WIN, LOSE OR DRAW
The REDBLACKS and Stampeders have gone to overtime in three of their last four meetings. That includes last weekend’s eventual draw in Ottawa, a tie in the REDBLACKS home opener last season and Ottawa’s thrilling OT win to capture the city’s first Grey Cup in four years.
Oddly, none of these overtime games have taken place in Calgary, where the REDBLACKS will play Thursday night. The REDBLACKS are 0-3 in Calgary since Ottawa returned to the CFL; since 1945, Ottawa CFL teams have a record of 24-40-2-1 against Calgary.
THE RETURN
REDBLACKS quarterback Drew Tate spent all of his previous eight CFL seasons with the Calgary Stampeders before Ottawa traded for the veteran QB. Thursday will mark Tate’s first visit to McMahon Stadium as a member of the visiting team.
The 32-year-old Texan suited up for 45 games with Calgary during his time there, completing 380 of 572 passes for 4,670 yards and 32 touchdowns. Tate is not the only former Stamp making his return, but for players like Brad Sinopoli and Taylor Reed, there’s a whole lot of water – not to mention a Grey Cup ring – under that bridge.
7 -VS- 19
Football is never about just two players, but it’s hard not to take a good, long look at the two guys under centre as the Stampeders and REDBLACKS get set to renew hostilities. Last weekend, there was – much like the final score – little to separate the two quarterbacks. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns, while Trevor Harris completed 31 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Expect both competitors to pick up where they left off on Thursday.
