Harris expecting ‘tremendous test’

Trevor Harris has a lot of respect for the guys who will try to stop him in the Grey Cup game.

We’re talking about the Calgary Stampeders, who did a pretty good number on the Redblacks earlier this season — winning 24-14 and 27-3 — and finished first in the Canadian Football League’s West Division with a 13-5 record before downing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to advance to the Grey Cup.

Ottawa was first in the East at 11-7 before defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 46-27 in the division final at TD Place stadium on Sunday.

For each of the past three seasons, the Stampeders have been the best team in the CFL before playoffs. In 2016 and 2017, their dominance lasted right up until the game that counted most. Two year ago, the Redblacks beat the Stamps 39-33 in overtime to win the Grey Cup. Last year, the Toronto Argos produced a stunning 27-24 upset.

Harris isn’t focused on what Calgary hasn’t done because he knows what the Stampeders can do.

“It’s going to be a tremendous test,” the Redblacks’ starting quarterback said Tuesday. “It’s the Grey Cup. Why wouldn’t you want to play against the best?”

On his side, Harris has an impressive list of weapons, including two of the CFL’s top receivers, Brad Sinopoli and Greg Ellingson. Watching the work ethic of those two each day, Harris said, “You’d think they were trying to make the roster.”

Harris is looking forward to a great week. He was the backup behind Henry Burris for the Redblacks when they won the Grey Cup two seasons ago.

“You don’t block out the noise, you embrace it,” Harris said.

Asked what his team’s keys to success had been so far this season, Harris said: “Humility and practice. If you ever come out and watch our practices, you’d see we’re a good practice team. This is all going to come down to preparation and execution.”