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Young football fans may not know the name, but veteran Canadian Football League supporters will remember Leo Lewis as one of the game’s great backfield stars.
The Des Moines, Iowa, native was a six-time division all-star for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the ’50s and ’60s and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1973. A few years ago, he was slotted into position No. 29 on TSN’s list of the 50 greatest players in CFL history.
Lewis’ name became topical again last week as the former Blue Bombers star was surpassed on the CFL’s all-time rushing list by Calgary’s Joffrey Reynolds in, coincidentally, a game against Winnipeg.
Reynolds — the CFL’s top rusher among active players — now sits eighth on the all-time list with 8,874 yards. Lewis, with 8,861 yards, drops into ninth spot.
There’s another interesting Calgary connection for Lewis — his son Marc played for the Stampeders in 1988.
As for Reynolds, the Tyler, Tex., product is now eyeing another Hall-of-Famer for seventh place in career rushing. Next up is none other than Normie Kwong, a Calgarian who started his outstanding career with the Stamps.
Reynolds needs just 149 yards to pass the man nicknamed the China Clipper, who finished his career with 9,022 yards.
In sixth position is yet another ex-Stamp — Kelvin Anderson at 9,340 yards.
Here is a look at the CFL’s all-time leading rushers:
All-time rushers | |
---|---|
Mike Pringle | 16,425 |
George Reed | 16,116 |
Damon Allen | 11,920 |
Johnny Bright | 10,909 |
Charles Roberts | 10,285 |
Kelvin Anderson | 9,340 |
Normie Kwong | 9,022 |
Joffrey Reynolds | 8,874 |
Leo Lewis | 8,861 |
Dave Thelen | 8,463 |