By Geoff Crane
Stampeders.com

This week, the Calgary Stampeders are trying to avoid history repeating itself when they march into Winnipeg to face the 4-8 Blue Bombers at Investors Group Field.

The first bit of history the Stamps hope to erase is a recent hiccup on special teams in last week’s tilt with the BC Lions. The game featured two second half 103-yard returns for touchdowns by the elusive Chris Rainey.

It was the first time this season a kickoff and a punt have been returned for majors in the same game but it’s not an occurrence Adam Thibault and is teammates are particularly glowing about.

“That just means that in this league, we have really great returners and you can’t take one play off at all,” insists the four-time Vanier Cup winner. “We had been stopping them the whole first half then, boom, they exploded for two returns in one half. It just means we have to be focused and play all out every single play because we have really good returners in the league.”

It was not the best night for Calgary’s special-teams squad if you merely look at Rainey’s stat line of 11 returns for 333 combined yards and two scores. However, Thibault insists it wasn’t necessarily as bad as it looked.

“Honestly, those two returns were their only great plays on special teams,” says Thibault. “We played really well on special teams but those two plays went all the way.”

He reiterates the importance on not taking any plays off and remaining focused. Look for the Red and White to be just that this Friday when they look to avoid another surprise loss against a struggling Bombers squad.

If you remember back to the 2014 season, Calgary was looking to continue their march to the CFL record books and achieve a 15-2 record with one game remaining to go 16-2.

In their way was a 6-11 Winnipeg team that was closing the book on a disappointing season, missing the playoffs after some early-season success.

Linebacker Deron Mayo remembers that wet and snowy Nov. 1 all too well.

“Yeah, they beat us,” Mayo says matter-of-factly.

Turning the ball over six times – including five fumbles – and committing 14 penalties in the contest, the Stampeders were fed some humble pie and reminded that on any given game day, any team can win in the CFL, regardless of whether they have a losing record.

“Those teams are always dangerous,” says Mayo. “Truthfully, (Winnipeg’s) a good team.

“Coming into this week, we have Winnipeg and a couple of other tough games. This basically kicks off our schedule of six tough games. We know we just have to take them one at a time. Our next opponent happens to be Winnipeg and we’re looking forward to just getting better every week.”

And better they will have to be as the stakes are raised down the stretch with teams fighting and clawing for position in the standings and a possible shot at home-field advantage in the playoffs.

An inopportune could prove costly when division rival Edmonton is only one game behind in the standings.

Regardless of how the victory against BC was gained, Mayo is glad it was a win and knows he and his team are capable of better.

“You have to have a short memory to be a football player,” says Mayo. “We’ll come out this game and guys will be hungry and flying around and at the same time they’ll be disciplined. We’ve learned from our mistakes and now it’s time to move on.”

“Winnipeg surprised us last year, so, nobody is going to go into Winnipeg thinking this is going to be an easy win,” says Thibault.

He and his special teams colleagues are champing at the bit to get back on the field and atone for last weekend’s mistakes.

“You put your shoulder pads on and you better bring it,” says Thibault. “Even if it’s the end of the season or you have clinched a home playoff spot, you need to play all out.”