When Calgary Stampeders running back Dedrick Mills went down with an injury against the Edmonton Elks, someone had to step up. And that’s just what Deonta McMahon did. The 26-year-old from Florida started his first game of the season and rushed the ball 15 times for 102 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday. McMahon says he was ready when his number got called. “Next man up, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “You’ve just got to be ready. Be prepared, and when your time comes, you’ve got to rise to the occasion. “I’m good for that. I’ve been doing that pretty much my entire life from high school to college to the pros. So it’s second nature, honestly.” Big milestone McMahon isn’t a rookie to the CFL. He spent three years in Toronto and won the Grey Cup with the Argos in 2024. But this was the first time he cracked the 100-yard mark in his career, and he says he’s ready for more. “It felt great,” he said. “I definitely feel I can bring more to the table, so starting out with that was pretty ideal and a good starting point for me.” Did his job Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson says replacing Mills wasn’t easy; he’s one of the best running backs in the league. But McMahon did exactly what the Stamps needed him to do against the Redblacks. “I thought he ran hard,” said Dickenson. “He’s quicker and has a little more juice, and he held up in protection, which is important if you’re a smaller guy. “They’re definitely going to blitz you and dog the linebackers at you, and he did a good job. We got 100-plus yards and I thought it was a good game for the offensive line. It took everybody, but Deonta had a good game.” Redblack rematch McMahon will again get the start against the Redblacks on Saturday and again it’s going to be another must-win for the Red and White. McMahon says his team won’t do much different. “Just stick to the game plan,” he said. “We don’t need to change anything. We just need to execute every play from the start to the finish. “That’s really what it’s going to take in this game.” Kickoff for the Stamps and Redblacks on Saturday will be a little after 1 p.m.
