Sean Myers
Calgary Herald

CALGARY -- When Calgary Stampeders equipment manager George Hopkins handed receiver Romby Bryant his touchdown ball, it had one word scrawled across the pigskin.

"(He) put 'finally' on there," said a chuckling Bryant.

"That's what they put on my ball, 'finally.' "

Acquired in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 20, Bryant scored his first touchdown in a Calgary uniform against the Edmonton Eskimos Sunday afternoon.

In fact, it was his first time in the end zone all season and it happened to be the play that sealed the 24-21 Stamps win.

"It was great to get my first touchdown and it happened to be a playoff game," he said of the 29-yard pass he caught from quarterback Henry Burris at 2:52 of the fourth quarter. "I'm happy for that, I'm glad I finally got it."

Bryant made four catches for 63 yards after having a couple passes sail through his hands during the first half.

Along with Bryant, Arjei Franklin came to Calgary in that trade that sent Odell Willis, Titus Ryan and Jabari Arthur to Manitoba.

Well, not to be out done, Franklin -- who wore a jersey that said Frankin on the back all night -- scored his first touchdown of the year as well.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound receiver made a nine-yard catch when he was left all alone in end zone at 5:25 of the third quarter.

It was his only catch of the game.

"It was definitely good timing (to make my first touchdown)," said Franklin. "It's been a quiet season for me. Even coming here it's been relatively quiet. I'm just so thankful . . . to make a big play and help us get ahead."

Franklin laughed at the suggestion his fate is tied to Bryant's.

"We're both out there just trying to make plays," he said. "They called on us to make a play, both of us, and we were able to make them. I'm just excited to be a part of this team and I'm looking forward to getting to Regina and playing a hard-fought football game."

Nik Lewis, who led the Stampeders with seven catches for 100 yards in the game and has only found himself in the end zone with the ball once this season, had special words of praise for his colleagues.

"I told them, 'welcome to the one touchdown club.' " said Lewis. "Romby and Arjei had to wait awhile to get those."

Lewis said Sunday's game showed that the Stamps receiving core is starting peak at the right time heading into the West Division final against the host Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

"Romby had a solid game, Arjei got a touchdown, Brett Ralph caught some passes, (Jeremaine) Copeland caught some early and we still haven't even reached our full potential yet," said Lewis.

Courtesy: www.calgaryherald.com