Courtesy TSN.ca:

The Toronto Argonauts running back will face the Montreal Alouettes on Friday (TSN, 7:30 p.m. ET) for the first time since being unceremoniously dumped by the Als earlier this season. And while Edwards admits he’s got a bit of an axe to grind with his former team, his best redemption would be leading the Argos to victory in the opening game of this important home-and-home series.“I’m definitely looking forward to doing as much damage as I can because if I’m doing that, I’m doing my job and helping us on the way to a win,” he said. “I want to say it’s not personal but being realistic, somewhere in the back of my mind it is.

“But at the same time I can’t let that affect the way I play because once I make it personal I start making mistakes and not think logically about what I’m doing on the field and lose focus.”

 

Edwards enjoyed plenty of success over his two seasons in Montreal. He ran for over 1,000 yards each year and helped the Als reach the Grey Cup last year. Edwards started the ‘07 campaign with the Alouettes but was released with the emergence of Jarrett Payton, the son of former NFL legend Walter Payton.

Edwards has played well of late for Toronto, his season highlight to date being a 112-yard rushing performance in an 18-11 win over Edmonton on Sept. 28.

Payton has settled nicely into Montreal’s backfield. The former Miami Hurricane is sixth in CFL rushing, having run for 702 yards on 134 carries (5.2 yards per attempt) and eight touchdowns.

Neither team can afford to lose focus over the next two games. Montreal and Toronto are currently tied for second in the East Division with identical 7-7 records.

Toronto desperately needs to sweep these two games and outscore Montreal by a combined 16 points or more to capture the season series. The Als won the first two meetings earlier this season.

“If we don’t win this game it really don’t matter about the next game,” Edwards said. “We’re going to try and win this game and then worry about the tie-breaker as it comes up.”

Argos coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons said Edwards has been very professional this week in his approach to facing his former team.

“He’s kind of taking this like any other game you play against a team that cut you and has left you and decided they can go on without you,” Clemons said. “He’ll be ready to play, there’s no question about it.

“This is not just another game for him, it’s not just another game for our football team.”

Argos quarterback Michael Bishop agrees.

“If we go out and win, everything will take care of itself,” he said. “It’s a division opponent, everyone knows how Toronto and Montreal go back and forth, and it’s an opportunity for us to make a statement.”

Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who signed a contract extension this week, is expected to start, that is, if the impending birth of his second child goes as scheduled.

Calvillo’s wife, Alexia, is expecting their second child Monday. But if she goes into labour early, Calvillo will have to decide whether or not to play.

If Calvillo can’t play, then either Marcus Brady or Jason Maas will start for Montreal. The club was 1-2 with Brady as the starter when Calvillo missed three games with a torn rotator cuff last month.

Slotback Ben Cahoon (75 catches, 836 yards, three TDs) remains a favourite target of Calvillo’s, but Kerry Watkins (59 catches, 860 yards, four TDs) has seven catches for a career-high 192 yards and a touchdown in Montreal’s 27-19 win over Hamilton last weekend.

That game capped a rather nasty week for the Als as both Watkins and injured linebacker Timothy Strickland publicly lashed out at head coach-GM Jim Popp, who simply chalked the banter up to frustration. And there was plenty for the Alouettes to be frustrated about, seeing as their win over Hamilton snapped a rather nasty three-game losing streak.

Toronto, however, is a team on the rise. The Argos’ 33-8 win over Edmonton not only earned them a sweep of the home-and-home series, but was the club’s third straight victory and fifth in six games. Special teams were the difference against the Eskimos, though, with Dominque Dorsey returning a punt 69 yards for a TD and Byron Parker taking a blocked punt back 23 yards for a score.

But Toronto’s strength this year is once again its veteran defence. The Argos are ranked first in the CFL against the pass (231 yards per game) and fewest yards allowed (311 per game), interceptions (21), interception yards (559) and points allowed (17.4 per game). They’re also second in sacks (43) and average gain per rush (4.8 yards).

The Argos’ defence was stellar last week against Edmonton, registering six sacks of quarterback Stefan LeFors and holding the rookie left-hander to 15-of-28 passing for 139 yards with two interceptions against just one TD toss.

While Calvillo is no rookie, Montreal has given up a CFL-high 57 sacks.