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Features June 27, 2024

A Different Vibe

Back in action.

The Red and White return to the gridiron this weekend to take on the 0-3 Winnipeg Blue Bombers at home in McMahon.

Although the club currently sits third in the West Division with a record of 1-1, quarterback Jake Maier is happy about where his team is at this season compared to last year.

“We’re having a lot more fun, we’re super competitive,” said Maier. “For being this early in the season and being as close as we are, it is a different vibe this year and a different feeling in the locker-room. This team is going in the right direction.”

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The team lost a close game to the BC Lions in their last outing nearly two weeks ago, but there were plenty of positives to take away from the tilt.

Most notably, the No.-1 pivot was sharing the love.

He attempted a pass to 10 different targets, with nine of them coming down with the ball.

Bruising running back Dedrick Mills led the way through the air with 99 yards receiving, and Canadian Jalen Philpot ranked tops amongst the receivers as he hauled in 56 yards against his hometown squad.

“It’s a very unselfish team,” explained Maier. “They don’t really care who gets the most passes, or who scores the most touchdowns, they just want to get open and if the ball comes to them, the ball comes to them.

“They’re super supportive. If anyone has anything good happen to them, you can see the excitement, it’s genuine, and it makes my life easy too because it’s totally agenda-free football and it makes it fun.”

The group’s next challenge comes against the struggling Blue and Gold.

Through three weeks, Winnipeg sits second in the league in passing yards against (890) and rushing yards against (309). The team has also not thrown a touchdown pass yet this season.

Despite what the statistics and standings show, Maier isn’t underestimating the team that has gone to the Grey Cup the last four consecutive seasons and knows it will be a battle this Saturday.

“You can’t fall for the trap in the CFL,” he said. “The trap would be that you look at somebody’s record or you look at how somebody’s doing in the moment and buy into that and start to believe some of that stuff.

“Every team that we play this year is going to be really good. I think this is one of the more complete seasons so far, you look from the number one team to the number nine team right now, and the difference is a possession, a touchdown, or a field goal.

“It’s super tight. It always is early in the year, but I think especially this year. You can se the parity is really high.”

Saturday’s West Division battle is slated for 5 p.m. at McMahon Stadium. Fans can drop by pre-game for some family fun activities in the Gridiron Gardens at the south practice field. Fans are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the game or make a monetary donation for the annual Purolator Tackle Hunger program with proceeds going to the Calgary Food Bank. GET YOUR TICKETS!