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Features July 7, 2025

Unselfishness The Key To Receivers Success

The Stampeders offence is firing on all cylinders through four games.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stamps receiving core have nine plays of 30 yards or more through the air this season, already just four back of the 2024 season mark of 13.

Veteran receiver Dominique Rhymes credits the early success to everyone playing for the team and not for individual stats.

“It’s an unselfish group,” he explained. “Some teams say that, but we live by that. We don’t care about the stat line, all we care about is winning, being physical and catching the ball. You’ve seen every receiver during the games making jump ball catches because that’s what we preach.

“We’re just a dynamic group and guys come ready and prepared. We put extra time in and work in, so I’m not surprised when the next man comes up and performs well, too.”

Rhymes also credits a strong game plan and running back Dedrick Mills with the receivers ability to make big plays this year.

“We have an amazing run game,” he said. “It helps balance it out. Teams can’t play nine guys back every play, they have to respect the run. You’ve got to credit the coaches and Dedrick. He’s been running hard and helping the pass game so much. It’s a correlation of everyone helping each other out.”

Rhymes is suiting up in his eighth CFL season and currently sits third in the CFL in consecutive games with a reception among active players with catches in 59 straight tilts.

“I didn’t know about that until this year,” said Rhymes. “That’s a crazy stat of mine, but I just come to work every day. I come into each and every game saying I’m going to make an impact somehow. It has been a blessing to be able to do something like that.”

With it being his first year in the Red and White, Rhymes said he’s been able to enjoy a little bit of the Stampede festivities and even won a pancake stacking competition with some teammates over the weekend.

“It’s amazing, I spent the weekend with my teammates and it’s been a great Stampede,” he said. “We just keep stacking W’s out here. We can’t lose anything, we have to keep competing no matter what the competition is.”

With a huge 37-16 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Thursday, Rhymes keyed on the importance of beating division rivals.

“It’s a west opponent so you’ve got to always bring your hard hat,” he explained. “You’re trying to fight for places in the standings, so you just want to keep building and continue to play your best ball.”

The Stampeders now face another rival in the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina on Friday night.

It’s all about continuing the momentum.

“We have to do the same thing we’ve been doing,” he said. “Keep stacking W’s and stack the wins each and every day at practice. We’ve gotta do what we’ve been doing, just put our heads down and go to work.”