CALGARY â The Calgary Stampeders wonât 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 doesnât put much stock into Winnipegâs 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. "Thereâs not a single individual in this organization thatâs 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.
âTheyâve got good players on that team,â said Stampeders linebacker Cameron Judge. âTheyâre well coached. Theyâve had our number lately, so Iâm not even paying attention to that (0-3 record).
âWe definitely want to beat them regardless of the situation. Youâve 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.â
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.
âItâs another opportunity to play really good football at home,â said Maier. âI think thatâs the No. 1 priority right now is defending this place, because we havenât done a very good job of that the last couple years either. We just want to play well at home and theyâre just the team thatâs coming into town.â
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.
âCalgaryâs a great organization, so I think executing your game plan, believing in our core values, all those things, certainly help,â said Collaros. "Itâs always a battle and we expect that fully (on Saturday). Weâre going to have to execute at a high level, play physical, play our brand of football, because we know theyâre going to bring it. Theyâre at home. Theyâve 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
âI do think theyâve had a good run,â said Dickenson of the Bombers. âThey have a lot of good players. Theyâre well coached, but the focus has to be on the Calgary Stampeders.
âAny team in our league can beat us if weâre not doing what weâre supposed to do and playing winning football. Itâs really not as much about the opponent. We know weâve got to beat the teams in the west, though. Thatâs true. Beat the teams in the west, youâll make the playoffs and youâll hopefully have success. Obviously, Winnipegâs been doing that for years. Thatâs the formula. We have to do it.â
Winnipeg coach Mike OâShea agreed that all the previous statistics can be tossed aside heading into Saturdayâs game.
âWe have to play hard and win this game against this version of the Calgary Stampeders and theyâve got to do the same to beat this version of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, so I donât know that the history has any relevance to this game,â OâShea said.
One player who has had Saturdayâs game circled on his calendar is defensive back Demerio Houston, who signed a two-year contract with the Stamps in February.
âItâs definitely a big game for me,â said Houston, who played the previous three seasons for Winnipeg. âWeâre definitely going to get their best shot. Itâs 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 donât look at the record, donât look at whoâs on the roster ⌠just be prepared for a dogfight.â
Among Houstonâs 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.
âI just was able to help out and do my part,â he said. âNow that Iâm here with Calgary, thatâs what I plan to do is help my team.â
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2024.
Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press
