The monkey is finally off his back.

After not catching a touchdown through the first four games of the season, Stampeders receiver Marquay McDaniel was determined to finally get into the end zone on Saturday against Saskatchewan. His first major of the season – he did previously have a pair of two-point converts – was coincidentally Bo Levi Mitchell’s 100 career TD pass.

“I had no idea about it at first, he said nothing about it before the game,” said McDaniel. “It’s cool to help him get that 100th and that was the easiest one that we’ve had.

“It was good to get that monkey off my back because I’ve dropped two other ones. It was good to get that out of the way and see if I can get a couple more.”

Of Mitchell’s career touchdown passes, the most – 14 of them – have been caught by McDaniel, making it even more fitting that the milestone touchdown was to the quarterback’s favourite target.

Immediately after the touchdown, the 33-year-old gave the ball away to a fan in the stands.

Photo by Molly Campbell

“I came over to the sidelines,” said McDaniel, “and he asked me ‘What did you do with that ball?’ I told him I gave it to a little kid, not knowing that was the one. Luckily, they were close so I could point them out so he could go get it. It was a really cool moment.”

McDaniel finished the game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders with two receptions for 88 yards in the 27-10 victory. The two big catches for massive yardage gave the offence momentum when needed.

“Week to week you never know how it’s going to be,” McDaniel said. “You’re never too sure how the defence is going to play. We thought we were going to see a bit more man-to-man coverage. I had a chance to make a few big plays and that was big for us to keep things rolling. I was glad to get a bit more opportunities.”

There was one near-catch that McDaniel made that left McMahon Stadium in awe, though after a Saskatchewan challenge and review it was determined to be an incomplete pass. McDaniel drew a pass-interference call on the play though there’s some thought he still made the actual catch despite having a Riders defender draped all over him.

“I have to see it again, need to see the TV copy,” McDaniel said.  “I knew it was pass interference. I knew I had it and knew it was close but we got the pass-interference call that helped keep the chains moving.”

The outlook now shifts over to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“We just need to keep getting better,” he said. “Hamilton has no wins but they are going to come here hungry. Everyone wants to come in here and beat us. We’re always focused on getting better.”