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By Stampeders.com staff
Here’s a closer look at Friday’s 40-27 home win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders:
In a nine-team league with lots of history, all teams are rivals to a certain degree.
But it’s fair to say that most people would agree that the Stampeders’ fiercest foes are the teams north and east of them, the Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
A huge part of the reason the Stamps have locked up top spot in the West Division is the fact they will finish with a 5-0 record against the Eskimos and Roughriders. It’s the first time in franchise history the Stamps will go through a regular season with a perfect mark against their main rivals.
Previously, the closest Calgary had come was a 4-0-2 record against Edmonton and Saskatchewan in 1963.
Drew Tate scored his 10th rushing touchdown of the season in Friday’s victory.
Tate, the No. 2 quarterback who plays in short-yardage situations and made three starts for the injured Bo Levi Mitchell in September and October, leads the CFL in rushing majors.
He is the first CFL quarterback to reach double digits in rushing touchdowns since Henry Burris, then with the Stampeders, scored 11 during the 2009 season.
A quarterback hasn’t led the league in rushing scores since 1993 when Doug Flutie and Matt Dunigan shared the league lead with 11.
In football parlance, it’s called a “short week.”
Simply put, it’s when a team plays its next game less than a full week after the previous contest. For instance, the Stamps’ Week 18 contest against the Riders was on a Friday after the Red and White had been in Winnipeg six days before on a Saturday.
The Roughriders, it should be noted, were on an even shorter week as their game last week was on Sunday.
The major challenge in a so-called short week is that the normal preparation process of rest, recovery, film study and four practice days is modified.
The Stamps have fared well in such scenarios this season, posting a 6-0 record.
Calgary is 4-0 on normal rest between games and 4-2 after a long week.
Here is more coverage from Friday’s game
Articles:
>> Game story
>> Turner takes charge
>> It’s fun to be Nik Lewis
>> Stamps “D” rose to the challenge
Stamps TV:
>> Recap
>> Game balls
>> Post-game comments: John Hufnagel
>> Post-game comments: Nik Lewis
>> Post-game comments: Jamar Wall
>> Post-game comments: Shawn Lemon
>> Post-game comments: Bo Levi Mitchell
>> Wall pick-6
Photos:
>> Action shots
>> Fan pictures
Other: