Stampeders fly into playoffs with another win
It didn't take much to make Henry Burris feel ready for the playoffs.
The veteran Calgary Stampeders quarterback only played two series in a 35-32 road win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, but he was perfect.
Burris completed all three of his pass attempts for 55 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown toss to Romby Bryant.
"We've got a long layoff and it's always good to get out there in game action besides practice," said Burris, who also ran once for 15 yards before being replaced by Drew Tate.
The Stamps finished the regular season with a 13-5 record. They host the CFL West Division final on Nov. 21.
Burris wasn't worried about the long time between games.
"Trust me, I'm 35, I look forward to it," Burris said with a grin.
"You get a chance to rest the body and get some of our bumps and bruises healed up as well and let the other two teams slug it out for the opportunity to come and play us.
"Mentally, I'm pretty sure, knowing our guys, we'll be ready to go come the 21st and be fresh, which is a good thing for us."
Winnipeg was already eliminated from the playoffs for a second straight season and ended this campaign with a 4-14 record before a season-low crowd of 22,056 at Canad Inns Stadium.
Dubious record
The Bombers also added to their dubious CFL record by losing their ninth game of the season by four or fewer points. Another loss was by seven points.
It's Winnipeg's worst record since 1998, when the team went 3-15 after coach Jeff Reinebold was fired late in his second season and replaced by Gary Hoffman.
"It's a learning experience for all of us," Bomber defensive end Odell Willis said.
"Even though they say we're young, this should show us now what it's like to be a professional and how to finish a football game. I feel like we just all grew up this year."
Tate replaced Burris after the Stamps had an 11-3 lead and stretched it to 21-3 after the first quarter before Winnipeg narrowed the gap 22-16 at halftime.
The game was tied at 22-22 at 6:21 of the third quarter and 32-32 with under five minutes to play.
Calgary kicker Rob Maver gave his team the lead with a 38-yard field goal at 11:59 of the fourth. He also hit three others from 41, 38 and 28 yards. He and punter Burke Dales each had a single.
Bomber kicker Justin Palardy was good on all six of his field-goal tries from 24, 51, 38, 12, 41 and 16 yards. The Bombers record is seven in a game set by Trevor Kennerd in 1981.
Unlikely TDs
The Stampeders also got touchdowns from long snapper Randy Chevrier when he lined up as a tight end and Ken-Yon Rambo.
Rookie Winnipeg non-import receiver Cory Watson scored his first career touchdown off a 55-yard pass from Joey Elliott, and Terrence Jeffers-Harris caught a 27-yard TD pass.
Even though they let go of an 18-point lead, Stampeders linebacker Juwan Simpson said that might be a good thing.
"We wanted to come out with a win, but I think it's even better that it was a close game heading into the playoffs," Simpson said.
"Overall as a team, I'm impressed with the way we finished. We were in an adverse situation and we did a good job."
Tate was 15-of-24 for 178 yards and two TDs. Elliott ended his second straight pro start completing 13-of-29 pass attempts for 241 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
"Drew did an excellent job of managing the game," Calgary head coach John Hufnagel said.
"He made the plays to preserve the win. There are a lot of good things about this. We played hard for 60 minutes."
Bomber running back Fred Reid finished with three runs for 48 yards, giving him a career-high 1,390 yards. He leads the league in rushing ahead of Toronto's Cory Boyd (1,359), who may not play Sunday in Montreal.
Reid left the game late in the first quarter with an ankle injury.
Calgary running backs were hit harder. Jesse Lumsden (knee) and Jon Cornish (concussion) also left the game.