Jeffers-Harris in receiver’s spot Saturday

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This article was published 04/11/2011 (5144 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a couple of new faces in their lineup Saturday afternoon when they take on the Calgary Stampeders here at McMahon Stadium in a final regular season game with first-place implications for both teams.

The change at quarterback from an injured Buck Pierce to his backup, Alex Brink, was already widely known, but Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice had another lineup wrinkle that was a bit of a surprise for reporters when the team landed here Friday morning, announcing that receiver Terence Jeffers-Harris is going to dress on Saturday while receiver Greg Carr sits out.

LaPolice said Carr sustained what he alternately described as a “bruised butt” and bruised “lower back” against the Toronto Argonauts last Friday and, while Carr practised all week, he will not dress on Saturday.

The other change will see non-import receiver Cassidy Doneff inserted onto the game day roster for the first time this season as non-import starting safety Ian Logan comes off the roster. Logan is sick with the flu and has not practised all week.

Jeffers-Harris lost his starting job to Carr early in the season and has been waiting patiently ever since to get another chance. He said he got the good news on Thursday after practice. “It was still a surprise to me,” said Jeffers-Harris. “I can’t wait to play again.”

Doneff, a journeyman 25-year-old out of Washburn College who played in Germany earlier this year, was also delighted by the opportunity to dress. “Man, I’ve been just about everywhere,” Doneff reflected. “But really I’m thankful for everywhere I’ve been. Playing in Germany and Europe was just a pleasure and a great experience. And it kind of opened the door for me to get back in the CFL.”

Doneff had brief previous stints with both the Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It remains to be seen how much Doneff actually plays on Saturday, as the Bombers are expected to deal with the import ratio issues created by Logan’s absence from the starting lineup by starting non-import Fernand Kashama at defensive end.

For the first time this season, the Bombers did not hold a light practice the day before a game, electing to hold team meetings indoors at a downtown hotel instead of braving the cold, wind and snow of what’s been a miserable day in Calgary.

Calgary head coach John Hufnagel gave his players no such reprieve, holding an hour-long practice at McMahon Stadium on Friday morning.

The Calgary head coach was asked for his assessment of Brink, who — just like Calgary QB Drew Tate — will be making just the third start of his pro career on Saturday.

“I see a young quarterback in the Canadian Football League who has adjusted very well. He’s very comfortable in the pocket, he has good vision, he reads the defense very well, he’s accurate, he can get himself out of trouble.

“I think he’s a young man who will have a bright future.”

Asked about the snowy conditions in Calgary on Friday, Brink sounded like a little kid on a snow day. “I’m jacked. I hope it stays snowy,” Brink said. “Dead serious. I’ve been wanting to play a snow game my whole life.”

Brink likely won’t get his wish, however. The forecast for Calgary on Saturday afternoon is calling for sunny skies and a temperature of 0 C.

With either a Bombers win or Montreal Alouettes loss to the BC Lions in Vancouver on Saturday, the Bombers would clinch first place in the East Division and host the East final on Nov. 20 against either the Alouettes or Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Calgary can still also finish first in the West division, but needs a win over the Bombers and some help.