The Edmonton Eskimos are preparing to meet the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday evening for the third time this season.
The Stampeders have won the previous two games – 38-19 on Labour Day in Calgary and 25-22 in the Labour Day rematch game in Edmonton. While Calgary is the team to beat for anyone who has Grey Cup aspirations, all that’s on the mind of Eskimos head coach Jason Maas is beating the Stamps on Saturday.
“I don’t really care if we play them after this game to be quite honest with you, I don’t want to think about that,” Maas said. “I really just want to focus on beating them this game and I think that’s what are players are focused on.
“We want to beat the crap out them right now. We’ve got one chance to do it right now and I don’t want to think about it any longer than that as far as playing them at any other time. I just would rather focus on beating them in our house right now.”
Maas is 0-4 as a head coach against the Stampeders.
The road to the Grey Cup in Ottawa could very well run through the city of Calgary. The Eskimos are in the post-season and their path hasn’t been determined yet. Edmonton could finish as high as second in the West and as low as the crossover position in the East.
The Eskimos welcomed back some injured players to the cold and windy practice field on Wednesday. Kicker Sean Whyte participated for the first time since injuring his hamstring back on July 28 at home against the B.C. Lions. He is preparing himself for a return to action very soon.
LISTEN: Sean Whyte talks about returning to the game after an injury
Also back on the field were running back C.J. Gable who missed last week’s game in Vancouver, safety Neil King, defensive back Chris Edwards and fullback/special teams ace James Tuck.
The Eskimos made some roster moves on Wednesday signing International running backs Marion Grice and Shaun Wick, along with National linebacker Nehemie Kankolongo. The Eskimos lost running backs LaDarius Perkins and Pascal Lochard, along with fullback Alex Dupuis to injury last weekend against the Lions.
Kick-off Saturday against the Stampeders is 5 p.m., 630 CHED will have Countdown to Kickoff starting at 3:30 p.m. Join Morley Scott and Dave Campbell at 4:30 p.m. for the last half hour of the Countdown to Kickoff live on the 630 CHED Facebook page.