CFL.ca
CFL.ca Staff
CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders will be without quarterback Drew Tate for Sunday’s Western Final vs. the BC Lions.
| Western Final Playoff Centre |
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The 2012 Western Final matchup is set as the BC Lions host the Calgary Stampeders. Here is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s game. |
Thursday, Stampeders Head Coach and GM John Hufnagel announced that Tate will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured forearm. 33-year-old Kevin Glenn will get the start for Calgary.
“Drew went and had further testing yesterday, he had an MRI and a CT scan and unfortunately they discovered a small fracture. So he will not be available to us for this football game,” said Hufnagel on Thursday.
It will likely take five to six weeks for Tate’s arm to fully recover and he will not require surgery.
Despite the disheartening blow, Hufnagel provided a vote of confidence for Glenn.
“We won 10 out of the last 12. Kevin started eight of those wins so we’ll just move on,” Hufnagel said.
Tate is coming off a resilient performance in Calgary’s Western Semi-Final win vs. the Saskatchewan Stampeders, completing 22 of his 36 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns, including a last-minute 68-yard touchdown strike to Romby Bryant.
Tate says the injury happened in the third quarter of Sunday’s game after being tackled into the sidelines by Roughriders linebacker Tyron Brackenridge.
Tate managed to finish the game, but admitted to feeling some discomfort just before taking to the field for his game-winning drive.
It’s the latest setback in an injury-plagued campaign for Tate, who missed 14 games in the regular season with a shoulder injury.
“I’m sure he’s disapointed, I wasn’t the man to tell him, but I’m sure he was devastated,” added Hufnagel.
Tate, however, appeared to be optimistic about his situation.
“I’m not too bummed, I’m not too bad as you all probably think,” said Tate. “It is what it is, the White Horse will keep moving on and and it will be a fun game to watch on Sunday.
Like his head coach, Tate also expressed confidence in Glenn and his teammates.
“One door closes. Another opens and the opportunity is now Kevin’s,” Tate said. “Kevin will take advantage of it and I think our team will respond.”
“This team really is special, we’re always staying hungry and pulling for each other.”
Meanwhile, the Stampeders must prepare for a game they need to win if they are going to play in the Grey Cup on Nov. 25. Calgary defensive back Keon Raymond says the team hasn’t lost sight of that despite the rough news.
“We come to play football,” Raymond declared. “Besides all the other things that’s going on outside of football, we still have to line up.
“I don’t think it’s taking anything away from guys’ focus.”
