Esks head to Calgary for Labour Day Classic

The Eskimos are approaching the halfway point in the season as they head to Calgary for the annual Labour Day game. With both teams sitting in second place in the West with a 5-3 record, there is a lot at stake in this year's Battle of Alberta. "The West is going to be tough," says Eskimo Head Coach Danny Maciocia. "If we are all honest with each other I don't think anybody could sit here and say who is going to win it and who is going to finish in second, third or fourth."

The Eskimos are coming off a 27-10 win over Saskatchewan last week at home. Two Eskimos received CFL Player of the Week honours; DT Dario Romero posted three tackles and two sacks as the Eskimo defence limited the Riders to just 279 yards net offence and RB AJ Harris helped power the Edmonton offence with 189 yards on 21 carries, including a 36-yard touchdown. He also caught four passes for 40 yards.

The Stampeders are also coming off a victory, defeating the BC Lions 36-29 last Friday at BC Place. The Stamps claimed the other half of the CFL Player of the Week honours; K/P Sandro DeAngelis went 5 for 5 on field goals and 3 for 3 on converts to claim the Special Teams Player of the Week Award. DE Mike Labinjo was a defensive demon with five tackles and one sack to help him pull in the Canadian Player of the Week honors.

The Eskimos will most likely be without defensive back and kick returner Tristan Jackson, who was injured in practice on Thursday. "This is like the biggest game of the season, so I really wanted to be out there," says Jackson. "But this is football and it's all part of the game."

For the Eskimo rookies, this will be the first time they have ever seen the coveted event, let alone be a part of the fierce competition that usually sets the pace for the rest of the season. With both teams playing strongly, the 2008 Labour Day Classic will be an action-packed battle with the outcome setting the stage for when these two teams meet again four days later at Commonwealth Stadium for the Labour Day Rematch.

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