Alberta rivals set for battle in Labour Day Classic

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There's more than just bragging rights on the line as the Calgary Stampeders take on the Edmonton Eskimos in the annual Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium on Monday.

"A lot of weight lies on this game," said Calgary quarterback Henry Burris. "The season series is on the line for us. We can't give up any games to them now."

The Alberta rivals have identical 5-3 records, putting them in a second place tie behind the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the hotly contested West Division standings. With the two teams set to play each other again in Edmonton on Friday, both have their sights set on sweeping the home-and-home series.

"One team's going to win and one team's going to lose here tomorrow night, so that next game becomes equally important for both football teams" said Edmonton coach Danny Maciocia. "We're going to try to distance ourselves and try to go four points up."

After losing 34-31 to the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium on July 3, the Stamps will be looking to bounce back with a better effort at home in front of a sold-out crowd.

"We're looking to come out with a little fire," said Calgary linebacker JoJuan Armour. "Our record and their record is motivating enough, the fight for second is motivating enough. Both teams are hoping to get to first place."

The last time the two teams faced each other, Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray threw for 448 yards and three touchdowns.

"Last game we didn't really get pressure on Ricky Ray," said Stampeder defensive lineman Mike Labinjo, who was named Canadian player of the week after recording five tackles, a sack and a knockdown during Calgary's 36-29 win over the B.C. Lions in Vancouver on Aug. 22.

"Any time you give that guy any time, he's able to pick the defence apart. This week we've put a little more emphasis on getting to Ricky Ray and causing some havoc up front."

Ray said he expects a much better effort from the Calgary defence on Monday.

"Everybody's trying to always hit the quarterback and get interceptions," Ray said. "That's just the way it is in this league. We've just got to come out there and take on that challenge and try and make some plays."

The Labour Day Classic features all four CFL players of the week as Calgary kicker Sandro DeAngelis earned the special teams award, while Edmonton won both the defensive and offensive awards after strong performances by defensive lineman Dario Romero and running back A.J. Harris in Edmonton's 27-10 win over the Roughriders at home on Aug. 21.

While the Stamps will have their hands full trying to stop Edmonton's passing game, they'll also have to try and contain Harris, who ran for 189 yards and a 36-yard touchdown to go with 40 yards receiving against Saskatchewan.

"He's really stepped up," said Labinjo of Harris, while noting the Stamps have the best rush defence in the league, having held their opponents to an average of just 86.1 yards rushing.

"It's going to be good to establish the run early," countered Harris. "Our passing has been working so good all year that it's opened up the run for us."

On offence, Calgary boasts a pair of players with seven touchdowns in receiver Nik Lewis and running back Joffrey Reynolds as well as the top receiver in the league in Ken-Yon Rambo, who has been one of Burris' favourite targets this season in pressure situations.

"Henry's doing a great job spreading the ball around," said Rambo, who leads the CFL with 722 receiving yards to go with his three touchdown catches. "I'm just going to keep on trying to do what I can do to help out the team."

Calgary coach John Hufnagel said his squad will have to play a more consistent game from start to finish against the Eskimos than they did the last time the two teams met.

"I know we're playing an excellent football team," Hufnagel said. "It's going to be a great challenge. We better be ready."

 

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Ferocious flu tests ill-power



Still weak from a nasty flu, JoJuan Armour could only laugh about how he felt just 48 hours earlier.

"I couldn't stop vomiting," the Calgary Stampeders linebacker said.

"I even did it in Ted's Hummer."

That would be Ted Hellard, part owner and managing partner of the Stampeders.

Armour, defensive lineman Howard Hodges and linebacker Matt Grootegoed were out collecting food for the annual charity drive for the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank.

Hellard took the players out for dinner afterwards at Montana's Steakhouse when Armour took ill.

That was Thursday night, and the linebacker missed the next two days of practice.

"I sat down, had a glass of water and then I went straight to the bathroom," Armour said.

"I messed the bathroom up so bad I had to tell the staff there so nobody would go in there.

"I had Howard stand by the door while I went and found somebody. I destroyed it.

"I went out to the car, and that's when it started coming hard."

Despite the scary flu, Armour feels he will be fully recovered for today's Labour Day Classic against the Edmonton Eskimos at McMahon Stadium (2 p.m., TSN).

Receiver Ryan Thelwell was also battling a flu bug this week, but he appeared at McMahon Stadium yesterday and should also be ready to go. When the duo were sick, they were sent away from the rest of the team to make sure the bug didn't spread.

Armour, the starting middle linebacker, missed out on some valuable preparation time, but Hodges was keeping him up to date.

Hodges had a tough week as well because he shares an apartment with Armour.

"There were times when I had to go to the grocery store to get him some chicken noodle soup, some orange juice -- you know, it was too cold for him to go outside," Hodges said. "But he is feeling a lot better."

Armour's first season with the Stamps has been an odd one to say the least. A week after missing a game, he was thrown out on the second play against Saskatchewan for bumping into the ref.

Now he can list almost missing a game with illness along with that. Armour figures he lost about 8 lb. during a two-day span, but now he has to exert himself twice in five days with the rematch going Friday in Edmonton.

He had two trips to the emergency room it was so bad. After the second hospital visit, trainer Pat Clayton picked Armour up and then fed him Gravol, which helped settle his stomach down.

"I had never heard of the stuff. It was awesome," Armour said.

"He gave me what I needed and now I'm back."

 

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Fast shoes to fill

With Tristan Jackson out, the Esks look to other weapons




Is Bradley Robinson going to fill Tristan Jackson's shoes for the Edmonton Eskimos?

Edmonton head coach Danny Maciocia has not revealed who will handle punt and kickoff returns in today's battle against the host Calgary Stampeders - but Robinson is the betting choice to be handling punts.

The rookie defensive back has a college history of finding the end zone, which is something Jackson did twice for the Eskimos on returns this year before injuring his ankle in practice this week.

"I did punt return all the way through college," said Robinson, a product of Middle Tennessee State.

"In my first year I started doing it halfway through the season - a guy got injured - and I ended up being second-team all conference.

"I had two punt returns for touchdowns (in college)."

The five-foot-eight import also scored a major on the first kickoff return of his career last year for his NCAA Division I A school.

Jackson's ankle injury will force him to miss at least today's game. In the first eight weeks of the regular season, he had two return majors and ranked among the league's best in return average.

An 11.6-yard punt return average ranks fourth while the 25.8-yard kickoff return mark is in the top five.

Edmonton auditioned several players to replace Jackson in the return role during practice this week, including Kelly Campbell, Fred Stamps and Robinson.

It appears Campbell will handle the kickoff return duties.

If Robinson indeed returns punts, it's unclear if Maciocia will leave him as a starting cornerback.

Airabin Justin could make his first start in the secondary, keeping Robinson from double duty.

But Robinson has three interceptions in four starts in the secondary this season to lead the team and rank second in the league.

The 23-year-old South Carolina native actually started the year on the Esks' practice roster.

He missed three of the first four games before finally finding a home in the defensive backfield.

As a benefit in the return game today, he also has experience on special teams - blocking for Jackson.

"I have seen what Tristan has been doing," he remarked. "And the scheme that we have with (special teams) coach (Noel) Thorpe, he is doing a great job of preparing us for every game."