© 2025 Calgary Stampeders. All rights reserved.
By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com staff
Leading the defence once again on Saturday for the Red and White was linebacker Juwan Simpson, who registered nine tackles in Calgary’s 14-7 victory over the visiting BC Lions.
The Stamps improved to 11-2 with the Week 14 win and now own a 6-1 mark at McMahon Stadium, having suffered their only defeat at the hands of the same Leos back on Aug. 1.
Usually, it’s team captain Simpson who hands out the defensive game ball after a victory but the middle linebacker’s play was so strong on Saturday that Fred Bennett stepped in to perform the ceremony and he promptly handed the ball to No. 12.
“Last week (in a loss at Montreal) we came out and played and we weren’t ourselves, so we harped all week that we come out and play (well),” said Simpson, “Regardless of who it would have been this week, we felt like it was important for us to come out and get a win.
“(The Lions) are a good team. They were a good team when they beat us back in Week 6, so we knew it was going to be a fourth-quarter game and guys just stuck together. That’s what I’m happy about most.”
The Decatur, Ala., native was not only a force to be reckoned with on the field, but he was leader on the sidelines, as well. Simpson — who was surprised to hear his nine takedowns were more than any other Stamps defender — was vocal throughout the night, as the captain of the defensive unit injected energy into his teammates on the bench from start to finish.
“It’s just something that’s been engrained in me,” explained the seven-year veteran of his well-documented leadership qualities. “It was a God-given deal, I guess. I’ve always been considered a leader, even going back to when I was a kid.
“But it’s not just me, though — there are 11 other guys out there and when I’m not talking, they’re talking. I can’t take all the credit. It was a complete team effort, even with me getting the nine tackles. It was a complete team effort in everything that happened.”
Calgary surrendered a mere seven points to the Lions, all coming on the game’s very first drive. That tied the mark for the fewest the stingy group has allowed all season. The other two noteworthy performances came against the Tiger-Cats and RedBlacks.
“I think during the first couple games when we were shutting teams out, a lot of people were getting greedy in a sense, but this is professional football,” Simpson stated. “You can’t expect to shut teams out week in and week out. It’s about playing four quarters of solid football and today I feel like maybe not for four quarters, but I feel think we played solid football for the majority.”
A date with the 9-4 Roughriders is up next for the Stamps and Simpson immediately acknowledged the importance of the matchup as the two teams have yet to do battle in 2014.
“They’re coming off a tough loss and they’re going to be pumped up,” admitted the all-star middle linebacker. “It’s the Sask-Calgary rivalry . . . ever since I’ve been here, it’s been one for the ages. I expect another four-quarter game and guys will be ready and prepared. We’re going to enjoy this (win) for the night, but it’s a short week and we’ll get back to work tomorrow.”