Stamps to ‘ride the hotter hand’ with second-year QB Maier

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Almost a year to the day after losing a nail-biter to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in his second career Canadian Football League start, Jake Maier will once again face the two-time defending Grey Cup champions – this time, however, under radically different circumstances. 

Last year, the rookie Maier was filling in for injured veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and set a Stampeders franchise record with 17 straight completions in an 18-16 loss. He promptly started his CFL career by becoming the first quarterback in league history to throw for 300 yards in each of his first three starts.

On Thursday night, the 25-year-old American takes the field in Winnipeg with his mentor Mitchell relegated to the sidelines as his backup. The news, big but not surprising, was made official when the Stampeders (6-3) released their depth chart that had the sophomore ahead of the 10-year veteran.

Maier started the second half of Calgary’s 22-19 victory – he was 14-of-18 in the air for 156 yards and one interception – in Toronto in Week 11 after Mitchell threw two interceptions in the first two quarters.  

“I think it’s time to see what he can do and I’m just looking to ride the hotter hand and see where Jake can take us,” head coach Dave Dickenson said on the Stampeders website on Wednesday.

“A tough decision but, at this point, the right decision.”

Maier is relishing the chance to prove himself as Calgary’s go-to quarterback starting Thursday against the league-leading (9-1) Bombers.

“I’m very excited,” Maier said. “I’ve worked a long time for opportunities like this and I don’t think anything’s really changed in terms of preparation and how I interact with the team.”

The 32-year-old Mitchell was not available to