The Calgary Stampeders can clinch a playoff berth Saturday night with a win over the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg. It’s a far cry from mid-September, when the Stamps sank to last place in the West and appeared to be on the fast track to missing the playoffs entirely. What turned it around? Many point to the 62-yard-field goal Rene Paredes kicked in the dying seconds to beat the Ottawa Redblacks 40-38 in late September. Others say it may have been when veteran wide receiver Tevin Jones returned to the lineup. Jones wasn’t happy about being pulled from the lineup, but he didn’t pout and disrupt the team, he handled it like a pro. “As a vet, I know that to be a leader for the guys, some guys went through the same situation and they handled things a bad way and then later on in life, they think, I should’ve done something different,” Jones said, “so if they look at my situation, and see how I handled it, then they’ll know what to do.” The 33-year-old Jones was ready when the Stamps called his number again and he’s been on a heater ever since. In three games since his return, Jones has 16 catches for 262 yards and three touchdowns. He says he’s just doing his job. “It feels great,” Jones said. “I feel like I’m just doing my side of the contract. That’s what I’m here to do, make big plays and when the ball comes to me, I catch the ball. “When the coach asks me to sit out, I hate it, but sometimes, that’s the best thing to do.” Adams regains passing touch It hasn’t hurt Jones that Vernon Adams Jr. has regained his passing touch, either. The two definitely have some on-field chemistry going on right now. Adams Jr. says he appreciates how Jones handled a difficult situation. “He’s been a big spark to this offence and to the team,” Adams Jr. said. “He’s been the same guy every single day -- comes in smiling, talking about one bite at a time with his burgers and stuff like that, so he’s the same dude every day. “We’re always playing cards, that’s my boy,” he added, “and (I’m) just happy that he’s playing well right now.” That infectious personality that Jones has rubs off on the whole team, and it helps keep everyone loose. “I just know he loves football,” says head coach Dave Dickenson. “You know, not everyone that plays sports necessarily loves it. “They’re good at it a lot of the times and that’s how they make their living, (but) there’s certain people that just love the game and love being around the team and lift the team and I think Tevin is one of those guys.” The Stamps are a perfect 3-0 since Jones returned to the lineup, but Jones says he’s not taking all of the credit for that. “I’m not saying it was because of me,” Jones said, “but I did help a little bit. Shout outs to V.A. (Adams), shout out to the O (offensive) line, the D (defensive) line and the whole offence and defence and the coaches! Kickoff for Saturday night’s game is 5 p.m. MST
