By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com

Fourth-year Canadian defensive lineman Junior Turner had one of his best performances of the 2014 season on Friday night, registering four tackles and a knockdown to go along with his third sack of the year in Calgary’s 40-27 come-from-behind win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Although the former Bishop’s Gaiter admitted satisfaction in handing the Riders their fifth straight defeat, he was quick to praise his teammates for their resiliency in battling back by scoring 25 unanswered points to end the game. 

“We just kept that belief and that faith,” said the ninth overall selection in the 2011 CFL Draft. “It’s always about coming back as a team. No one particular area stood out more than another — special teams, offence, or defence. We kept ourselves in it and kept believing in one another.”

With the Stampeders having already clinched the West Division crown thanks to last week’s victory in Winnipeg, Turner felt as though the team showed improvement in key areas that will be necessary come the Western Final on Nov. 23.

“I feel like we took a real good step (forward) in just belief in ourselves,” the Toronto native explained. “We were really down and we weren’t doing anything right. We started with great effort and execution and had great emotion at the end. Coach Huff said ‘play your best football in the fourth quarter’ and that’s what we did.”

The Week 18 matchup featured the annual PinkPower game at McMahon Stadium, and Turner played from start to finish in honour of one particular breast cancer survivor. 

“My mom is always on my mind,” stated a passionate Turner. “That’s my hero, that’s my best friend, and I can talk to her about anything, whether it’s a good thing in life or it’s a bad thing. Every time I’ve got to play right because she’s blessed me this opportunity of life. It’s always about her and my family.”