Bombers 411

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014

IT MATTERS CALGARY -- The game is meaningless in the CFL standings, but both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders insisted Friday there is still something on the line when the two teams meet at McMahon Stadium this afternoon.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/11/2014 (3992 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IT MATTERS

CALGARY — The game is meaningless in the CFL standings, but both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders insisted Friday there is still something on the line when the two teams meet at McMahon Stadium this afternoon.

Bombers slotback Clarence Denmark says his team desperately wants to end their season on a high note after a brutal couple of months in which they’ve lost eight straight games.

“We haven’t won in a long time and we just want to win and get that feeling back and end the year on a positive note,” Denmark said at McMahon Stadium, shortly after his team’s arrival in Calgary.

For the Stampeders — who clinched first place in the West Division with a win over Winnipeg two weeks ago at Investors Group Field — today’s game is all about keeping fresh and building toward the playoffs.

Stamps GM and head coach John Hufnagel will send out his first units — at least to start the game — including both starting QB Bo Levi Mitchell and 2013 MOP, tailback Jon Cornish.

Hufnagel said what happens after that personnel-wise will be dictated by the score in a game in which the Stamps are favoured by 10 points.

“We’re dressing 44,” said Hufnagel, “and all 44 will play.”

The Bombers will also start their No. 1 QB, Drew Willy, but will also use the game as an opportunity to take a look at some new players, including defensive tackle Deantre Harlan, wide receiver Jerrell Jackson and, on special teams at least, running back Cameron Marshall.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea insisted his team has one priority.

“There’s still a lot to play for,” said O’Shea. “It’s about getting some pride back. It’s about building something and doing something we can carry though the off-season, that we can use when we start training camp next year.”

O’Shea said it remains to be seen how long Willy will play.

“Drew’s starting and we will go just with the flow of the game. There’s not a set play count for Drew. We’re going to try to win this game,” said O’Shea. “We’ll have to just play it by ear.”

BAD HISTORY

The Bombers are flirting with an unfortunate piece of club history.

A loss today would mean Winnipeg will finish the 2014 season on a nine-game losing streak. CFL statistician Steve Daniel reports that would be the second longest season-ending losing streak in Bombers history, behind only the 13-game losing streak the 1964 Bombers ended on.

1,000 IN SIGHT

Calgary’s Jon Cornish needs just 23 yards to go over 1,000 yards rushing for the third consecutive season.

That’s led to speculation this week the running back would play only as long as it takes to go over 1,000 yards. Not so, Cornish insisted when he met with reporters at McMahon Stadium on Friday.

“I want to play the whole game. Somebody said I wanted 23 yards and out — that’s not exactly accurate,” Cornish said. “I want 23 yards, absolutely, to get to 1,000. But I also want more.”