He felt the shuddering impact, its tremors, 700 kilometres away. Instinctively flinching in front of his TV, the sudden, visceral force of the hit hurt vicariously a full time zone east.

“Man, to see Manny down on the field like that,’’ murmurs Calgary Stampeders’ safety Josh Bell, “lying there, so still, feet crossed … I was worried. Extremely concerned.

“Of all the guys still there from my time, Manny’s the one I keep most in touch with.

“So I Snapchatted him later. To make sure he was all right. See how he was feeling.

“He sounded okay. I know he was going to get his recovery in (Monday).

“If I know Manny, he’ll be out there Sunday.

“So I’m sure we’re gonna be doing a little chirping all week long.”

As close as Bell may be to Manny Arceneaux as a pal, the defensive back in him saw nothing whatever nefarious or indictable with the debilitating chest-high air-bag-releasing collision administered by Winnipeg defensive back Taylor Loffler on the BC Lions’ stellar wideout in the end zone during the third quarter of the Western Semi-Final.

A shaken Arceneaux did not return to the game.

“If Manny had bounced up after that hit, it’s not a big deal,’’ continues Bell. “But because he was out, it’s going to be viewed like ‘Oh, it’s a dirty hit!’

“But that’s football – right there. Whether he catches it or he doesn’t, you should be able to send the message: Don’t come into the middle of my field.

“Loffler did everything right. He hit Manny with his shoulder, moved his head out the way.

“Manny and I, we’re both old-school football players. So you can’t condemn a guy for making an old-school football play like that.

“You just don’t want to see anybody get hurt.”

Stamps defensive back Joshua Bell covers BC Lions receiver Manny Arceneaux during a game on Aug. 19, 2016 (Photo by Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

For Josh Bell, naturally, Sunday’s West Division final opponent holds a special meaning.

The Leos clawed back from a 19-point deficit on the right arm and the wheels of swashbuckling quarterback Jonathan Jennings to sidle nervously past the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-31 and book passage to McMahon Stadium on Sunday.

“I was watching it in an analytical way, the whole time,’’ says Bell. “A little cheatin’; some extra time in the film room, if you like. Seeing what I could pick up on.

“The first game (Edmonton-Hamilton), I was a fan. But that second game? All business.

“They (the Lions) were struggling, the whole first half and the third quarter, then you saw them flip the switch and turn it on. Offensively and defensively. They have the athletes to do that.

“Winnipeg went on that streak during the season but I believe BC has been the second best team in the West the entire year. So it’s only fitting it’s 1-2 for a trip to the Grey Cup.

“Defensively, we’re got a lot of things to look out for.”

There’s the electrifying Chris Rainey, as a tailback or a returner, for openers. The resurgent Jeremiah Johnson, who slashed for 110 yards out of the backfield versus the Bombers. A deep, skilled corps of pass-catchers, led by Arceneaux (if healthy) and Bryan Burnham, BC’s answer to Marquay McDaniel.

And arguably most dangerously, Jennings, the 24-year-old out of Saginaw Valley State, blessed with the fearlessness of youth and a gift for on-field improvisation.

An early pick and a fumble didn’t deter him in Sunday’s semifinal and the kid wound up 26-of-35 for 329 yards, two passing touchdowns and two more along old terra firma.

“The biggest danger, to me, is that he has a live arm,’’ says Bell. “An extremely live arm. Jennings can throw the ball 50-60 yards. I think they got a pass interference against Chris Randle late in the game because (Jennings) threw the ball from in or near his end zone to midfield.

“He also has that Reilly Factor. At the end of games, if you lose contain on him, he can hurt you. He can break your back with key runs.

“He did that in fourth quarter against Winnipeg. I remember once one of their D-ends was at his feet and he scrambled out of the pocket, sat Loffler down in a chair and scored a touchdown.

“Those types of intangibles, that kind of skill set, can make it really hard on a defence. Especially in a close game because you think you’ve got everything covered, everything taken care of, and then he makes a play out of nuthin’.

“Him making those plays, running around, making people miss, turned their defence on, turned it up. It’s not just contagious offensively. That kind of thing gets everyone rolling.”

Calgary’s three week down time is becoming more than a bit monotonous. On this day, Bell is calling on his cell phone as he wanders a mall, window-shopping.

“Are we ready to play? Oh man, like crazy. Like crazy. Tired of working out. Tired of waiting.

“At practice last week, things got a little chippy. We got into it. You could tell we were ready to play a game last week. So yeah, definitely. Most definitely.”

Joshua Bell (#6) and his BC Lions teammates celebrate a fumble recovery on September 22, 2013 (Photo by Canadian Press/Liam Richards)

Not that any added incentive is required given the stakes, but for Josh Bell those BC colours, that Lions logo, still sets the heart a-racing. Those two years out on the west coast remain a part of him.

“I love,’’ he coos, “to play against guys I know. Ever since I was a little kid.

“Little league. High school. You name the age. You name the game.

“Once you’ve played with guys, they become part of your brotherhood. I grew up with three younger brothers. We still compete to this day.

“That’s when I want to be at my best. That’s when I want to assert my dominance. Against my brothers.

“This is no different.

“These are my professional brothers. My football fraternity. My extended football family.

“So those bragging rights are important. We’re going to be around each other, talking to each other, a lifetime.

“Which means I want to stomp a mud-hole in ’em whenever I can.

“Just because.”