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Picks by experts who 'can't play football' helping fuel Red and White for Saturday's playoff contest.
Published Oct 31, 2025 • Last updated 8 minutes ago • 4 minute read
Stampeders receiver Jalen Philpot
Stampeders receiver Jalen Philpot, says “we just want some revenge” in the West semifinal against the BC Lions, who defeated Calgary in both regular-season meetings this year as well as handed the Stamps their last playoff loss, in 2023. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia
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Jalen Philpot rolled out the ‘R’ word for the do-or-die playoff tilt with the BC Lions.
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Nothing like a little ‘revenge’ to motivate a team in pursuit of a giant sporting mug.
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And, really, it’s only one burning element fuelling the Calgary Stampeders’ push to hoist the Grey Cup in the 2025 Canadian Football League season.
“We just want some revenge,” the Stamps’ talented receiver told Stamps TV, of Saturday’s CFL West Division semifinal against the host Lions at BC Place (3:30 p.m. MT, TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
“I think we’re a super motivated group,” continued Philpot. “So getting to go to B.C. against a team who’s kind of had our number early on in the year, I think that’s a good challenge for us. We feel like we’re playing our best ball right now, and … you know … they’re playing their best ball right now. So it should be a heavyweight tilt. But we’re just excited for the challenge.”
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Why not be amped about the game given what’s at stake?
Not only would a triumph erase those losses in two regular-season meetings with the Lions this year, but for those few remaining holdovers from the Stamps’ last playoff contest — a 41-30 drop back in 2023 against the Leos — it would give them an extra measure of redemption.
And, of course, there’s the big ticket that would be handed to them in victory — that being advancement in the post-season to next week’s West final against the host Saskatchewan Roughriders. Such an invite would put them a step closer to a coveted Grey Cup celebration — a first for the franchise since 2018.
Calgary Stampeders vs. Ottawa Redblacks
Stampeders defensive back Derrick Moncrief, pictured sacking Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum, notes that experts — many of whom are picking the Lions to take the West semi — “can’t play football.” Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia
“Oh … the stakes are very high,” Stamps defensive leader Derrick Moncrief told Stamps TV. “We know what time it is. It’s time to play some high-level football.”
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Yes … there’s plenty on the line in this semi for the Stamps.
But, truly, that’s nothing new for a group that’s been questioned and stared down adversity throughout the 2025 campaign. They’ve responded with more than a passing grade throughout the challenges.
“It’s gonna be a test,” the team’s leading receiver Dominique Rhymes told Stamps TV, of the battle between 11-7 CFL clubs. “We got a model, so we got all we need. We’re gonna go in and focus up, and we’re gonna compete. I mean … we ready for tests.
“Man, we’ve been proving people wrong all year, and we’ve been sticking together.”
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[Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. hands off the ball to Dedrick Mills against the BC Lions in CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.
A tale of two QBs: Stampeders' Vernon Adams Jr. vs. Lions' Nathan Rourke in CFL's West semifinal](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stampeders-vernon-adams-jr-lions-nathan-rourke-centre-stage-west-semifinal)
2. [Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., pictured during practice on Tuesday, says the offence must be better in the red zone during the West semifinal against the BC Lions on Saturday.
West semifinal for Stampeders: Calgary's CFL club hits road to play red-hot BC Lions](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/west-semifinal-for-calgary-stampeders-battle-of-former-qb-teammates-in-cfl-playoffs)
Indeed, the Stamps — written off by many coming into the year after a four-win 2024 season — have penned a revival story with such a remarkable turnaround campaign.
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And the continued sentiment that they won’t get by the Lions in this affair has them banding together again and motivated to pull off what would be considered an upset in enemy territory.
“Experts can’t play football,” said Moncrief, when told the prognosticators are leaning heavy to a win for the home side Saturday. “It’s all about the Calgary Stampeders. It’s all about playing the best three phases of football for us. And right now, we just prepare. We know what’s at stake. We know it’s win or go home, so we ready to play some football come Saturday.”
It’s what they’ve been doing — mostly with solid efforts — all season.
But it seems to them those performances are not being accounted for by prognosticators heading into this weekend’s action.
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“You said, ‘Underdogs?'” starting defensive back Sheldon Arnold told Stamps TV. “We’ve had an underdog mentality a whole way through. Like, why change it? Why we changing? I’m not changing nothing. Be the underdog? Yeah. We still be underdogs — that’s the key thing.”
“Yeah … that’s cool,” agreed Philpot. “When we started this season this year, I think people ranked us to be last place and not even to have more than five wins. So we love that underdog feeling … you know. it’s just extra motivation for us. And at the end of the day, we know what we got. We’re all we need in this locker room. So that’s OK.
“No issues.”
SHORT YARDAGE
Philpot and the Stamps’ offence go into Saturday’s semi with a new starter on the offensive line. OL William Barnes lines up at right tackle, with Josh Coker (knee) and Preston Nichols (ankle) sidelined by injury … The Red and White are also down a key starter on defence with DB Damon Webb (pectoral), a West all-CFL star, still out of the lineup. However, the secondary is boosted by the returns of Arnold (hand) and fellow DB Anthony Johnson (shoulder), the starting boundary-side cornerback … Others returning to the active roster for the contest are Philpot (knee), DL Lorenzo Maudlin IV (ankle) and DB Jackson Sombach (ankle) … Those coming out of the lineup are Nichols, WR Vyshonne Janusas, WR Kaylon Horton, DL Daniel Joseph (head), DB Brady Breeze and DB Lance Robinson (shoulder).
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
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