Stamps considering one win at a time in push for CFL playoff spot Specific Occasions

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It’s giddy-up time for the Calgary Stampeders.

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Recent off their ultimate bye week of the CFL schedule, they’ll want to seek out their sport — and wins — quick in the event that they hope to realize a spot within the post-season.

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The hope is that they’re prepared for that in what’s now the house stretch of the marketing campaign.

“Positively, I can see a little bit little bit of rust,” stated Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, following the group’s first apply again from the bye Tuesday. “However the guys need to be right here, and so they need to play and need to give it a shot.

“We’re undoubtedly behind — we get it,” continued Dickenson. “So you’ll be able to’t simply preserve probably shedding video games you are feeling you’ll be able to win. You gotta win these video games, after which type of let it occur. We’re taking part in some opponents which might be forward of us and proper forward of us.

“We’ve acquired to discover a method to win.”

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That begins Saturday, when the 4-9 Stampeders host the Montreal Alouettes at McMahon Stadium (2 p.m., TSN) within the first of 5 video games to wrap up their regular-season slate.

Making the Week 16 tilt ever extra essential is that the Alouettes are certainly one of three 6-7 groups the Stamps can probably catch for a playoff berth.

The Als (12 factors) are tied for second within the CFL’s East Division with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The Stamps may monitor a type of two groups right down to earn the crossover spot within the playoffs, however they’d have to complete with extra factors to be that third East Division rep.

Additionally at 6-7 and the simpler foe for the Stamps to focus on of their post-season pursuit are the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who occupy the third and ultimate playoff slot within the CFL’s West Division.

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Pushing for a type of post-season positions, as effectively, are the 4-10 Edmonton Eskimos, who bounced the Stampeders 25-23 earlier than the Crimson & White’s break and have now gained 4 of their final 5 contests.

“Cliché as it’s all the time is that we’ve acquired to discover a method to win this week’s sport and take it from there,” Dickenson stated. “I’m telling you — it’s about this week, and you bought to win after which discover a method to acquire momentum. So simpler stated than performed. Clearly, if it was simple, we’d be doing extra of it.

“However I believe the blokes confirmed up with a plan. They need a possibility to exit right here and win at dwelling — and we’ll see what occurs.”

The fellows had loads of pep of their step of their return to the sphere.

That regardless of needing to make up no less than two wins on a type of three opponents simply forward of them within the standings to keep away from changing into the primary Stamps squad to overlook the playoffs since 2004.

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“Actually new territory,” stated Stamps fullback and particular groups ace Charlie Energy, who’s in his tenth yr with the membership. “Not a territory I get pleasure from, nevertheless it comes with totally different challenges we’ve acquired to beat. And we nonetheless get to go on the market and play soccer daily, so can’t complain an excessive amount of.

“However within the CFL, you’re by no means actually out of it. So we’ve acquired 5 video games left to maintain enterprise, and it’s one week at a time.”

To a person, the Stampeders know that one win — and even two — simply gained’t do. It’s get that first one Saturday after which do one thing they haven’t performed this season, which is win the subsequent one, too.

Then possibly a 3rd straight and a fourth.

Maybe needing even a fifth to finish the rally.

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After the Als, they go to the Tiger-Cats on Saturday, Sept. 30, return dwelling to play the Roughriders on Friday, Oct. 13, journey to Vancouver to play the host the BC Lions on Friday, Oct. 20, and end with a tricky activity towards the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon on Friday, Oct. 27.

“We have to win a whole lot of them,” admitted Energy. “Yeah, most of them … if not all of them. However you’ll be able to’t actually suppose like that. You’ve acquired to essentially simply give attention to the week forward of you, as a result of each group on this league is sweet.

“We’re nonetheless optimistic,” added Energy. “Clearly, the season hasn’t gone the way in which we wished or envisioned, however , you’ve acquired to take it one week at a time, even when we’re in playoff place or first within the West or no matter.

“It’s the identical form of factor in alll skilled sports activities. You’ve acquired to give attention to the week forward of you. And in the event you try this, you maintain that week and maintain the subsequent week, and hopefully, we string some wins collectively right here.

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“Everybody’s wanting ahead to getting again at it after lengthy bye week. We’re able to go.”

SHORT YARDAGE

Tuesday’s return noticed a few key names again practising off the injured checklist, together with RB Ka’Deem Carey, RB Dedrick Mills and LB Silas Stewart. However Carey did shut it down resulting from tightness, Dickenson stated, later within the session … WR Tommylee Lewis and DB Tre Roberson had been unavailable Tuesday, with Dickenson saying they had been attending to private issues … The Stamps have added American defensive lineman George Obinna and nationwide defensive again Malcolm Thompson to their apply roster. The 6-foot-2, 251-lb. Obinna is returning to the Crimson & White after seeing motion in two regular-season video games for the membership in 2022. The 5-foot-11, 200-lb. Thompson attended coaching camp with the Stampeders in 2021 and performed two video games with the Tiger-Cats in 2021 and 10 with the Blue Bombers in 2022.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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