The Thanksgiving weekend conflict will see one crew within the West claiming the fitting to manage their future proper up till they host the division remaining.
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The haymakers have been thrown, the massive punches thudded dwelling, with each the B.C. Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers touchdown knockout blows in opposition to one another this season.
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The 2 groups are again within the ring for Spherical III: Battle for the Throne on the Dome.
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“We’re the heavyweights. It’s virtually like Ali-Tyson,” stated Lions linebacker Josh Woods. “That is how we anticipated it to be. We’re each attempting to be Gray Cup champions. So to be the most effective, you’ve gotta beat the most effective.
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. B.C. Lions
Friday, 7 p.m., B.C. Place
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“We all know that irrespective of the result of this sport, we’re gonna face one another later down the road. The Gray Cup is gonna undergo considered one of us. We have to carry it, and like I stated, it’s gonna be enjoyable.”
The hype round Friday’s Gravy Bowl has ramped up, with the CFL world labelling it the most important sport of the 12 months. Even Bombers defensive finish Willie Jefferson acquired in on the motion, saying Friday that it’s “basically a playoff sport.”
And it’s huge; the winner of Friday’s sport will get management of their future for first place within the West Division. With that comes a first-round bye to relaxation battered our bodies, after which a one-shot deal for a berth within the Cup.
Followers know an excellent sport after they see one; the decrease bowl at B.C. Place is mainly bought out, with seating being opened up within the higher deck earlier this week for further room.
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How does one keep away from letting the hype sink in? The place’s the stability between getting amped and ready, with out blowing a fuse?
“Quite a lot of us are raised, and simply typically in society, the place we speak about stress being a nasty factor,” stated Lions coach Rick Campbell. “There’s a wholesome stage of stress, the place you’re getting your thoughts and physique able to do one thing essential. So typically persons are eager to run away from it.
“I used to be simply speaking to our guys about embracing these video games as they get larger. Embrace that you simply’re on the brink of do one thing huge and essential. It’s an excellent factor that you simply get that chance to do it; attempt to use that as gas to channel it in the fitting route, versus both working from it or letting it get out of hand the place you go off within the deep finish the opposite method.
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“You consider all of the sports activities stars through the years, they dwell for these huge moments. It’s when you’ve got one thing essential on the road, that’s the place you lean into it, embrace it, versus getting fazed by it.”
Neither crew truly believes the bombast being bandied about within the media. They know the stakes, they know what’s on the road, however they understand it’s not the whole lot.
“It’s a giant sport, however … it is a regular-season sport,” stated Campbell. “Let’s additionally simply do that sport … After which we’ll transfer on to the subsequent factor after that.
“For a regular-season sport, is it huge? Completely … However on the similar time, it’s not the end-all, be-all. We’re gonna have work to do after this sport no matter what occurs.”
Of their remaining two weeks, the Lions go to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats earlier than internet hosting the Calgary Stampeders.
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The Bombers host the Edmonton Elks then shut out the season on the street in opposition to the Stamps.
Winnipeg will get a bye after this week, whereas B.C.’s remaining bye comes within the final week of regular-season play.
Each groups boast an MOP-level quarterback. Each groups have the flexibility to dominate the road of scrimmage on either side of the ball. Each groups share an 11-4 report. And each groups have blown one another out this season.
The Lions shocked the Bombers in Week 3 with a 30-6 victory, completely manhandling Winnipeg and dominating them in each section of the sport. The Bombers acquired them again six weeks later, unleashing an aerial assault that flattened the Lions’ secondary, and a bodily one which flattened quarterback Dane Evans — a Bighill pancake sort out knocking him out of the sport earlier than it was midway over.
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Each groups are at close to full power, with each golf equipment getting affect gamers like Dominque Rhymes and returner Jamarion Grant again on the lively roster. The one damage of be aware is Winnipeg nook Demerio Houston, the CFL’s interception chief (two) and take-aways (10).
The keys for a B.C. victory are easy; take away the house run ball that torpedoed them of their final assembly, drive the Bombers to work for his or her yards, maintain their very own offence on the sector and ensure Grant doesn’t break unfastened for an additional highlight-reel return. And getting Collaros on the bottom so he can’t select big-play receivers Kenny Lawler or Dalton Schoen, and containing — or not less than limiting — CFL speeding chief Brady Oliveira.
“We’ve got the identical report proper now. I don’t assume there needs to be any unhealthy speaking about both method,” stated defensive again Marcus Sayles. “It’s actually simply gonna come right down to who’s a greater crew tomorrow, and who’s gonna be extra ready, as a result of I do know 100 per cent of the blokes on this locker-room are gonna be ready going into this sport. We really feel like we’re going to be far more tailor-made to cease a few of their explosive gamers and a few of their explosive performs.
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“We simply really feel like we’re locked on this week.”
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