The Calgary Stampeders don't want to have to repeat the need for last-second heroics to win on Saturday night against the Edmonton Elks.

"That was exciting for the fans, but it's living dangerously for us," says Mark Kilam, Calgary Stampeders special teams coordinator and assistant coach. "We want to get out of the gate right from the start, As special teams coordinator, we get to start the game, so that's going to be my message to my guys."

The first edition of the Battle of Alberta goes down at McMahon with an early 5 p.m. kick-off, ideal for the return of the family-friendly Gridiron Garden.

The Stamps are 2-0 in the early going, thanks to late-game comebacks against both the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton TigerCats.

Kilam says that trend can't continue.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that if we give up 24 points in the first half of both our first two games it's difficult to sustain winning football. So I definitely think we want to start fast."

He says head coach Dave Dickesen has been sending that the message to the team.

"The message coming from Dave is it's really been about us, especially this early in the year. We need to focus on our execution, on the tempo that we play with, and just focus on our game. If we do that right out of the jump, instead of reacting, I think that we'll be all right."

Kilam is in his 18th season with the Stamps, the last 12 of which he has been special teams coordinator. He was named assistant coach in 2019 and has three Grey Cup rings.

It all may not have happened, though, if he hadn't been an assistant coach for the Cochrane High Cobras for three seasons from 2002-2005. The Cobras didn't lose a game and won provincial championships all three seasons.

Kilam calls Rob McNab and Bruce O'Neill legends in the Cochrane community for creating a dynasty at Cochrane High. The two were recently inducted into the Football Alberta Hall of Fame and will be entering the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame this fall.

"What they've done with that program is just, as Bruce would say, "outstanding" (that's Bruce's favourite word). They're very deserving of that Hall of Fame."

"It's crazy how life takes you down these paths. If I hadn't coached in Cochrane, I would have never gotten the Stampeders job in the first place in 2005."

The sons of Ted Hellard and John Forzani, then part of the Stamps' new owner group, were playing for the Cobras at the time and recruited Kilam for the Stamps organization.

"It's a longer story than that, but that's how I got my foot in the door with this organization. You never know how it's going to work out, but that was a fortunate turn in my life."

Step back a few years earlier, Kilam was coached by Bruce O'Neill in the Senior Bowl all-star game in 1997.

Born in Edmonton, raised in Lethbridge, and having played football for the Golden Bears, Kilam is an Albertan through and through.

"I try not to reflect on it too much, but I don't take it for granted and it is very cool to be coaching in Calgary."

He believes there's no better place to work in the CFL than with the red and white.

"This is such a great place to work. We've had some outstanding football teams over the years, and we've got outstanding ownership that allows us to play winning football."

"As a pro football coach, being able to be in one city for as long as I have been--my children were born here, they're in junior high now--I know I have been very fortunate, but it's all about winning games and we've been fortunate to do that over the years."

Saturday is Western Night at McMahon and a good time to pull out the Western wear as a warm-up for the Stampede. It's an early 5 p.m. kickoff, making it a perfect fit for the whole family. The Stampede Showband is providing half-time entertainment.

"What a way to get a little jumpstart on the Stampede by wearing Western Wear. I know my kids are fired up to do it."

Saturday also features the first Gridiron Gardens since the pandemic.

"We've got music, deejay, face painting, autographs, the Outriders are going to be there. and the first 1,000 fans that go into Gridiron Garden get a Stamps Bandana,"  he says.