There’s no doubting why Charleston Hughes is the sack master.

The 33-year-old defensive lineman has given opposing quarterbacks and offensive linemen nightmares throughout his CFL career.

Hughes has 97 sacks during his time with the Stamps, just three shy of breaking Will Johnson’s current franchise mark.

“It’s a great feeling to be recognized among … the greats,” said Hughes, who debuted for the Red and White in 2008. “It feels good to be so close to approaching it.

“He worked so hard to get that record and making it untouchable for years. Breaking it will show that I’m good at what I do, and that’s pass rushing.”

With nine sacks on the year, Hughes finds himself tied for the league lead with teammates Micah Johnson, Ja’Gared Davis, and Victor Butler of the Toronto Argonauts.

Hughes is bidding for the third league sack title of his career, while Johnson is trying to become the first defensive tackle to earn at least a share of the CFL sack crown since Saskatchewan’s James Curry in 1989.

“Micah wants it just as bad as I do,” he said. “It shows how good we are as a defensive line. We’re very versatile and we can be recognized as the best in the league.”

“I never won it back-to-back. It’s what I always wanted as one of my goals.”

To go along with his 97 sacks in Stamps silks, Hughes has racked up 375 tackles and three interceptions.

With a sack against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night, Hughes has set the stage to tie or break the record before the end of the season.

“I thought I would’ve had it by now,” he joked. “The dynamics of the league are different but I’m hoping that I can get it this year and not have to wait for it.”

For the 6-foot-1, 246-lb. Hughes, it’s unbelievable to think how fast the time has passed from being a rookie to closing in on shattering a 21-year-old record.

There’s no question that if Hughes can reach the feat against the Edmonton Eskimos (Oct. 28) or Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Nov. 3), you can expect him to have a unique way to mark the occasion.

“Breaking it in these two games would be ideal,” he said. “They’ll be a big celebration on the play to cap off a great moment.”

“I’m still trying to figure it out, stay tuned.”