true. Beat the teams in the west, you鈥檒l make the playoffs and you鈥檒l hopefully have success. Obviously, Winnipeg鈥檚 been doing that for years. That鈥檚 the formula. We have to do it.鈥�
Winnipeg coach Mike O鈥橲hea agreed that all the previous statistics can be tossed aside heading into Saturday鈥檚 game.
鈥淲e have to play hard and win this game against this version of the Calgary Stampeders and they鈥檝e got to do the same to beat this version of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, so I don鈥檛 know that the history has any relevance to this game,鈥� O鈥橲hea said.
One player who has had Saturday鈥檚 game circled on his calendar is defensive back Demerio Houston, who signed a two-year contract with the Stamps in February.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a big game for me,鈥� said Houston, who played the previous three seasons for Winnipeg. 鈥淲e鈥檙e definitely going to get their best shot. It鈥檚 going to be a dogfight, like I told the team. The last three years in this rivalry, the scores came down to under six points. So don鈥檛 look at the record, don鈥檛 look at who鈥檚 on the roster 鈥� just be prepared for a dogfight.鈥�
Among Houston鈥檚 league-leading seven interceptions last season was one he ran back 45 yards for a touchdown in Calgary on Aug. 18 to help the Bombers eke out a 19-18 win over the Stamps.
鈥淚 just was able to help out and do my part,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow that I鈥檓 here with Calgary, that鈥檚 what I plan to do is help my team.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2024.
Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press
