Throwback Thursday: EE’s Greatest Games vs. Stamps

The Edmonton Elks are hosting the Calgary Stampeders tonight (July 7) at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium where the team will celebrate Throwback Thursday.

In the spirit of going old school, here’s a look back at some of the Green and Gold’s greatest individual performances in the Battle of Alberta, from the first game franchise history in 1949 to today.

Special Teams: Henry ‘Gizmo’ Williams

Arguably the greatest returner in CFL history, Williams was at his very best during the Battle of Alberta.

On three occasions, he returned two punts for touchdowns in a game against the Stampers, on June 27, 1987, Sept. 6, 1991, Nov. 7, 1993. Those are the only three times in Edmonton franchise history that a player has more than one punt return for a touchdown in a game.

He also has the second and third most punt return yards in a game in franchise history against the Stampeders, 221 on June 27, 1987, and 208 on Nov. 7, 1993. In the latter game, he had the second longest punt return by a player in Green and Gold, 104 yards for a major.

Offence: Norman Kwong

In the final game of the 1955 season, Kwong rushed for 192 yards in Edmonton’s 30-5 victory over the Stamps at Clarke Stadium.

That stood as the franchise record for rushing yards in a game for 44 years and one day, until Sean Millington ran for 225 yards against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Oct. 30, 1999.

Defence: John Wydareny 

Defensive back Wydareny made a habit of picking off Stampeders passes throughout his time in Edmonton. On Oct. 28, 1967, he had two interceptions against Calgary in Edmonton’s 20-11 victory, including one that went 107 yards for a touchdown, which was the franchise record for 45 years until Joe Burnett returned an interception 108 yards against the B.C. Lions on July 20, 2012.