The Calgary Stampeders’ numerical roster on June 28, 2013 concluded with the listing of two defensive tackles.
93 MICAH JOHNSON
99 COREY MACE
Mace was beginning his fourth season as a Stampeders player when he first lined up alongside Johnson.
Eleven years after that home date with B.C., they are still allies — proud members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ organization.
Mace is the first-year head coach of a Saskatchewan side that carries a 5-2 record into Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Elks (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
Johnson, still a destructive presence as an interior lineman, is poised to reach a milestone by playing in his 150th CFL regular-season game.
“It’s a credit to him and to what he’s able to do in the trenches, which we all know is not the easiest work,” Mace said.
“He has had tons of trials and tribulations with his body as well. Coming into the CFL, I think he was pretty nicked up, so he has been able to maintain and put that work in to make sure that he’s going to be available on game day.
“One-hundred and fifty … that’s no joke. Do they count playoff games, too?”
Add nine post-season contests and three Grey Cup appearances and Johnson has suited up for 161 meaningful games.
In seven games this season, the 36-year-old Johnson has four sacks. The league leader, Jake Ceresna of the Toronto Argonauts, has one more sack than a sextet of players that includes Johnson.
“He’s still got a little juice to him, which is really good to see,” Mace said, “because he’s just a ball of muscle out there, playing aggressive.”
The 6-foot-2, 278-pounder spent six seasons with Calgary, earning CFL All-Star honours in each of his final three years with the Stampeders.
He has spent four of the past five seasons with Saskatchewan. Over that span, he has been a divisional All-Star with the Roughriders (in 2021) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2022).
“If I’m out here, I want to be best at it,” Johnson said. “I don’t think age matters.
“I don’t care if I’m my age or if I’m 24. I want to be best at my position and that is what has driven me year in and year out and still does right now.
“For me, it’s about trying to come out and be the best defensive tackle in the league this year, and I think I’ve shown it.”
Johnson’s professional football journey dates back to April of 2010, when the former University of Kentucky Wildcats standout was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent.
He was waived after two months with the Giants, only to quickly resurface in Miami and enjoy an impressive pre-season with the Dolphins.
In fact, he made the Dolphins’ opening-day roster and played in one regular-season game before being released.
He subsequently spent time in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers before signing with the Stampeders in 2013 and meeting a fellow defensive tackle named Corey Mace.
“He didn’t even want to play D-tackle,” Mace said with a laugh. “He still thought he was a linebacker or D-end type.”
DeVone Claybrooks, who was then the Stampeders’ defensive line coach, had other ideas. Suddenly, Johnson was an interior lineman.
“It has worked out great for him,” Mace said. “He has carved out a great career for himself.”
It all began on June 28, 2013, when Johnson helped the Stampeders defeat the Lions 44-32.
What does he recall about that first game?
“Just having to ask Mace what to do!” Johnson said. “I was starting my first CFL game coming out of camp, so I was nervous as all get out.”
It was also an eventful game for Mace, who suffered a torn labrum in the second quarter.
Remarkably, he endured severe discomfort and finished the game, despite having sustained what turned out to be a season-ending injury.
“I was there, Micah,” a chuckling Mace said of Johnson’s introductory performance, “but, I tell you what, I had some other stuff on my mind.”
Mace returned to the lineup in 2014 and, along with Johnson, helped the Stampeders win a Grey Cup title. Mace sacked Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros during the Stampeders’ 20-16 championship-game win.
After missing the entire 2015 regular season due to injury, Mace was named the Stampeders’ defensive line coach.
The bond with Johnson continued to grow to the point where Mace’s son was named Micah upon his arrival on June 28, 2022.
By then, Mace was early in his first of two seasons as the Argonauts’ defensive co-ordinator.
As for Johnson, he just keeps going … and going … and going, to the chagrin of rival offensive linemen.
“I’ve punished a few,” he said with a smile. “For me, it has been fun.
“I know what I’ve brought to the game — a real physical nature — and I think a lot of offensive linemen remember it.”
Now comes a game to remember.
Happy 150th, Micah!
“I didn’t even know that mark was coming up, but I think it’s cool,” he said.
“When you’re in it, you probably don’t look at is as much. I’m trying to be in the moment. It’s probably something I’ll look at when it’s done.”
The way he is playing, that won’t be anytime soon.
