Calgary Stampeders News

Preview - Riders at Stamps - Oct. 13

October 11, 2008

GAME OVERVIEW

• Saskatchewan has a 2-1 lead in the season series, winning 22-21 in Calgary on Aug. 2, losing 30-25 at home on Aug. 7 and winning 37-34 at home on Oct. 3. The winner of this game will take the season series.
• The Stamps have won four of their last five and six of their last eight, while the Riders have lost three of their last four.
• Calgary has a 4-2 home record. Saskatchewan is 4-3 on the road.
• Stamps SB Nik Lewis has caught a pass in 84 consecutive games played (Allen Pitts’ club record is 85).
• The Stamps have a 110-84-8 all-time edge over Saskatchewan.
• Stamps QB Henry Burris is on pace for a career-high 5,221 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes.
• Stamps RB Joffrey Reynolds went over 1,000 rushing yards (fourth year in a row) with 112 yards against Toronto in Week 13.
• Stamps WR Ken-Yon Rambo went over 1,000 receiving yards with 77 in Week 13 against the Argos. It’s his first 1,000-yard season.
• Calgary’s John Hufnagel and Saskatchewan’s Ken Miller are in their first season as CFL head coaches.
• Calgary K Sandro DeAngelis leads the CFL with 174 points.

SETTING THE SCENE

The Calgary Stampeders had their four-game winning streak snapped in Regina last week, losing 37-34 in a hard-fought battle with their division rivals, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The loss left the two teams tied atop the Western Division with identical 9-5 records (along with B.C.) and set up a huge clash between them on Oct. 13 to decide the tie-breaker, should they end the season tied in the standings. The Riders lead the season series with two wins (22-21 in Calgary in Week 6 and again last week) compared to one for the Stamps (30-25 in Week 7 in Regina). The Stamps, however lead the point differential by one point (85-84) meaning whoever wins this game will win the series. The two teams have 4-4 records within the West Division (with each team having two games left against Western foes; Calgary against Sask. and B.C. while the Riders play Calgary and Edmonton). Calgary is 4-2 at home this year while the Riders enter the game with a 4-3 road mark. Since 2003, Calgary is 3-4 at home versus the Riders and split the two games played at McMahon last year, winning 44-22 and losing 33-21 on Thanksgiving.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

Kickoff for this week’s showdown is at 2:30 p.m. local time (4:30 ET) at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The game will be televised on TSN as part of a Thanksgiving double-header with the Hamilton-Montreal game preceding it. The game can be heard on the radio at AM 770 CHQR77 (am770chqr.com) and it will also be broadcast on the Internet on CFL broadband at www.cfl.ca. and on TSN broadband at www.tsn.ca

WHO’S SCORING ON OFFENCE

Stamps’ QB Henry Burris hit the 300-yard mark for the eighth time this season in last week’s game and also threw two touchdown passes to bring his season total to 28 (second in the CFL). Burris finished the game with 29 completions on 45 attempts for 311 passing yards and 44 rushing yards, as well as his third rushing touchdown of the season. The Stamps quarterback has faced his old team in the regular season four times at McMahon since joining the Stamps in 2005 (he missed last year’s second home game due to a shoulder injury) and sports a 3-1 record. Burris’ first loss against the Riders at McMahon took place earlier this year and snapped a personal three-game winning streak. Burris has averaged 299 yards passing in the four games and has thrown 10 \touchdown passes compared to just five interceptions. RB Joffrey Reynolds’ lack of involvement in the Stamps offence once again proved just how important he is to the Calgary’s fortunes as he was held to just 25 yards on only five carries in the loss. The Stampeders’ record fell to 0-4 when Reynolds has 10 or less carries in a game and stands at 9-1 when he has 11 or more. The Calgary running back did manage to pass an idle Wes Cates to take over the rushing lead in the CFL with 1,071 yards on 181 carries and also leads the CFL in rushing TDs with nine (tied with Cates). Reynolds has a chance to distance himself from Cates this week and position himself to capture his first rushing crown. Cates is doubtful for the game and getting Reynolds carries and rushing yards should be a focus for the Stampeders offence. WR Ken-Yon Rambo had a team-high, season-high 12 receptions but was held under the century mark and finished the game with 94 yards and a touchdown (Calgary’s first loss this year when Rambo scores a major). WR Ryan Thelwell had the Stamps’ other receiving touchdown and SB Jeremaine Copeland caught his season-high eight passes for 86 yards. Rambo is locked in a tight race down the stretch with B.C.’s Geroy Simon for the receiving title as he trails Simon by only 16 yards (1,138 yards for Rambo) but leads the CFL in receptions with 82. Rambo is also the only Stampeder on pace for over 1,000 yards this season due to Copeland’s slow start (44 catches for 656 yards on the year), injuries to SB Nike Lewis (64 receptions for 767 yards), and a slump for WR Brett Ralph who, after 413 yards in his first seven games, has just 148 in his last seven.

WHO’S HITTING ON DEFENCE

Calgary’s defence had a decent game in the loss to the Riders even as they surrendered a season-high 37 points and gave up 357 yards of total offence. The yardage total was near their season average of 358 yards per game and the Riders scored 14 points of turnovers, leaving Calgary’s defence on the hook for 23 of the 37 points scored, right on their season average once again. Calgary allowed only 115 yards of offence in the second half and only three points not related to turnovers. Rookie DB Brandon Smith once again led the team in tackles with five and ran his season total to 46, fifth best on the team. Smith and fellow rookie DE Charleston Hughes should be the leading candidates from the defence for Rookie of the Year honours as Hughes leads the team in tackles for losses (seven), sacks (four) and in second in tackles with 52. LB JoJuan Armour and CB Brandon Browner each had four tackles. Browner leads the team this year in tackles versus the Riders with 12 in the three previous games followed by LB Shannon James with 11. Calgary has only one interception (by Browner in the win in Regina) and zero sacks so far in the three games versus Saskatchewan and it illustrates some interesting numbers concerning these two main defensive stats. Calgary has had zero sacks and zero interceptions in a game three times this year and have a record of 0-3 in those games (including last week) and have registered only two sacks and one pick combined in their five losses. Calgary has 21 sacks and 11 interceptions in their nine wins this year by comparison.

WHO’S SPECIAL ON THE TEAMS

K Sandro DeAngelis scored 16 points on four field goals, three converts and a single to gain top spot in the CFL’s scoring race for the first time this year. DeAngelis has 174 points (two more than Damon Duval of Montreal) and should finish the season at around 223 points on his current pace. That total would be the highest of his career, beating the 214 points he scored in 2006 when he was an All-Canadian and was named the CFL’s Top Special Teams Player. P Burke Dales battled a strong Prairie wind to salvage a 42.2-yard average versus the Riders and now sits third in the CFL in average with a 46.5, also a career high. RB Jon Cornish and LB Dwaine Carpenter continue to sit first and second respectively in special teams tackles with 17 and 16; Cornish’s total leaves him fifth in the league.

THE OPPOSITION

The Riders were led on offence last week by QB Michael Bishop (#17) who ran a controlled offence that produced 30 of the team’s 37 points scored on the night. Bishop, who left the game briefly in the second quarter due to an injury, finished the game with 20 completions in 27 attempts for 242 yards and one touchdown. His main target was rookie SB Weston Dressler (#7) who led the unheralded receiving corps with seven catches for 128 yards. It was Dressler’s fourth 100-yard game in his last five games played and leaves him with 790 yards on the year, good enough for 14th in the league and second amongst CFL rookies. Canadians Rob Bagg (#6) and Chris Getzlaf (#89) were next in receiving totals with four catches for 54 yards for Bagg and five grabs for 47 yards and a touchdown for Getzlaf. FB Neal Hughes scored two rushing touchdowns for the Riders in the win and RB Hugh Charles made his CFL debut with seven carries for 45 yards (a 6.4 yard average). Charles was filling in for injured starter Wes Cates and will likely see more action this week should Cates miss his third straight game. On defence, Calgary receiver Ken-Yon Rambo’s 12 catches translated into a team-leading eight tackles for CB Omarr Morgan (#1), matched by LB Sean Lucas’ (#31) eight stops. Lucas leads the team and is second in the CFL with 73 tackles. CB James Johnson (#19) had four tackles, two knockdowns and an interception while MLB Maurice Lloyd (#47) had five tackles and a sack. The Riders’ defence is very active as illustrated by DE Stevie Baggs’ (#90) three tackles, a sack and forced fumble and the Riders’ other DE Kitwana Jones, (#46) who had two tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown. Jones leads the Riders in sacks with five and the CFL in fumble recoveries with three.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

The numbers between the two teams in last week’s game reflected the close score and were pretty even across the board. Calgary had 25 first downs to the Riders’ 22 and also had the edge in both total offence (372 yards to 357) and time of possession (32:54 for Calgary). Calgary had 311 passing yards (285 for the Riders) and out rushed Saskatchewan 94 yards to 89. Penalties were also close with six for the Riders and seven taken by Calgary and the Stamps had a slight edge in return yards at 104 to the 69 for the Green and White. The difference in the score turned out to the same factor alluded to in the Defensive section of this week’s preview. Saskatchewan had three sacks compared to none for the Stamps and had one interception as well compared to zero for Calgary. One of the Riders sacks turned the ball over and resulted in a defensive touchdown while the interception was deep in Calgary territory ended up as another seven points for the Riders on a third down gamble in the fourth quarter. Expect this week’s game to be equally close as the two teams are close defensively (22.9 points per game surrendered by Calgary and 24.6 points per game for the Riders’ defence while Saskatchewan gives up 350 yards of offence per game compared to 358 for the Stamps) but a clean game in terms of turnovers should give the edge to the Stampeders as their offence averages 53.6 yards and 5.8 more points per game than the Riders. One stat to keep in mind for Calgary’s defence is the 30-point barrier. The Stamps’ record is 1-4 when they give up over 31 or more points in a game and 8-1 when they give up 30 points or less.

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL

Toronto (4-10) travels to Winnipeg (5-9) on Friday, needing a win to keep alive any hopes they have of making the playoffs in the East. B.C. (9-5) hosts Edmonton (8-6) later that night as the Eskimos look to keep pace with the three teams who are just two points ahead of them in the ultra-competitive Western playoff race; Edmonton can clinch at least a crossover playoff spot with a win (or an Argo loss). Hamilton (3-11) can move to within striking distance of a playoff spot with a second straight win over the Alouettes (9-5), although this time it’s in Montreal and is also the early game on Thanksgiving Monday.

EXTRA POINTS

While not as steeped in tradition as the annual Labour Day Classic played each and every first Monday in September, Calgary has played its share of games on the Thanksgiving Monday holiday over the last 25 years. The Stamps have played in 10 Thanksgiving games over that stretch and can boast a 6-4 record overall, although recent history has not been kind to the Red and White. After posting a 6-1 record on the Holiday Monday from 1984 to 1997, Calgary has lost its last three Turkey Bowls, the last two to Saskatchewan - 24-23 in 2003 in Regina and 33-21 last year at McMahon. Seven of those ten games have been played at McMahon where the Stamps have a 5-2 record but Calgary is currently on a two-game skid after losses to the Riders (last year) and to Hamilton in 2001 by a 31-13 score. Calgary played three straight Thanksgiving games from 1984 to 1986 versus Winnipeg in ’84 and Toronto the next two years before a seven-year break until 1994. They then played four straight Thanksgiving games from 1994 to 1997, all wins with the opponents beings Ottawa in ’94, B.C. in ’95, Toronto in ’96 and Hamilton in ’97. Calgary’s biggest margin of victory in these ten games was a 37-14 win over Toronto in 1986 and its biggest loss was a 46-8 one-sided affair in 1984 in Winnipeg.

20 QUESTIONS: John Hufnagel

October 11, 2008

Lindsay O'Reilly
Calgary Sun

Former quarterback and assistant coach John Hufnagel is no stranger to Calgary but do we really know him? The new Calgary Stampeders head honcho gives us an inside look at the man outside of the Xs and Os.

1) It's Sunday morning, what are you having for breakfast?

If it's Sunday and I don't have anything going on, it would probably be a little sausage and eggs and toast. But I usually don't have breakfast.

2) If you didn't do what you do for a living, what would you be doing?

When I was a player in Calgary, I worked in the off season in the oilpatch. I also invested in some real estate. So if I wasn't coaching, that's probably what I'd be doing.

3) Who's your hero?

I'm a religious person, so I would say Jesus. That's what I believe in.

4) What's one DVD you had to buy?

I'm an old fashioned kind of guy and I'm a western kind of guy, so I'm a Clint Eastwood guy. So it's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. You don't have to give a lot of thought, you just enjoy it.

5) Dogs or cats?

Dogs. I enjoy hunting and I've had Labrador retrievers. I've had some very nice dogs. I don't get to hunt anymore and I don't have a dog at this time, but I thoroughly enjoyed the dogs.

6) What's playing in your iPod (CD, cassette or eight-track) right now?

Frank Sinatra. I'm getting old (laughs). No, I enjoy his music. My taste has changed, no question about it, but I enjoy Frank. Probably A Very Fine Year is the one that sticks out most.

7) If you could see one concert, what would it be?

The Eagles. I'm a long-time fan. I remember back in the early 1970s when the Eagles first hit, I enjoyed them from day one. Take it Easy is probably my favourite.

8) What's the best thing about Calgary?

The friends and friendships I've made over the years and the outdoors. I can't say there's any particular building or restaurant or anything like that. I'm an avid hunter and fly fisherman. With the Bow River being one the 10 best trout streams in North America, it's awful nice to be so close to.

9) What's the one gadget you can't live without?

That's easy: a remote control. That's for the TV set and the video equipment that we're using here to watch the game and that kind of stuff.

10) Book or video game?

I can't play video games, so it's books.

11) What's your favourite meal?

My favourite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. Any type of pasta with meatballs, I'll enjoy. Meatballs are hard to make. I'm an expert on it.

12) What's your culinary specialty?

My specialty is waffles. I do them from scratch, so I put the baking powder in there and the flour and a little bit of salt and sugar -- not too much sugar -- and just the egg whites, not the yokes, and whip it up. Eat them while they're hot. With blueberries and Aunt Jemima Light Syrup.

13) Where do you like to vacation?

Right now, Florida, because that's where my other home is. I like to play golf and I like to fish, and they're both very accessible to my house in Jacksonville. (It) has become a vacation home.

14) How do you take your Tim Hortons?

I drink my coffee black.

15) Who's the funniest person you know?

My good friend Tom Forzani. Tom was a teammate in Calgary and we stayed friends ever since.

16) What's your dream car?

A '64 Chevy supersport convertible, fire engine red. My brother had one. When we were growing up, he was five years older than I, so he was in college and I was in high school and at that time that was almost a new car.

17) What is your proudest moment?

It would be two things. I have three children, so when they were born, obviously. But also winning championships. I've had the good fortune and the good luck to be involved in three championships. That's a wonderful feeling, also.

18) What's the one thing you haven't done that you'd love to do?

I enjoy golfing, so ... it would never happen, but I'd love to play Augusta National.

19) If we're buying, you're having ...

If we weren't at an Italian restaurant, I'd have a nice salmon filet with a glass of Chardonnay on ice.

20) What are your words to live by?

That's simple, I think: Whatever you do, do your best. I've tried to live by that. Sometimes my wife calls me some things because if I'm going to do something I want to do it right, and I expect that from everybody.

Thanksgiving Classic sold out

October 10, 2008

The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that Monday’s Thanksgiving Classic with the Saskatchewan Roughriders is sold out. A crowd of 35,650 will turn out to McMahon Stadium on Oct. 13 to watch the 9-5 Stamps face the 9-5 Riders in a key West Division showdown.

The Stampeders and Roughriders will battle Monday for the fourth and final time of the regular season. The Riders have the edge this season, defeating the Stamps twice in three contests, but a win on Monday would give the Stamps the season series by virtue of points scored.

The Stamps are currently tied with the Riders and the BC Lions for first place in the West Division and will play three of their final four regular-season games at McMahon Stadium. Heading into Monday, the Stamps have won four of their last five games while the Riders have won two of their last five.

Following the Thanksgiving Classic, the next Stampeders home game is Saturday, Oct. 18 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster at 403.777.0000 or visit Ticketmaster.ca.

Stamps Thanksgiving Ticket Update

October 10, 2008

The Calgary Stampeders would like to help fans get their hands on the small amont of tickets remaining for the Thanksgiving Classic, which will be played Oct. 13 at McMahon Stadium.

The Stamps will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a game that will have major playoff implications for both sides.

There are four ways for fans to get tickets to this crucial West Divsion match-up:

1) Contact the Stamps' Ticket Office at 403-289-0258 or visit the office in person on the East side of McMahon stadium. - Family Zone tickets remain.

2) Call Ticketmaster at 403.777.0000, or visit Ticketmaster.ca. - SOLD OUT!

3) Safeway Family Huddle section tickets are available at select local Safeway locations. Note: Most stores are sold out. Here are a list of store locations with tickets remaining as of 1p.m. October 10:

-Northgate - 399 - 36 Street SE - 403-248-084

-Glamorgen - 3737-37 St SW - 403-698-8222

-Chestermere - 100,135 Chestermere Station Way - 403-410-9700

-Saddleridge - 403-293-0915

4) Sport Chek Zone tickets are available at all local Sport Chek locations. SOLD OUT!

High school football rankings

October 8, 2008

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to present the Calgary Senior High School football rankings for Oct. 8.

In an effort to help promote local high-school football, the Stamps have asked five local football experts to rank the field for the 2008 season. These rankings will be released each Wednesday.

The panel consists of long-time Calgarians Tony Spoletini, Gary DeMan and Al Cooper, who are very familiar with the local football scene. In addition, Stamps beat writers Al Cameron and Ian Busby of the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun, respectively, will contribute to the weekly rankings.

Division One

1. St. Francis (1)

2. Notre Dame (2)

3. Bowness (4)

4. Henry Wise Wood (3)

5. Lord Beaverbrook (5)

6. St. Mary’s (7)

7. Centennial (6)

Division Two

1. Bishop O’Byrne (2)

2. John G. Diefenbaker (1)

3. Central Memorial (3)

4. Western Canada (5)

5. Bishop Grandin (4)

6. McNally/Lacombe (7)

7. Crescent Heights (6)

8. Sir Winston Churchill (8)

Division Three

1. Ernest Manning (2)

2. Forest Lawn (1)

3. Bishop Carroll (3)

4. William Aberhart (4)

5. Dr. E.P. Scarlett (5)

6. James Fowler (6)

Note: Last week’s rankings in parentheses.

Members of the Calgary Stampeders Fined

October 7, 2008

The Canadian Football League announced today that it has fined members of the Calgary Stampeders for confronting and verbally abusing on-field game officials after they had left the field following their Friday, Oct. 3 game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“You have to have respect for the officials. We all know that football is an emotional game but you can’t take those emotions out on the officials, especially once the game is over,” said head coach/general manager John Hufnagel. “The league got its facts from all parties involved and made the ruling quickly. We respect the decision.”

Stampeders defensive line coach Cornell Brown was fined $2,500.

“I reacted in the heat of the moment but I behaved in an unprofessional manner and I realize that now,” said Brown. “I’m sorry it happened. It’s not the type of behavior that is encouraged in our organization and I definitely learned a lesson from it.”

Stampeder players Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson were also fined undisclosed amounts for their involvement in the confrontation.

"We hold our teams, and in particular our coaches, to a high standard, especially when it comes to respect for our officials who are so integral to our game," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.

Riders 37, Stamps 34 - Oct. 3

October 4, 2008

The Calgary Stampeders lost a game but won a playoff spot Friday night in Regina.

The Stamps fell 37-34 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium and their record dropped to 9-5. But earlier in the evening, the Toronto Argonauts lost 24-20 to the BC Lions and the Stamps guaranteed themselves at least a CFL crossover berth.

Roughriders running back Neal Hughes scored two touchdowns before a sold-out crowd of 30,945 and broke their three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Stamps saw their four-game winning streak snapped.

Along with Hughes, Chris Getzlaf scored a touchdown after he hauled in a nine-yard pass. Defensive end Kitwana Jones picked up a fumble and rumbled 15 yards to cross the goal-line.

Calgary receivers Ken-Yon Rambo and Ryan Thelwell caught passes for touchdowns, while quarterback Henry Burris scored on a three-yard naked bootleg.

Stamps kicker Sandro DeAngelis scored the game's first points with a field goal from 25 yards out. He finished the game 4-for-4, with his longest from 39 yards.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter before Saskatchewan's Hugh Charles conceded a single point to make the score 11-7 to close out the first quarter.

Roughriders kicker Luca Congi opened off the second quarter with a 47-yard field goal, his longest of the game, to pull Saskatchewan behind by one 11-10. He finished the game 3-for-4, missing his last by 52 yards.

Calgary maintained the lead heading into half time 21-17 after the squads traded touchdowns and field goals.

Within the first 30 seconds of the third quarter, Riders defensive end Stevie Baggs knocked the ball from Burris' hands. Jones picked up the loose ball and ran 15 yards into the end zone to take the lead 27-21 after the successful convert.

Calgary would add two more field goals but Saskatchewan would respond with a touchdown and field goal of their own.

Despite a touchdown with less than two minutes to play, Calgary couldn't come back.

-with files from Canadian Press

Vosburgh makes Calgary proud

October 3, 2008

Kevin Vosburgh, 36, of Calgary got in his kicks during the CFL on TSN: Wendy's Friday Night Football halftime show featuring B.C. at Toronto on Friday.But there was no million-dollar cheque for him.

Vosburgh was successful from 20 yards to win a $25,000 Future Shop gift card before missing from 30, 40 and 50 yards.

The Stampeders' season ticket holder was a gracious competitor, quick to thank kicker Sandro DeAngelis and the Calgary organization for their help in preparing him for the big night.

Vosburgh's name was randomly selected from more than 2.8 million total entries

Friday evening during the Wendy's Kick for a Million halftime show, Vosburgh attempted four field goals ranging in distance from 20 to 50 yards, with lucrative prizes awarded for each successful kick leading up to the $1 million grand prize. This year's prizes were as follows:

20 yards - $25,000 Future Shop gift card
30 yards - Gridiron Edition Nissan Titan
40 yards - $100,000 cash
50 yards - $1,000,000 in a one-time payment

In addition, three randomly chosen fans in attendance at the game won a trip for two to the 2008 Grey Cup in Montreal after Vosburgh successfully kicked the 20-yard field goal.

Kevin Vosburgh Bio

Hometown: Calgary, AB; Age: 36; Height: 5'5”; Weight: 150 pounds
Born in Toronto and now living in Calgary for more than 30 years, Vosburgh is a huge fan of the Stampeders and has proudly owned Stamps season tickets for the past 15 years. While he hasn't played football since high school, Vosburgh, 36, was doing everything he can to get a leg-up on the competition, including enlisting the help of Stampeders kicker and former CFL Outstanding Special Teams Player Sandro DeAngelis. A graduate of the University of Calgary, Vosburgh currently works as a team leader in the IT department at AltaGas Income Trust and lives in Calgary with his wife and two children.

Preview - Stamps at Riders, Oct. 3

October 2, 2008

SETTING THE SCENE

The Calgary Stampeders took sole possession of first place in the CFL’s West Division with a 44-16 win over Toronto in last week’s action. The win was the fourth straight for the Stamps and the sixth win in their last seven games. The only loss in that stretch came against the Eskimos on Labour Day.
Calgary (9-4) has averaged 38.5 points per game on offence over the last four games while this week’s opponent has had trouble scoring points and winning games lately. Saskatchewan (8-5) enters this week’s game against the Stamps with a 2-5 record in their last seven games after starting the season with a 6-0 record. The Riders averaged 30.6 points scored per game during their first six games but that average dropped to 20.5 points per game over the next seven games and stands at 18.2 points per game in the five losses that the team has posted this year. This is the first game of a back-to-back set between the two teams that will most likely determine a home playoff spot for either team should it sweep both games. A sweep by the Stamps would give them a three-game lead over the Riders with only three games left as well as the season series between the clubs and the tiebreaker. The teams have already played each other twice this season with each team winning in the other’s stadium – Saskatchewan won 22-21 at McMahon in Week 6 before Calgary returned the favour by beating the Riders 30-25 at Mosaic Stadium the following week. Calgary leads the CFL with a 5-2 road record and is 4-4 in its last eight trips to Regina since 2003 (Calgary lost 49-8 in the lone visit last season). Calgary is 4-3 against the West while the Riders are 3-4 versus Western teams and are 4-2 at home this year.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

Kickoff for this week’s game is 8 p.m. local time (10 p.m. ET) on Friday, Oct. 3 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The game will be televised on TSN’s Friday Night Football as part of a double-header with the BC.-Toronto game preceding it. Calgary is 3-0 on Friday nights this year after wins against B.C., Edmonton and Montreal. The game can be heard on the radio at AM 770 CHQR77 (am770chqr.com) and it will also be broadcast on the Internet on CFL broadband at www.cfl.ca. and on TSN broadband at www.tsn.ca

WHO’S SCORING ON OFFENCE

Stamps QB Henry Burris’ numbers against the Riders are what you might expect for a team that split the two games it played and averaged 25.5 points on offence – solid but not spectacular. Burris threw for 518 yards, had a completion percentage of 60.8, threw two touchdowns and three interceptions in the two games. He was more effective on the ground however as he rushed for 113 yards, including 70 yards in the win. Burris has played five games in Regina since coming to the Stamps from the Riders in 2005 and is 3-2 in those games with less than average stats (by his standards). Burris has averaged only 216 yards passing in the five games and has thrown only five touchdowns total but just three interceptions. RB Joffrey Reynolds rushed for 174 yards combined in the two games against Saskatchewan but chewed up 128 yards and scored a major in the win. Amongst the receivers this season, WR Brett Ralph has put up the best numbers versus the Riders as he has hauled in 11 passes for 120 yards. SB Nik Lewis had 10 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. WR Ken-Yon Rambo had six grabs for 90 yards and scored Calgary’s other passing TD in the series (in the win in the second game).

WHO’S HITTING ON DEFENCE

Calgary has tinkered with its defence since the last game versus the Riders in Week 7 but for the most part and with injuries aside, it remains the same unit overall. Calgary was first in the CFL after Week 7 in terms of offensive points allowed per game at 22.6 and has since shaved that average down to 22.3 after last week’s game but has fallen to second place behind Montreal. DE Howard Hodges and MLB Saleem Rasheed are new as starters since Week 7 (neither has seen any action against the Riders this year). Calgary is down two key Canadians as both DE Mike Labinjo and S Wes Lysack are expected to miss this week’s game with injuries. LB Shannon James led the team in the first two-game series versus the Riders with nine tackles, a forced fumble and two knockdowns. CB Brandon Browner had eight tackles, a forced fumble, a knockdown and an interception over the two games. Calgary did not record a sack in either game but DL Eddie Freeman led all defensive linemen with five tackles.

WHO’S SPECIAL ON THE TEAMS

RB Demetris Summers provided a spark on special teams last week as he rolled up 202 yards on returns (189 on kickoff) including a season-long 60-yard kickoff return. Summers played in both previous games against the Riders this season and had five kickoff returns for 103 yards. K Sandro DeAngelis scored 25 points in the two games and went seven for eight in the field goal department, accounting for almost half of the 51 total points scored by the Stamps as a team. DeAngelis has been in a season long race with Montreal’s Damon Duval for the CFL’s scoring title and has closed to within two points, 158 points to Duval’s 160 points, after last week’s games. With another strong offensive showing against the Riders, DeAngelis has a good shot to pass Duval for top spot and the inside track for his second scoring title in the last three seasons.

THE OPPOSITION

The Riders enter the game limping badly as injuries to their offence continue to be the story of the 2008 season for the Green and White. The Riders have nine receivers on the injured list, including their big three of D.J. Flick, Andy Fantuz and Matt Dominguez, and may be without the CFL’s leading rusher Wes Cates as well as he is still nursing a leg injury that caused him to miss last week’s loss to Montreal. The Riders will field an offence consisting of QB Michael Bishop (#7) (1,244 yards passing, four TDs and five interceptions in five games as a Rider), RBs Stu Foord (#22) and Neil Hughes (#32) (102 yards rushing and a touchdown between them on the season) and a cast of receivers that the Rider fans themselves have needed a program to keep track of this year. Rookie SB Weston Dressler (#7) leads the way with 31 catches for 662 yards and five touchdowns and he is joined by fellow rookies Rob Bagg (#6, 14 catches, 218 yards) and Gevon Walker (#80, 9 catches for 125 yards) as well as veteran Corey Grant (#2, 25 receptions for 245 yards) as the starting four. The Rider defence is less ravaged by injuries but is still missing DE John Chick and may also be without LB Anton McKenzie, who was leading the league in tackles before he went down in Week 13. LB Sean Lucas (#31) is second in the CFL in tackles with 65 while MLB Maurice Lloyd (#47) has 55 tackles and is developing a reputation as one of the league’s hardest hitters. The secondary is a good one, anchored by former Stampeder Eddie Davis (#29) and led by DB Lance Frazier who has five interceptions on the year, which is good enough for a tie for third in the CFL. K Luca Congi (#10) is the only kicker with a better field goal percentage than Calgary’s Sandro DeAngelis as he has made 90.9% of his attempts this year (30 of 33) and has scored 121 points.

NUMBER CRUNCHING

As mentioned earlier, the Rider’s offence has stalled over the last seven games and it sets up a match-up with the Stamps’ defence that statistically favours Calgary. The Riders’ offence is ranked fifth in points scored (311), fifth in touchdowns scored (31), seventh in time of possession (29:19), seventh in total yards per game (354.8), fourth in rushing yards per game (118.0), seventh in yards passing per game ( 259.4), fifth in fewest interceptions thrown (15) and fifth in fewest sacks allowed (29). Calgary’s defence by comparison is second in points allowed (290)and touchdowns allowed (26), third in total offence per game allowed (358), first in rushing yards allowed (85.7), fifth in passing yards allowed (295.4), seventh in interceptions (12) and fourth in sacks (23). The Riders’ defence remains their strength and should provide a stiff test for a Calgary offence that despite scoring 64 points in their last two games versus the Argos, did not look its best compared to earlier games this year. Calgary’s offence is second in points scored (30.0 points per game) and faces a Rider defence that is third in points allowed (24.0), second in yards per game allowed (348) and third in touchdowns allowed (30). Calgary’s running game has been key this year and it totaled an impressive 314 yards in the two games versus the Argos and averages 130.9 yards per game on the season. It will go up against Saskatchewan’s run defence that allows 109.5 yards per game and allowed an average of 146.0 yards against the Stamps in the two games played so far this year.

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL

The surging B.C. Lions (8-5) head east on a four-game winning streak to visit the slumping Argos (5-9) on Friday before the Calgary game while Saturday sees another double-header on tap. Montreal (9-4) clinched a playoff spot in the East last week and are looking to lock up top spot with a win over last place Hamilton (2-11) while Edmonton (7-6) looks to keep pace with the rest of the West as they host Winnipeg (5-8), winners of three straight.

EXTRA POINTS

With the West being as tight as it is heading into the playoffs, it’s possible that there will be one or more ties amongst the four teams at season’s end. The first tiebreaker is the record between the two tied clubs and the next is point differential in the games played between the tied clubs. The third tiebreaker is the record within the division but it rarely gets to this point to break a tie. Calgary can ensure itself of at least a finish ahead of Saskatchewan with a sweep of this two-game series and a loss by Edmonton combined with a win by B.C. will begin to separate the four teams as the season winds down. Wins by Saskatchewan, B.C. and Edmonton and the West will just get more compacted with four weeks to go. Calgary has won the season series versus B.C., is leading the series versus Saskatchewan on point differential, and has lost the series to Edmonton. B.C. has won the series against Saskatchewan, is trailing the Eskimos on points with two games to go against the Eskies and has lost the series to Calgary. Saskatchewan has lost the series to B.C., is leading Edmonton on points (with one game left between them) and trails Calgary on points (with two games left). Finally, Edmonton has won the series versus Calgary, is leading B.C. and trails Saskatchewan on points.

CFL changes rule to protect players

October 2, 2008

Saying the league has a profound responsibility to protect their players from serious injury, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon announced a new standard of discipline that includes suspensions.

Effective immediately, any penalty that causes a "substantial and unnecessary risk of injury" to another player will be met with a mandatory suspension.

"By setting this new standard, we are striving to give players clear, advance and fair warning of the penalties that they will face for acts that have no place in our game," Cohon said.

Last week, Edmonton Eskimos' linebacker Agustin Barrenechea was assessed a penalty when he injured Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Kevin Glenn in a helmet-to-helmet collision. A fight ensued on the field and six players, including Barrenechea, were subsequently fined but not suspended.

According to the Winnipeg Sun, the league admitted that it didn't suspend Barrenechea because, based on precedent, it felt a suspension would be overturned on appeal. The two teams meet again at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.

Under the new standard, acts such as spearing to the head, helmet-throwing in a reckless manner, kicking, punching, kneeing and stomping on a defenceless player will now be met with a mandatory suspension.

"It's time we reset the bar for the benefit of the players, the fans and those who administer our disciplinary system," said Michael Copeland, the CFL's Chief Operating Officer in a statement.

Commissioner Cohon admitted the league has been working with the CFL Players' Association on the issue but made the move without an agreement.

"We are always open to working with the players association on all issues of importance to our league. And we have been working with them on this issue," Cohon said.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve a joint resolution. So we are acting unilaterally today because we feel that it's in the best interests of our players, and our league, to do so."

Calgary Stampeders News

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GAME OVERVIEW

SETTING THE SCENE

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

WHO’S SCORING ON OFFENCE

WHO’S HITTING ON DEFENCE

WHO’S SPECIAL ON THE TEAMS

THE OPPOSITION

NUMBER CRUNCHING

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL

EXTRA POINTS

20 QUESTIONS: John Hufnagel

Lindsay O'ReillyCalgary Sun

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Preview - Stamps at Riders, Oct. 3

SETTING THE SCENE

HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION

WHO’S SCORING ON OFFENCE

WHO’S HITTING ON DEFENCE

WHO’S SPECIAL ON THE TEAMS

THE OPPOSITION

NUMBER CRUNCHING

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL

EXTRA POINTS

CFL changes rule to protect players

Lindsay O'Reilly
Calgary Sun