Better than Burris. More potent than Pete. Greater than Garcia. More devastating than Dickenson.

Legendary names.

Dizzying deeds.

Lasting legacies.

As the Calgary Stampeders continue to march toward history with the single-minded ruthlessness of a colony of African red army ants tramping across the underbrush, it’s easy to forget that we’re witnessing one of the finest quarterbacking seasons in this town since the arrival of Les Lear and the advent of leather helmets and high-top football boots.

Bo Levi Mitchell finds himself in pretty fast company.

Only Doug Flutie, TSN’s choice as No. 1 on an all-time Top 50 player list compiled in 2006, has thrown for more yardage in a single season in red and white the laidback Texan from Katy has this year.

In a three-campaign span of unparalleled gluttony, Flutie, the pocket Merlin from Boston College, torched secondaries for a mind-altering/consciousness-blowing 6,092, 5,945 and 5,726 yards, respectively.

Tucking in next on the list, as of last Saturday, is Bo Levi, at 5,127. And counting.

Photo by David Moll

There are, remember, two more twirls left on the dance card.

Not only one for the books.

But one for the ages.

“Anytime you hear your name mentioned with those guys, it’s amazing,’’ says Mitchell.

“But to be in front of them yardage-wise, especially at a young age, is … well …

“Let’s just say I’m a lucky guy.

“I’m also a smart guy. I understand whatever I do, whatever I accomplish, big credit goes to the people around me.

“That might not be the thing you want to hear but it’s the truth, man.

“We’ve seen countless guys go down this year and had others step up. We don’t maybe have those two big over-the-top guys like they do in Edmonton but we have guys who work, compete, understand our offence and make plays.

“They make me look good and, in turn, I try to do the same thing.”

Oh, he’s looking mighty fine.

To put Mitchell’s 2016 into perspective, Smilin’ Hank Burris’s top total here was 5,094 yards, Dave Dickenson’s 4,636, Jeff Garcia’s 4,573 and Peter Liske’s 4,479.

Factor in only eight Mitchell picks, 30 touchdown tosses, a 68.1 completion percentage and 107.5 QB rating and it all adds up to three capital letters: M-O-P.

“We’ve had the lead a lot, too,” coach Dickenson reminds you. “When you have the lead, you tend to back off a bit.

“If a few games were more competitive this year or we’d been behind more often, Bo would have bigger (passing) numbers, for sure.

“The great thing is that he understands that I’m calling the game to win. The other things, those yards, they’re important, sure, but secondary.

“I’ve never heard him complain.

“He’s all about the team.”

Photo by David Moll

Fullback Rob Cote grew up in Cochrane following the exploits of Flutie and Garcia as a kid and was, of course, a teammate of Burris.

“Like those guys who mentioned, Bo’s just a special quarterback,’’ says Cote. “When you get in that huddle and it comes time to win the game, it’s Bo Time.

“He’s great whatever, whenever, wherever. But when the game is on the line? He’s at his best. That shows in our record and his record since he’s become the starter.

“To me, the difference between him and other quarterbacks is that steady build. Maybe he slides under the radar historical-wise because he doesn’t have those mountain-high peaks like other quarterbacks.

“Henry Burris used to have these games that had everybody asking: ‘What is this? That’s amazing. Just crazy.’

“Bo doesn’t wow you like that but every game he just is SO good. Every. Single. Game. No valleys with him.

“He’s just been building and building, ever since he got here and that has to be so, so scary for any team that has to game-plan for him.

“He’s the best and he just keeps on getting better.”

Which leads to the quandary facing the Stamps as they play out what has been a superb season. With a record 16-1-1 to be had but first place won and the Western Final already booked, how best to handle Bo.

There’s a fine balance between maintaining sharpness and putting their marquee man at undue risk.

“Obviously Dave and I are close,’’ says Mitchell. “He knows me as well as I know myself. He understands my competitiveness. He’s lived it, too.

“And it would be very nice to win this game, win the next game and be the only quarterback to play every game in a 16-1-1 season.

“But first and foremost, we all play for the White Horse. We play for this city. We play for this organization. I have to understand that no matter what, I have to do what’s best for this team.

“Whether that means play a little bit, play the the full game or not play a snap.

“It’s tough. I’ve even talked to my agent about it, too. I try to look at the Patriots’ season, when they were going after 17-0. I want to be in there, adding yards, throwing touchdowns and help other guys hit of their goals.

“But I also don’t want to have something bad happen.

“I think about a guy like KG (Kevin Glenn), breaking his arm in the West final that one year. How difficult that must have been for him.

“To have that happen in a game that important is bad enough. To maybe have it happen in the last game of the (regular) season …

“But it is a tough call. A question I don’t think anyone but the football gods have an answer for.”

“For sure he’s playing this week and then I’ll make a decision about (the seasonal closer in Montreal),’’ says Dickenson. “I just want him living week to week. Don’t look forward.

“Our whole team is going to be rusty (for the West final) no matter what we do the last two weeks here. That’s just the way it’s going to be with three weeks between games. So we’ll see.

“Bo’s a leader, works so hard, cares about the team and the city. He’s not a selfish guy at all.

“And he’s got an upside. That’s the thing. There’s more there.”

Dave Dickenson, Jeff Garcia and Bo Levi Mitchell in 2014

Chilling thought.

At only 26 years of age, Bo Levi Mitchell has already left Smilin’ Hank in his wake, his head coach by the curb, Peter Liske in the dust and a mentor, Jeff Garcia, is his rear-view mirror.

Legends all.

In less than three full seasons as a starter, he’s already joined the quarterbacking gods at McMahon Stadium’s Gates of Olympus.

With time still very much on his side to take a run at Doug Flutie’s Stampeder wonder years.

“These kinds of seasons,’’ says Mitchell, “are great. I won’t lie. They’re fun. But they’re only remembered when accompanied by a Grey Cup.

“I never want to be known as a – well, sorry to say it – a Matt Stafford. A guy no one can take anything away from his arm strength or his playmaking ability, but whether or not you’re a winner is what people are going to remember.

“Numbers are great. Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to throw for 6,000 yards one day. Or 7,000. Or whatever. As many as possible.

“But at the end of the day, when all is said and and you’re looking back, there’s only one number that matters.

“And that’s the number of rings you have.”