Quarterback experience the central plot of CFL’s West Division semifinal

CALGARY – Quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Jonathan Jennings are close in age, but far apart in CFL playoff experience.

Mitchell, 25, has appeared in five post-season games, started two and led the Calgary Stampeders to a Grey Cup championship last year.

Jennings, 23, makes his playoff debut with the B.C. Lions in the West Division semifinal Sunday at McMahon Stadium.

The winner advances to the division final Nov. 22 in Edmonton against the Eskimos for the right to play in this year’s Grey Cup.

It’s a mismatch on paper at pivot when you consider Mitchell is the division nominee for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award and rookie Jennings didn’t become the Lions’ starter until late September.

But the Stampeders (14-4) were studiously ignoring the fact they’re the heavy favourite against the Lions (7-11).

“Are we?” Stampeders middle linebacker Juwan Simpson asked Saturday. “We all know at this point in the season that the 18 games before this one really don’t matter. Once you get to this point, it’s a clean slate.”

Calgary’s defence allowed just four rushing touchdowns and tied with the Ottawa Redblacks for the fewest touchdown passes against (22).

The Eskimos defence tops the CFL statistically, but Lions coach Jeff Tedford said he considers Calgary’s No. 1 in the league.

Simpson returns to the Stampeders lineup after missing five games with a broken clavicle. Calgary’s co-captain acknowledged it’s important the defence not give Jennings any reason to feel good about himself Sunday.

“He’s the guy that gets the ball every play,” Simpson said. “You stop him and get him rattled, you’re doing well for yourself.”

The Stampeders went 2-0 versus the Lions in 2015 although their meaningless regular-season finale in Vancouver last week featured several backup players. Neither Mitchell nor Jennings took any reps in Calgary’s 28-7 victory.

Jennings’ ascension to Lions starter began at McMahon on Sept. 18. Regular No. 1 Travis Lulay was out with a sprained knee and Jennings went in for injured backup John Beck in the second quarter of a 35-23 loss.

Jennings has completed 66 per cent of his passes for 2,004 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he’s also been intercepted 10 times.

He’s had two weeks to study Calgary’s defence, which is helpful for the Saginaw Valley State product who admits he’s still adjusting to a 12th man on defence.

“Those two weeks are critical,” Jennings said. “We come out to the game last week and see what they’re doing in their base defence, where we’re expecting them to show us a little bit more this week with blitzes and things like that.

“Their secondary looks are pretty much going to be similar to what they did last week we assume.”

Mitchell, the Grey Cup MVP in 2014, is hungry to continue proving he’s a playoff performer.

“I love playoff football. I love it when every play is going to be under the microscope because I’m going to go out there and make sure we win the game,” Mitchell said.

“If you want to be a great player and you make a name for yourself and a legacy for yourself and the teams you play on, then you have to really want to be on those stages.”

The forecast for Sunday is a reasonable eight degrees, a mix of sun and cloud and no precipitation, which gives both offences the field conditions to move the chains.

The game-within-the-game Sunday features Lions running back Andrew Harris and Stampeders counterpart Jerome Messam, who each rushed for over 1,000 yards this season.

Each side also boast 1,000-yard receivers in Calgary’s Eric Rogers (1,448) and Marquay McDaniel (1,038), and B.C.’s Emmanuel Arceneaux (1,151).

Include Lions returner Chris Rainey among the players to watch. He scored touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns of 103 yards each when B.C. was last at McMahon.

Boasting an 8-1 record at home this season, the defending Grey Cup champions were confident heading into Sunday, but wary of an opponent capable of game-turning plays.

“We are very proud to be here. We’re not complacent about it though,” Mitchell said. “We’re not going to let ourselves get that way because we know it can be taken from us at any time.

“Our goal isn’t just to repeat. Our goal is to go out and dominate three games in a row, but starting with one.”