‘Touchdown’ Tommy Stevens is a step or two away from joining elite company.
The short-yardage specialist is just one touchdown shy of tying a pair of legends for the most rushing majors by a Calgary Stampeders quarterback in a CFL season.
You know them well … Doug Flutie and Henry Burris.
And being a kid who grew up idolizing NCAA and NFL QBs, Stevens certainly knows one of them well.
“So the first time I heard about the record was when we were playing Edmonton, and my family group chat was, ‘Like, oh, you’re really close to breaking this record’,” Stevens said. “Naturally, I look it up, and I see that it’s Doug’s record. And it’s, ‘Man, any time you can break one of his records, it would be cool.’
“But it’s worthy to note that he also threw for 6,000 yards and 44 touchdowns in that same year,” continued Stevens. “So part of me would feel kind of guilty for it.”
Well … let the guilt wash all over him Saturday, when he has one last chance to tie — or even break — the mark of 11 achieved by Flutie in 1992 and ’93, and Burris in 2009.
It’s the season finale for the Stampeders (4-12-1) against the host Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-7-1) at Regina’s Mosaic Field (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
“The record’s been here for a long time,” Stevens said. “So that would be cool if it could happen.”
Even better if it comes with a win to crack the ugly 0-for-8 figure that constitutes the Stamps’ road record in 2024 and — furthermore — to halt the eight-game winless slide the team currently owns.
And given that it’s the Roughriders who he’s up against, Stevens can be confident about securing his place in the Red and White record book.
After all, the rivalry has brought him a few of his biggest highlights.
“My two longest runs have been against them,” said Stevens, when reminded of his season-long 69-yarder — for a TD, of course — last month at McMahon Stadium.
“So my first year here, we had a real long one against Saskatchewan, as well,” continued Stevens, recalling the 85-yarder during the 2022 regular-season finale. “The first one that we did, we did draw it up to be a long play with a sweep play. But the one we ran a couple weeks ago, we blocked it up really well and got a gap, and I was able to beat everybody else.
“I was like, ‘Oh, boy — here we go. First play of the game, so legs were kind of tight over there on the sidelines.’ But it’s part of my role — you’ve got to stay loose as much as you can. You never know when you’re gonna get your opportunity to make a play, and we were fortunate enough to execute on that one.
“You can go back and watch it — Reggie (Begelton) and Marken (Michel) both blew their guys up really well and created an opening for me to get outside. It really wasn’t supposed to work out that way. But it just did. And credit those guys.”
The truth is that play by the 6-foot-5, 241-lb. QB was one of the Stamps’ highlights of the season … period.
The sneak-turned-long TD run gave the fans a rush of hope during the team’s current freefall that has taken over the campaign and crushed a 19-season run of playoff football.
“Honestly, you kind of lose awareness of that,” said Stevens, when asked about the roar of the crowd during the 85-yard rumble to the end zone. “I mean … at least that’s just me, personally — I couldn’t hear anything. You just kind of block everything out. First thing, I thought when it opened up was, ‘Damn, I got a long way to go.’ I was pretty sure that I was gonna score, but it was still very far — 70 to go.
“You can kind of like relax for a minute and then just breathe — do a lot of breathing.”
The 27-year-old Indianapolis native would love to do it again, although he’ll take his usual touchdown — from one or two yards out — if it means that record and a victory, to boot.
“Yeah … It’d be cool if it happens again,” confirmed Stevens. “Obviously, I liked it. But unfortunately, it was my only play of that game.
“Like I really enjoyed the game in Montreal (back in July), when I was able to play a lot and obviously helped produce (with six carries for 49 yards and two TDs).
“But whatever role they give me, obviously I want to help. So I’ll just move forward and, hopefully, be able to get more plays.”
History tells us that — even in the face of questions at QB — we’ll see Stevens on the field only with the short-yardage unit.
“It’s not really up to me,” added Stevens, when asked if he’s part of the every-down plan for the offence in Regina. “So as the week goes on, I guess we’ll find out. It’s not my call, and whatever they want to do is what they’ll go with.
“But collectively as a (short-yardage) unit, we’ve always been really, really good at it, and I’m going to continue to try to build off of that and hopefully get a bigger role.”
Short yardage
With QB Matt Shiltz sidelined due to a shoulder injury, the Stamps are turning back to veteran Jake Maier to start Saturday’s tilt at Mosaic Stadium … Also out for the game are WR Ishmael Hyman (calf), WR Eric Brooks (arm), WR Cole Tucker (hamstring), LB Darius Williams (wrist) and DB Daniel Amoako (knee) … Despite being ill earlier in the week, both RB Dedrick Mills and DB Tyler Richardson are available for the contest.