The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant (left), a Grey Cup rookie; will be facing the Montreal Alouettes’ Anthony Cavillo, who is appearing in his seventh CFL championship game.
Photograph by: Todd Korol and Shaun Best, Reuters
Photograph by: Todd Korol and Shaun Best, Reuters
CALGARY — Respect? Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant has a helmetful of that for veteran Montreal Alouettes pivot Anthony Calvillo but that's where it ends.
"There is no intimidation at all,'' Durant said in advance of Sunday's showdown in the Grey Cup game (5:30 p.m., CKRM, TSN) between the Riders and Alouettes. "I went head to head with him last year and we won. There isn't any fear.''
The starting quarterbacks in Sunday's Grey Cup game are among the most interesting contrasts in the CFL's championship event. Durant is in his fourth year with the Riders but first as a starter. Calvillo is in his 16th season and seventh Grey Cup game. On Thursday, Calvillo was named the CFL's most outstanding player for the second consecutive year and the third time in his career.
Durant has watched Calvillo and appreciates what the import has accomplished. That's where the respect factor emerges.
"He's a Hall of Famer who has had success in this league for over a decade,'' said Durant. "I would love for that to be my career path. Well, maybe not his Grey Cup record but what he has done is great for him, the league and other quarterbacks who look up to him.''
There is that blemish on Calvillo's record. The Alouettes are 1-5 in the Grey Cup with Calvillo. He sounds comfortable with it, though.
"If my career was to end today, there's no way I would be disappointed with it,'' said Calvillo, a 37-year-old native of Los Angeles. "You play for 16 years and you accomplish what not many people have. I know my Grey Cup record is a blip on my radar but I could walk away very happy with what I've done.''
Calvillo's first appearance in a Grey Cup game was in 2000 at McMahon Stadium. He remembers what his feelings were during the week and the game.
"You don't know what to expect because you don't have any time,'' said Calvillo. "You have family calling you for tickets to the game. There are flights to be arranged and there are so many distractions leading to the game. As I went along, I realized that I had to put that stuff into my wife's or someone else's hand. I needed to concentrate on the game.''
Durant has noticed the additional attention but hasn't found the demands any more challenging than what took place preceding the Grey Cup game.
"Thankfully we've had a couple of big games leading up to this one,'' said Durant, who guided the Riders to first place in the West Division and a 27-17 victory over the Calgary Stampeders in the division final. "That allowed me to get the jitters out and try to approach this one as just another game.''
That approach worked for Durant as he led the Riders to their 14th Grey Cup game. He has maintained that stance throughout all of the hype leading up to Sunday's game. It's that consistency and the play of Durant that have impressed Calvillo.
"He has shown signs of greatness over the past two years,'' said Calvillo, who is 2-1 in three head-to-head meetings over two seasons against Durant. "Personally, you hate losing to a young quarterback. He was so young last year. Now, I see why the potential was there. He has led that team all year long. He took to his team to first place in the West, which is very difficult to do. He has grown a lot over the past two years. He has his team in the championship game, just like we are.''
The quarterbacks also have the confidence of their teammates.
"We have it because AC has been around and seen it all,'' said Alouettes left tackle Josh Bourke. "As long as we can keep him clean, we're confident that he'll make the reads and throws that we need to be successful.''
Riders slotback Andy Fantuz doesn't doubt the Riders' confidence in their young leader.
"We're proud of him but we expected to be here,'' said Fantuz. "Darian is a great player and we've had confidence in him right from the start.''
The differences aren't limited to where the quarterbacks are in their careers. Calvillo is more of pocket passer and is comfortable with a shorter passing game. Calvillo is also accurate — he had 26 touchdown passes and just six interceptions.
Durant's personality has developed as the season has progressed. He doesn't have the arm strength of other quarterbacks but can make the tough throws when needed. Durant completed 24 touchdown passes and was intercepted 21 times. He also brings a running ability to the table, which he uses to his advantage. Durant had 60 carries for 501 yards during the regular season. He's still impressed by the manner Calvillo handles game decisions.
"I look at the way that he can make decisions,'' said Durant, a 27-year-old native of Florence, S.C. "When he sees something that he believes in, he just pulls the trigger and worries about the results later. That's the way you have to be as a quarterback. You have to be fearless and you have to be willing to make plays.''
There is a similarity between the quarterbacks. Regardless of where they are in their careers, they each have one Grey Cup ring. Calvillo earned his in 2005. Durant shared in the Riders' 23-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2007 as a backup. That tie will be broken after Sunday's game.
There is a similarity between the quarterbacks. Regardless of where they are in their careers, they each have one Grey Cup ring. Calvillo earned his in 2005. Durant shared in the Riders' 23-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2007 as a backup. That tie will be broken after Sunday's game.
"This is like a dream come true,'' said Durant. "I was part of what the team accomplished in 2007 but I want to be a major part of it now.''
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