Reese: "It's almost like a duel. We're going to fight and fight again and see who comes out on top"

There are the bragging rights and the impact on the standings. There's the atmosphere created by two fan bases -- rabid fan bases if you live in Manitoba or Saskatchewan -- and then all of that gets wrapped up into a game day experience which combines the giddiness of Christmas morning with the chess match and violence that comes when a guy slaps on the helmet and shoulder pads.

And now these two rookie defensive linemen with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are about to gear up for the annual Labour Day Classic-Banjo Bowl double header with the arch-rival Saskatchewan Roughriders for the very first time.

"It's always fun to play a rival and the fact we play them back to back -- man, it's almost like a duel," said Reese in a chat with bluebombers.com following practice on Wednesday. "We're going to fight and fight again and see who could out on top.

"I do know about the rivalry now, especially after hearing about it for the last couple of weeks or so. It sounds like any rivalry -- it's going to be gritty. It's two teams that really don't like each other; two teams that are playing for more than just the win. They're playing for respect, for honour.

"I love the feeling that goes around a rivalry game... there's more stuff going on in the city, there's more people that come to the game. It just means more and the hype around it gives you more of a chip on your shoulder."

Both Reese and Fletcher have been excellent finds by the Blue Bombers scouting departments and have shown marked improvement as their rookie seasons in the Canadian Football League have unfolded.

Reese has suited up for all 10 games and in the two games has made key plays with an interception in Edmonton and then by scooping up a loose ball on Tanner Cadwallader's punt block in last week's win over Montreal.

Fletcher, meanwhile, has also appeared in every game with his three sacks ranking behind only the six posted by Willie Jefferson and Jake Ceresna.

"It's been such a learning experience, for sure," Fletcher said. "That's the biggest blessing for me -- the chance to be a pro athlete. I don't take any day for granted."

A product of Appalachian State and Michigan State, Fletcher's main rivalry games came against Georgia Southern and James Madison as well as Michigan. Reese played his college ball at Florida, Cal and Syracuse and had games against Florida State, Miami, Georgia, Stanford and Boston College circled.

"It was probably one of the first things I heard about when I got here -- this game right here and the Banjo Bowl," Fletcher said. "They told me this is the one, for sure, to circle on my calendar; that these two games were a little more gritty because of the atmosphere and they mean more."

Both men have taken long roads to get here -- Fletcher appeared in three preseason games last year with the New York Jets before being released and landing in Winnipeg. And Reese, well, he's got the physical and mental scars that come with fighting through knee and Achilles injuries.

"Coming from where I'm come from and with my injury history, I am proud to be here," said Reese. "I know a lot of guys who were injured with little stuff and weren't able to bounce back and play again. God willing, I've had three season-ending surgeries and I'm out here playing better than I ever did before. Every day I'm thankful and I continue to remind myself every day of how blessed I am to be in this position.

"People ask me all the time, 'Why do you keep playing? Why don't you just stop? You don't want to coach?' To me, it's like, 'Why would I give up when tomorrow may be the day I win?' Throughout my rehab all those days I would just keep attacking it because there was never any doubt in my mind."

And that's why these next two weeks are so special for the pair of CFL rookies.

"You can feel it. It's the energy," Fletcher said. "Everybody wants it a little more, the fans are cheering just that much more and then winning those games mean a little more, just as losing those games hurt a little more.

"These are the games you love to play."

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea praised the work of the two rookie D-lineman, tipping his hat to Fletcher's resilience during an arduous training camp and Reese's versatility and athleticism. Just as important is their fit in the clubhouse.

Asked what he might offer them in terms of a scouting report before their first Labour Day Game, the Blue Bombers boss grinned.

"Be careful what you wish for," he said with a laugh. "I'm just kidding. They've played in front of big crowds. I think they are excited and they've embraced the fact that Winnipeggers and Manitobans support our team almost religiously. They love that part of it and they probably have recognized at this point the same sort of thing goes on in Saskatchewan and this should be a fun game in that regard.

"All players want to play in front of big crowds, raucous crowds."

OUCH REPORT: The news from practice today saw RB Brady Oliveira on the field but limited while DB Deatrick Nichols was back.

DB Redha Kramdi, CB Jonathan Moxey and SB Nic Demski did not participate.

DEALINGS: The Blue Bombers made a prospect trade with Ottawa today, sending recently signed LB Kyahva Tezino to the RedBlacks for the negotiating rights to QB Ty Pennington, who is entering into his senior season with the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

Pennington has started every game for NAU over the last two years and last season completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,116 yards, 19 TDs, and only four interceptions while rushing for 200 yards and two more scores.