The Calgary Stampeders are short favourites over the Edmonton Elks for this year’s Labour Day Classic.
Calgary is riding a two-game losing skid that dates back before last week’s bye. The team lost to the Ottawa Redblacks on Aug. 15 when Lewis Ward made a walk-off game-winning 51-yard field goal at McMahon Stadium. Short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens scored three touchdowns in the loss but the club gave up 120 yards along the ground to Ryquell Armstead, who was named 3DownNation‘s offensive player of the week.
Jake Maier has started all 11 games for the Stampeders at quarterback this season, completing 72.2 percent of his passes for 2,624 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Calgary ranks tied for fourth in offensive points per game so far this season, while the club’s defence ranks seventh in offensive points allowed.
Edmonton’s three-game winning streak came to an end this past week following a 21-17 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the loss but was unable to get the ball into the end zone on Edmonton’s two final possessions, the first of which resulted in a turnover on downs and the second of which ended when time expired.
Boris Bede, the team’s kicker, is under fire once again after missing a 41-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. The nine-year veteran has made only 74.1 percent of his field goals this season, which ranks last in the CFL.
It remains unclear if Canadian quarterback Tre Ford will return this week after missing the team’s past two games with an injury to his ribs. He was limited in last week’s practices and was considered doubtful before being ruled out against the Alouettes.
The 26-year-old native of Niagara Falls, Ont. has completed 77.8 percent of his passes for 473 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception this season, going 2-0 as a starter. He has also carried the ball 11 times for 79 yards.
The Stampeders have won 10 of the past 11 Labour Day Classics with the lone loss coming in 2021. The club holds a slight advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1949, at 31-30-1.
The Calgary Stampeders (4-6) will host the Edmonton Elks (3-8) for the annual Labour Day Classic on Monday, Sept. 2 with kickoff slated for 6:00 p.m. EDT.
