CALGARY 鈥� Don鈥檛 tell Calgary linebacker Micah Awe that Friday night鈥檚 game between the Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium doesn鈥檛 mean anything.
Although a victory for Calgary (6-11) over Winnipeg (13-4) in the season finale for both teams won鈥檛 affect the standings or the playoff picture, Awe said it鈥檚 important for the Stampeders to build on the momentum they have established by winning their previous two games to clinch third spot in the CFL鈥檚 Western Division and a playoff berth.
鈥淭his is a perfect opportunity to start playing playoff football,鈥� said Awe, Calgary鈥檚 nominee for most outstanding defensive player. 鈥淲hat I mean by that is you do your job.鈥�
Quarterback Jake Maier said the Stampeders have a great chance to build on momentum heading into next week鈥檚 West semifinal at B.C.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a sense of gratitude among the group right now,鈥� said Maier, who鈥檚 listed as Calgary鈥檚 starter for the game. 鈥淗owever it happened, it happened and now here we are.
鈥淭his is the first taste of real momentum that we鈥檝e had all year as a group and what better time than now. We want to make sure that we鈥檙e playing the game the right way, that鈥檚 the biggest thing. Let鈥檚 play well (Friday), regardless of who鈥檚 out there for either side.鈥�
The Stamps beat the Lions in Vancouver 41-16 last week and also had a huge 26-19 win at home on Oct. 13 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-12), who were eliminated from playoff contention when they dropped a 29-26 decision to the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a roller-coaster but at the same time it teaches you one thing, which is control what you can control and keep working because if you don鈥檛 keep working, that guarantees not having an opportunity,鈥� said Awe.
鈥淲e just kept going, kept working and kept playing hard and it all came together.鈥�
Awe, who has 118 defensive tackles, is also aiming to break the team鈥檚 single-season record of 123 set by Alex Singleton in 2017 and 2018.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e thinking you鈥檙e going to make every tackle, your team鈥檚 probably winning more games, because one tackle that you miss can go for a touchdown,鈥� Awe said. 鈥淚鈥檓 close to this record, but I鈥檓 helping my team get better and helping them get into the playoffs.鈥�
Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira will also be chasing a milestone of his own when the two division rivals clash on Friday.
Oliveira leads the CFL with 1,980 yards from scrimmage, so he can crack the 2,000-yard plateau with just 20 more yards either on the ground or through the air.
鈥淥bviously it鈥檚 something I鈥檇 love to accomplish,鈥� he told reporters Wednesday in Winnipeg. 鈥淚f it doesn鈥檛 happen, we鈥檝e got bigger dreams and bigger goals.鈥�
Having already clinched a bye through the first round of the playoffs, the Blue Bombers will host the West final against either the Lions or the Stampeders on Nov. 11.
While he hopes to get some touches against the Stamps, Oliveira wants to make sure that he鈥檒l be healthy for the playoffs.
鈥淗eading into this final week and then heading into the post-season, that鈥檚 my biggest thing is stay available, stay healthy and put on good performances for my teammates,鈥� he said.
Both teams will be without some of their star power. Calgary鈥檚 outstanding player nominee Reggie Begelton and outstanding Canadian nominee Cameron Judge were both placed on the one-game injured list.
鈥淚 think coaches are just trying to do what鈥檚 best for their team long term,鈥� said Calgary coach Dave Dickenson. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel like there鈥檚 ever a meaningless game. I think you can get positives or negatives out of every game.聽
"It鈥檚 not as important as it could have been if we had to win it to make the playoffs, but it still has meaning for both teams, so we鈥檒l play to win and hopefully play well.鈥�
Meanwhile, Zach Collaros will dress as Winnipeg鈥檚 third quarterback behind starter Dru Brown and backup Dakota Prukop, while Canadian receiver Nic Demski will be a healthy scratch.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty excited,鈥� said Brown of getting the opportunity to start. 鈥淎ny time you get to go out and compete and do what you鈥檙e supposed to do, it鈥檚 always a good time.
鈥淲e had a good week of work (in practice) and I鈥檓 hoping that it translates to the game.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023.
Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press
