Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
The Mark’s Labour Day Weekend is always a big deal in Alberta. It’s an annual tradition dating back to 1949 and there’s always a special buzz in the air when the Eskimos and Stampeders meet at McMahon Stadium in northwest Calgary. But this year’s edition is one of the most intriguing in a long time, for a few different reasons.
More than anything, the stakes are high. Heading into this weekend, and the annual return matchup five days later at Commonwealth Stadium, the Eskimos trail Calgary by two games for top spot in the West Division. Taking both games would be huge for either team involved.
For Edmonton, a home-and-home sweep would virtually eliminate their gap to top spot. A pair of wins for the Eskimos would leave them with an 8-4 record and drop the Stamps to 8-3, which would set up a torrid fight to the finish with no more head-to-head battles remaining this season. Additionally, an Eskimos sweep would at the very least keep them a game ahead of both Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, who also tangle one another the next two weeks.
A pair of Calgary wins sets things up nicely for them down the stretch. A Battle of Alberta sweep would leave the Stampeders at 10-1 and would open a three game lead on second place; depending on how things play out between the Riders and Bombers, that gap could be as wide as four games. Two wins over their provincial rival would be huge in Calgary’s quest for a third straight division title, and fourth in five years.
Southern bias
Despite some close battles in recent years, the results would suggest the Labour Day Classic has been a pretty lopsided affair for the better part of a decade. The Stamps have rattled off six straight wins and have victories in eight of the last nine Monday showdowns. The motivation tied to that streak’s status is huge on both sides.
Calgary enjoys nothing more than rolling up their provincial rivals, regardless of the standings or time of year. But knowing neither team has put together seven straight wins in almost 70 years of Labour Day meetings, there’s a little added pomp and circumstance if the Stamps are able to win this weekend.
LISTEN: James Cybulski and Davis Sanchez get you primed for Mark’s Labour Day Weekend, taking a deep dive on all four matchups in the latest version of The Waggle, presented by Sport Clips.
This recent run of losses isn’t lost on the Esks, though. Edmonton mainstays like Mike Reilly, Derel Walker, and Almondo Sewell have never been victorious in this showdown. For a little context, linebacker J.C. Sherritt was a rookie the last time the Eskimos were victorious on Labour Day, dating back to 2011.
Yes, there has been a playoff victory during this stretch for Edmonton (2015 West Division Final), which eases the sour taste a little bit. So as much as Calgary loves the continual bragging rights, the motivation should be just as high for the Eskimos to end this fruitless Labour Day run.
Cream of the crop
Specifically over the last four years, a September meeting between these two teams has been a true marquee matchup. Since 2014, either Calgary or Edmonton has represented the West Division in the Grey Cup, with each team winning on one occasion.
During that same stretch, both teams have finished with double digit wins each season, which has helped put the Classic back into Labour Day. But there’s one element that has defined this rivalry more than anything else: the quarterbacks.
Regardless of how you order them, there’s one thing you can’t deny: Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly are the two best pivots in the league. It’s a hard argument to definitively win, too, because there are so many notches in the “pro” column and very few on the negative side.
For Mitchell, it starts with wins. Since taking over in 2014, Calgary’s leading man has more wins than any other quarterback in the league. With three trips to the big dance in four years as a starter, you can’t deny what he’s been able to accomplish, regardless of how the last two Grey Cup games have gone.
Mitchell was the 2016 Most Outstanding Player and has never thrown more than 13 interceptions in a single season as starter. While he’s never finished on top of the league’s yardage chart, take into account how balanced Calgary’s offence has been in recent years. With running threats like Jon Cornish and Jerome Messam, you can see why the Stamps haven’t felt the need to focus primarily on their aerial game.
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Reilly’s credentials are equally as impressive. Edmonton’s franchise player is trending towards a third straight yardage title and also led the league in touchdown passes last season. With an average of almost 5,700 passing yards, no one has been more prolific than Reilly the last two seasons, and that doesn’t take into account this year where he’s on pace for almost 6,000.
Much like Mitchell, Reilly has an MOP nod to his name, as he took the award home last season. And, much like his Calgary counterpart, Reilly has played in four straight division finals, with three of those meetings head-to-head with Mitchell (there’s also a 2016 East Division Final in there).
And perhaps the best part of this personal rivalry is how tight the guys are off the field. Not only is there a healthy respect between the two players, but Reilly and Mitchell are genuinely friends away from the game. They both played ball at Washington colleges and both players are aware of their elite standing in the league.
Based on the wins, I lean towards Bo when it comes to my vote for the league’s best quarterback. He has success, and has never been out earlier than the West Division Final. But the gap is so small between him and Reilly, which makes Monday’s battle that much more intriguing.
