By Mike Hardiman
Special to Stampeders.com

The Pregame

Divisional foes clash in Week 6 as the Calgary Stampeders play host to the BC Lions.

Calgary (4-0) grabbed top spot in the West last week with a 26-22 road win over previously unbeaten Edmonton. It’s the Stamps’ first 4-0 start since 1996.

The Lions were dumped at home 23-6 by the Bombers, a result that snapped their modest two-game winning streak. The teams met four times in the regular season in 2013 and they split the four games, with each side winning both of its home dates.

Calgary beat BC 44-32 in Week 1 and 40-26 in Week 16, piling up more than 400 yards of offence in each game and scoring a total of nine touchdowns. Calgary is on a three-game winning streak against the Lions at home but the Stamps are only 4-4 in the past eight games against the Lions at McMahon dating back to 2009.

The Stamps are 2-0 at home this year and are 1-0 against West teams while the Lions are 1-2 against the West and 1-1 on the road. 

The Kickoff

When/Where: Friday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. MDT at McMahon Stadium in Calgary
Television: TSN, ESPNews
Radio: News Talk 770, SiriusXM 167
Internet: www.newstalk770.com

The Stampeders

The Stamps special teams were the difference in a big win over Edmonton last week with a recovered fumble, a punt block by LB Keenan MacDougall (with a touchdown on the return) and a stop on an Eskimo fake punt all huge factors.

Calgary also kept Eskimo returner Jamal Miles to just 53 yards on 10 punt returns to round out a dominate night for the special-teams unit.

Calgary’s offence struggled against a good Eskimo defence, putting up just 239 yards of total offence and registering just 13 first downs. QB Bo Levi Mitchell tied a CFL record with his seventh straight win from the start of his CFL career but posted career lows in passing yards (124) and QB rating (71.6). Mitchell has yet to return to the 300-yard passing plateau he hit in Week 1 against Montreal.

RB Jock Sanders filled in admirably for the injured Matt Walter, rushing for 86 yards. Calgary fans may get their first look at RB Martell Mallett (#34) this week as Calgary looks to fill the running back position. RB Hugh Charles (#33) was also added to the practice roster this week but is not expected to suit up for this game.

Calgary’s defence was its usual stingy self despite giving up a season-high 22 points. The Stamps limited Esks QB Mike Reilly to just 212 passing yards and held Edmonton to two touchdowns. LB Deron Mayo returned to action from injury while CB Brandon McDonald (#32), an NFL veteran of 80 games over six seasons, made his Stampeders debut.

Who to watch:

Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, #19
2014 stats – 113 attempts, 66 completions, 58.4% completion rate, 905 passing yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs, 104.8 QB rating – leads CFL in QB rating
Last game – 29 attempts, 14 completions, 48.3% completion rate, 124 passing yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 71.6 QB rating – Week 5 vs Edm.
2013 vs BC –  6 attempts, 2 completions, 33.3% completion rate, 12 passing yards, 0TDs, 0 INTs

Jeff Fuller, SB, #31
2014 stats –  16 receptions, 237 receiving yards, 14.8 yard average,  3 TDs –  leads team in receiving, ninth in CFL
Last game –  4 receptions, 67 yards, 16.8 yard average, 1 TD – Week 5 vs Edm.
2013 vs BC – 5 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 13.2-yard average, 0 TDs in one game

Charleston Hughes, DE, #39
2014 stats – 11 tackles, 1 special teams tackle, 1 tackle for loss, 4 sacks, 2 pass knockdowns – leads team in sacks
Last game – 2 tackles, 1 sack  – Week 5 vs Edm
2013 vs BC – 11 tackles, 1 special teams tackle, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 pass knockdowns in four games

Brandon Smith, DB, #28
2014 stats – 23 tackles, 2 special teams tackles, 2 tackles for losses, 1 sack – leads team in tackles
Last game – 8 tackles, 1 sack – Week 5 vs Edm, led team in tackles
2013 vs BC – 7 tackles in three games

Fred Bennett, CB, #8
2014 stats – 14 tackles, 2 INTs, 2 pass knockdowns, 1 fumble return – leads team in interceptions
Last game – 6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 pass knockdown – Week 5 vs Edm
2013 vs BC – 6 tackles, 1 special teams tackle, 1 pass knockdown, 1 forced fumble in four games

The Lions                                                    

The Lions have gotten off to an erratic start at 2-3.

Knowing they would be without their starting QB Travis Lulay for an extended period, the Lions traded for former Stamps QB Kevin Glenn (#2) to guide the offence until Lulay returns. Glenn has had his issues with interceptions, throwing a league-high eight thus far.

The Lions’ giveaway stat — the most in the CFL at 15 — combined with their league-worst 21 sacks give you a good idea as to just why the Leos have struggled to score points.

BC still boasts plenty of talent on offence from their dual threats in the backfield of Andrew Harris (#33) and Stefan Logan (#10) to stud receiver Manny Arceneaux (#84), fifth in the CFL in receiving. Add receivers Courtney Taylor (#86) and Shawn Gore (#85) and the Lions can still rough up any defence in the CFL.

The Lions defence is solid, highlighted by a terrific front seven. LB Solomon Elimimian (#56) and LB Adam Bighill (#44) are two of the best in the CFL  (and rank one-two in tackles in the league) while DE Alex Bazzie (#53) has been a surprise at the end position, leading the team with three sacks.

Third-year DB Cord Parks (#26) teams up with veterans Ryan Phillips (#21) and Dante Marsh (#31) to give the Leos a strong secondary. 

Who to watch:

Kevin Glenn, QB, #2
2014 stats – 142 attempts, 88 completions, 62.0% completion rate, 1,113 passing yards, 5 TDs, 8 INTs, 74.6 QB rating – leads CFL in interceptions
Last game – 31 attempts, 18 completions, 58.1% completion rate, 232 passing yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 54.5 QB rating – Week 5 vs Wpg
2013 vs Cgy –  did not play, was member of Stampeders

Andrew Harris, RB, #33
2014 stats –  56 carries, 311 rushing yards, 5.6 yard average, 1 rushing TD; 18 receptions, 268 receiving yards, 14.9 yard average, 2 receiving TDs –  leads CFL in rushing and yards from scrimmage
Last game – 8 carries, 38 rushing yards, 4.8 yard average, 0 rushing TDs; 3 receptions, 23 yards, 7.7 yard average, 0 TDs – Week 5 vs Wpg
2013 vs Cgy – 43 carries, 194 rushing yards, 4.5 yard average, 1 rushing TD; 11 receptions, 116 receiving yards, 10.5 yard average, 1 receiving TD in four games

Solomon Elimimian, LB, #56
2014 stats – 39 tackles, 3 special teams tackles, 3 tackles for losses, 1 sack, 1 fumble return –  leads CFL in tackles
Last game – 12 tackles –  Week 5 vs Wpg, led team in tackles
2013 vs Cgy – 16 tackles, 1 pass knockdown in three games

Stats

The CFL this Week

Thursday, July 31, 5 p.m. – Winnipeg (4-1) at Hamilton (1-3)
Friday, Aug. 1, 5 p.m. – Toronto (1-4) at Montreal (1-3)
Saturday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m. – Saskatchewan (2-2) at Ottawa (1-3)
Bye: Edmonton