By Stampeders.com staff

Last week’s game in Ottawa was just a warm-up act for Jon Cornish.

After rushing for 74 yards in his return to the lineup against the RedBlacks, the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player exploded for 163 yards in the Stampeders’ 28-13 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in the Labour Day Classic.

It was the first 100-yard game of the season for Cornish, who missed six contests with a concussion suffered in the season-opener.

“When you’re out for six games,” said Cornish, “people want to tell you, ‘Don’t focus on this, don’t focus on that,’ but for me, I just play to play. I just take it one play at a time.

“I think this game sort of allowed me to get back in my rhythm.”

Cornish scored on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter and also had a 44-yard dash, but his two most important carries of the day may have been two runs late in the second quarter.

With the Stamps backed up on their own five-yard line, Cornish ran for 21 and 11 yards on back-to-back plays to allow Calgary to kill the clock and take a 15-10 lead into the locker-room for halftime.

“When you’re able to get two first downs when your in your own end,” said Cornish, “that’s huge. It really changed the field.”

Moments after the victory, Cornish was already focused on the Stamps’ next challenge — Saturday’s rematch at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.

“Last victory doesn’t matter anymore,” stated Cornish. “We’re on to the next game. Edmonton is going to be ready to play us on Saturday so we have to be prepared for that.”