By Geoff Crane
Stampeders.com

When the Saskatchewan Roughriders come to town, it seems to bring out the best in Nik Lewis. Calgary’s veteran receiver had a season-best receiving performance Friday against the Stamps bitter rivals and earned game-ball honours from his teammates.

In a season during which Lewis has had to endure adversity in trying to comeback from a devastating leg injury suffered last year and has found himself the odd man out at times due to ratio issues, Lewis at one point wondered if he had reached the end of his career.

“When we started at the first of the year, my ankle didn’t respond well,” says Lewis. “I’ve had my ups and downs and thought, ‘Maybe this is the end of the road for me.’

“But I went and had a conversation with Dave and Huff (offensive coordinator Dave Dickenson and head coach and general manager John Hufnagel) and everybody and, in a way, they said they still believe in me. And that’s why I’m still here.”

And the Stampeders are glad Lewis has stuck around as he played a major role in the Red and White’s comeback win over the Roughriders.

Lewis was targeted nine times by Bo Levi Mitchell, resulting in nine catches for 98 yards. Many of the receptions moved the chains for first downs and one set up a two-yard Matt Walter rushing touchdown.

On a chilly October night at McMahon, it looked to be another vintage performance by No. 82, who seems to always play well against the Riders.

“It’s truly an honour,” says Lewis, talking about the game ball he was awarded. “After 11 years of football, I can no longer take things for granted. There are sometimes I wonder ‘When is my last touchdown?’ or ‘When is my last catch?’ You never know.

“I just try to lead by example and I’m so grateful and thankful for the opportunity, one. And two, to go out and put on a performance that they deemed as one of the best of the night.”

Lewis hit two other career milestones during the game, recording his 800th career reception and moving into sole possession of 11th all-time in career receiving yards. For the second time in his career.

“I was No. 11 last year and Arland Bruce caught up with me and passed me when I got hurt,” says Lewis, who vowed to chase Bruce down again before his career is done.

He also credited his good fortune to having his mother in the stands for the first time in almost two seasons. Saying he has only lost twice when she comes to watch him play, the Stamps may want to look at keeping her around for the remainder of the season.

For Calgary’s quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell, he gained a new fan in Lewis’ mother who is said to have offered to have him over for dinner after throwing to her son so abundantly.

It’s the fun stories like his mother’s affinity for Mitchell, told in a gregarious way, that let you know Lewis is back to feeling like himself and is having fun.

With the injury nearly behind him and his team potentially on a march towards an historical 16-2 record, the stocky slotback is excited for what the future holds for the team this season.

“It’s been up and down for me this year with the injuries and everything but I just have to keep fighting,” say Lewis. “I’m just having so much fun playing football and it’s truly a blessing “