CFL.ca Staff

CALGARY -- With back-to-back outings with their provincial rivals on the horizon, the Calgary Stampeders are in a position to make their mark in the West Division.

Sitting just two points behind the Edmonton Eskimos for second in the division, the Stampeders will aim to develop some momentum as they enter the second half of the season.

However, on the heels of their most recent win, a 17-10 defeat over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the unfriendly confines of Mosaic Stadium, there is plenty of reason to suspect that things might be in the rise in Cowtown.

And it all starts on the ground.

Running back Jon Cornish has been turning it on as of late, providing the offence with production that the club had hoped for from the start of the season.

In his last three games, Cornish has ran for 372 yards and one touchdown, far eclipsing the 199 yards that he produced in Calgary's first five games of the year.

Following what proved to be a gutsy performance last week, Head Coach John Hufnagel offered his support for the league's leading rusher.

"When we walked in here, we saw how bad the wind was,'' said Calgary head coach John Hufnagel. "Fortunately, we were able to run the football and stay with the things we wanted to do.''

“(The offensive line) controlled the line of scrimmage,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “We knew we would have to do that to give ourselves a chance on such a windy day and they did an excellent job.”

Heading into Monday afternoon's outing with the Esks, Cornish will be up against a dangerous run defence that has allowed just one 100-yard rushing game against them all season.

Should he be able to still gain traction against the Esks vaunted 'D' it could be exactly what the Stamps needed to start the second half of the season off with momentum at their backs.