Hughes continues chasing quarterbacks and records
WINNIPEG Charleston Hughes and Stanley Bryant have spent a lot of time running into each other.
Hughes and Bryant faced off in countless practices as teammates with the Calgary Stampeders from 2010 through 2014. Hughes worked on his moves as a defensive end while Bryant worked on his craft as an offensive tackle.
Bryant headed to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2015 while Hughes remained with the Stampeders for three more seasons, leading to more collisions as opposing players instead of teammates.
On Feb. 2, the Stampeders traded Hughes to the Hamilton TigerCats, who promptly traded him to the Riders for backup quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
Hughes and Stanley resumed their rivalry Sunday’s Labour Day Classic, in which Hughes gained the upper hand while registering his league-leading 13th sack in the Riders’ 31-23 win over the visiting Blue Bombers. The two are to square off again in Saturday’s rematch in Winnipeg.
“(Stanley) is my dog,” the 34-year-old Hughes said. “He was the most outstanding lineman in the CFL last year for a good reason. He’s a good player, a good blocker, and he doesn’t do much to get himself beat … but you do know that I did get a sack on him last week.”
The sack extended Hughes’ streak to eight consecutive games, two shy of the league record shared by Joe Montford and Phillip Hunt. It was also the first sack that Bryant had given up this season.
“He’s having an incredible year for his age and he’s doing some incredible things,” Bryant said. “It’s unfortunate that things didn’t work out well for him in Calgary and he got traded and he wasn’t able to finish out his career with them. Still, he has been playing well.”
Bryant feels that Hughes has improved since their days together with Calgary.
“He’s like fine wine because he keeps getting better with age,” Bryant said. “He’s a seasoned veteran and he knows the game. He knows what to expect and he knows what guys’ weaknesses are. He’s one of those guys who is always prepared and he has been great all year.”
Hughes entered the CFL with the Stampeders in 2008. He recorded five sacks as a rookie, which is the lowest total of his 11-year CFL career. He now boasts 112 sacks, ninth among the CFL’S alltime leaders.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, was Calgary’s defensive co-ordinator when Hughes broke into the CFL. Jones is impressed by the effort that Hughes puts in on every play.
“His feet never stop and that’s probably his biggest attribute,” Jones said. “It’s not like he’s just blowing by people. He continues to rush when others might stop and take a peek to see what is going on. Then he’s the beneficiary of getting a statistical play.”
Hughes is moving up on the Riders’ single-season sack list. His 13 sacks are tied for 13th with Jeff Roberts and Vince Goldsmith. Bobby Jurasin set the Riders’ alltime single-season mark (22) in 1987.
Hughes is eyeing that record with his sights set on a bigger prize.
“The one thing that motivates me right now is I want to be best that ever did it,” Hughes said. “I want to leave my legacy within this league.”
Hughes has already accomplished that.
A four-time CFL all-star, he was the West Division’s nominee for most outstanding defensive player in 2013.
He has led the CFL in sacks in 2013 (18), 2016 (16) and 2017 (11) and shared in Grey championships in 2008 and 2014 with the Stampeders.
Hughes is averaging better than a sack a game with the Riders despite everyone in the stadium knowing that he’s coming after the quarterback.
“When they are expecting you to do one thing, then you have to do another,” Hughes said.
Blue Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols knows what to expect from Hughes after facing him several times over the years.
“Every time that I’ve played against him, he’s all over the field making plays,” Nichols said. “He’s a fun guy to compete against because you know that you’re always going to get his best.”