NOTEBOOK: FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREVIEW
CALGARY – Playoff intrigue permeates Friday’s game between the Calgary Stampeders and visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
With three games remaining in the CFL’s regular season, the Stampeders and B.C. Lions (both 10-5) are neck and neck down the stretch for second in the West Division and the right to host the division semifinal.
Hamilton (5-10) needs to get ahead of the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-10) to avoid losing an East Division playoff spot to a crossover team from the West.
“It’s not technically like playoff football yet, but it also kind of is,” Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans said Thursday in Hamilton.
“Everybody on our team knows what time it is, everybody on their team knows what time it is, so I think you’ll see a pretty good fight this whole game from both sides.”
The Tiger-Cats aren’t mathematically out of the running for second in the East either, but would need a collapse by the Montreal Alouettes (7-8) to get there.
Coming off an 18-14 victory at home over the Roughriders last week, the Ticats have yet to win on the road or string together two wins in a row this season.
“They’re going to be desperate,” Stampeders quarterback Jake Maier observed. “They’re super-well coached and they have an identity and they’ve been in the Grey Cup the last two seasons, man, so you’ve got to respect that regardless of where they’re at in their season and their record.
“We’ve got to start playing championship-level football though. We’ve got six weeks to prove we’re a championship-calibre team and that’s all our focus is right now. Weather’s getting colder, games are getting more intense, so we’re excited.”
Winnipeg (14-2) has already locked in the West final at home. The Lions face the defending champions twice in their remaining three games with the other game against the Edmonton Elks.
B.C. took the season series from Calgary 2-1 and would be the higher playoff seed in the event of a tie.
The Stampeders won a wild one in Hamilton back on June 18, when Calgary erased a 24-point deficit in a 33-30 overtime victory.
Rene Paredes kicked a game-tying 39-yard field goal as regulation time expired and another 35-yarder in OT to beat the Ticats.
“Both of us are third in our conference. If you think about it, that’s an interesting dynamic, but I know they can play,” observed Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson. “They’ve got good players, they’re fast, they’re physical.
“This year hasn’t quite worked for them, but they know they can beat anybody and we’ve got to go out there and play a damn good game to win.”
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Redblacks would love nothing more than to carry the momentum from their recent victory over the Montreal Alouettes into a rematch.
With new interim head coach Bob Dyce at the helm, the Redblacks (4-11) posted a 24-18 win over the East Division’s second place Alouettes (7-8) on Monday.
Now the two teams will square off for the final time this season Friday night at TD Place.
While slim, Ottawa’s playoff hopes are still alive. But the club has a challenge ahead after losing a number of key players Monday.
Those sidelined in the win include returner/receiver Devonte Dedmon (quadricep), receiver Jaelon Acklin (head/shoulder), running back William Powell (shoulder), linebacker Patrick Levels (ankle), defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike (ankle) and offensive lineman Dino Boyd (shoulder). Ottawa is already without receiver Nate Behar and defensive back Justin Howell.
“If you get banged up at all in that last game it’s going to be really tough to come back and be ready,” said Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle.
The Redblacks will also look to put an end to a long losing streak at home. Ottawa has lost 21 of its last 22 games at TD Place and, with just two home games remaining, including Friday’s matchup, time is running short to give fans something to cheer about.
Montreal has lost its last two games against the Redblacks and will look to gain momentum as it heads into the final stretch of the season.
(Canadian Press)
