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November 18, 2018

The Bo And Eric Show

Stampeders' QB Bo Levi Mitchell throws a pass during fourth quarter CFL, West Final action in Calgary, AB, on Sunday, Nov. 18th, 2018. (CFL PHOTO - Dave Chidley)

On a field full of family and friends, between posing for iPhone cameo snapshots, Bo Levi Mitchell pulled a small bottle out of thin air, for both celebratory and medicinal purposes against the 6 p.m. chill.

“What is it?’’ he replied to a query. “Fireball. What’s Fireball?”

After a quick check of the devil/dragon logo on the label.

“Cinnamon whiskey.”

He took  a slug, shook his head.

Damn, it burns when it goes down. But sure tastes sweet.”

Everything did on Sunday.

In the Western Final, Mitchell and his crew held fast against a stubborn band of Winnipeg Blue Bombers to book a third consecutive Grey Cup trip, 22-14.

A truly domineering defence and a three-touchdown collaboration between Mitchell and slotback Eric Rogers proved to be enough for the Stampeders to arrange a date against the Ottawa Redblacks next week at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

“He’s a big-time player,’’ praised Mitchell of his sure-handed slotback. “An MOP-type player. Obviously the knee injury happened and he’s been fighting back from that but when he trusts himself, trusts his knee, he cuts and breaks the way he can … good luck trying to defend him, he can catch it with anybody.

“We didn’t necessarily create things for him going into the green zone but they just kinda gave us the coverage to put it. I throw where the defence tells me to throw.

“Tonight, down there, it was 15.”

When the West’s MOP finalist took the game’s final snap from centre, turned and fired the ball into the crowd in exultation, it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if Rogers hadn’t instinctually leapt over the railing and into the stands and somehow came down with the ball.

“This,’’ said Rogers, a part of Calgary’s last title team in 2014 before giving the NFL a whirl, “is why I came back. This is why you play. Games like this. To give yourself another chance at a Grey Cup.”

The third Mitchell-Rogers TD hook-up, a 10-yard strike with 3:52 left, plunged the dagger into the heart of Winnipeg resistance. Blue Bombers’ DB Brandon Alexander must’ve felt like the loneliest person in a stadium of over 29,000 when the man he was assigned to cover rose like some predatory wraith and locked his hands, vice-like, around the ball.

“I always tell Bo: If you’re going to throw high or low, throw high, cause I’ll go up and get it,’’ he explained. “When you make a catch like that, you don’t want to bring it in because that gives the DB a chance to knock it out. I just wanted to be strong on my hands in the catch, hang onto this one so (alluding to the controversial non-catch call in Winnipeg a few weeks back) the CFL review couldn’t change it.”

That catch allowed the crowd to exhale and begin plans for the three-hour trip north next weekend.

“You gotta understand, for (Rogers) to make that play at that point in the game when all eyes are on you and if I make this play we’re probably going to the Grey Cup … that’s not easy to do, man,’’ lauded Mitchell. “It wasn’t a great ball. I put it up there to let him go make a play. He made a helluva catch, to hold on to it. I know I can trust that guy.

“It’s a cliche, man, but great players make big plays at big times. That’s the way it is. When my teammates – Smitty, Alex, Ciante, Micah – come over to me and say: ‘Hey, Bo, we need one. Get guys one now and we’ll choke those guys out’? I can’t let them down. It’s something inside of me, inside of all of them.

“And that’s why we’re here, now, going back to another Grey Cup.”

Their opponent, of course, makes for an instant storyline, and the spectre of the OT loss two years ago at BMO Field in Toronto will be much bandied abut in lead-up week.

“Honestly, we owe Ottawa,’’ said O-lineman Derek Dennis, who returned to McMahon Stadium this season after a year away in Saskatchewan. “They stole the Cup from us in ’16 so this is a big week for us.

“We knew it was going to be a physical game (against Winnipeg). They’re a representation of their head coach (Mike O’Shea), the type of player he was. But this is the time of year you separate the men from the boys.

“This feels good. But I’d be lying if I said I’m happy because the job ain’t done.

“I’m looking forward to having this feeling next week.”

They all are. The first-timers. The returnees. Each and every one.

“Everybody’s going to make so many comparisons to two years ago, us and Ottawa,’’ scoffed Mitchell. “Well, Ottawa will tell you they’re not the same team from 2016. Neither are we.

“It’s not a rematch.

“The same two logos. But that is it. What it comes down to is: It’s not going to come easy. Trevor (Harris) threw for six TDs today, a CFL record. They’ve got a tough defence. We’ve got to lock-in and put everything on the line this week.

“We’ve got a chance to do something great.”

Great enough to warrant another celebratory slug of Fireball next week, he’s asked.

“No, man,’’ Mitchell replied, “next week is reserved for the good stuff.”

Champagne, anyone?