HISTORY tells us that playoff football on the frozen prairies is frequently decided by the kicking game.

If that's the case again today in the East Final between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Canad Inns Stadium, Winnipeg placekicker Justin Palardy has a formidable challenge in front of him.

Palardy's counterpart on the Ticats -- Justin Medlock -- comes into today's game off a all-star season in which Medlock was an eye-popping 49-55 on field goals, including a 57-yarder that demonstrated the kind of leg that could be decisive today.

Palardy had decidedly more modest numbers than Medlock this season -- he was 40-52, including a 49-yarder -- and he knows it.

"He had a great season," Palardy said of Medlock on Saturday. "I just have to worry about me. I can't worry about what he's doing. He's a great guy and he had a great season. I'm sure he'll do what he does. And I'm going to do what I do and go out and do the best job I can."

-- Paul Wiecek

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BOMBERS defensive end Odell Willis was still beaming on Saturday about his brush with fame Thursday night when he sat next to Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajack at the Winnipeg Jets-Washington Capitals game at MTS Centre.

"I asked Pat if he wanted to come to the (Bombers) game," Willis recalled Saturday. "I don't think he heard me. I was trying to get him to come to the game, see if we could get him a box seat or something...It was real fun. I enjoyed it."

Willis is from Mississippi but has become a huge Jets fan in a short time and was sporting a Jets hat and sweater in the Bombers locker room on Saturday. "I'm Jets ready," said Willis, citing a couple of players he liked. "You got Big Buff (Dustin Byugflien), (Evander) Kane, I love them boys. Let's get it -- Swaggerville, we here."

Willis was asked if it's important to him on Sunday to out-play Hamilton defensive end Justin Hickman, who finished the regular season tied with Willis for the CFL sack lead.

"I feel he's the best defensive end in the league," Willis said of Hickman. "But sacks don't mean nothing. It's about the (final) score (today). As long as we come out with more points than them, I don't care about nothing -- whether I play, get a sack or not."

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BOMBERS running back Chris Garrett was out of football just a couple months ago, but finds himself on Sunday with a major role to play in the Winnipeg offensive scheme.

With a frozen football and frozen turf the order of the day, Garrett said Saturday that he is aware establishing an effective running game will be key to Winnipeg's chances today.

"I'm ready. I'm just living the moment. I've got work to do," Garrett said.

"This is my type of weather. I just want the ball in my hands."

Born in New York City and schooled at Ohio University, Garrett says he's played plenty of football in the snow and is undaunted by the weather forecast on Sunday. "I know the running game will be big and as far as I go that may be how far the team goes too."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 20, 2011 B3