Stamps Stay Alive
The Stampeders did their part.
Now they, and the Red and White’s faithful, wait.
Prior to kick off last night at McMahon Stadium with the BC Lions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Montreal Alouettes 16-12 in an afternoon matinee, getting the game-winning TD with just 29 seconds left in the contest.
That brought some additional clarity to Calgary’s playoff hopes: they had to win and, while on a bye, hope Winnipeg loses next week against BC.
Four field-goals from Rene Parades and an impressive fourth-quarter touchdown drive helped propel the Red and White to a 32-13 victory in front of 21,968 fans.
STAT PACK
• Vernon Adams Jr. – 30-for-43, 325 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Deonta McMahon – 9 carries for 105 yards
• Ajou Ajou – 3 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD
• Tevin Jones – 4 receptions, 62 yards
• Rene Paredes – 4-for-5 on field-goal attempts
It was fitting that Paredes – who was playing his final regular-season game – was integral on the night. Playing his 255th regular-season contest, he has more than 2,500 points and is one of the best to ever play his position.
The Stamps were up 19-13 in the fourth quarter thanks to those four field goals and an earlier touchdown, when a massive 50-yard run by Deonta McMahon was part of an impressive – and timely drive – that led to a 12-yard touchdown by Ajou Ajou that broke open a close game with 5:02 left on the clock.
Calgary also acknowledged legendary equipment manager George Hopkins during the contest, who is also retiring after this season. Geo, as he’s affectionately known, was on the sidelines for his 1,094th game, part of an incredible 55-season career.
The Lions got on the board first with a 48-yard field-goal on their first possession of the game off the foot of Sean Whyte.
Calgary started the next drive on their 40-yard line, marching downfield into a strong headwind. Given the stiff breeze, they gambled on a third-and-two inside BC territory and converted to keep moving the ball ahead, but had to eventually settle for a 24-yard field-goal.
The visitors went up 10-3 with a major on their next drive, Nathan Rourke finding Justin McInnis with a perfect pass at the goal-line despite Stamps DB Damon Webb being tight in coverage to cap a four-play, 75-play drive.
The Stamps gambled on another third-and-two on the BC 17-yard line looking to tie it up near four minutes into the second quarter, but Adams' pass was short of the intended receiver. However, Calgary challenged citing pass interference and after review, the home-side got the nod giving them a first down on the nine-yard line.
Erik Brooks hauled in an eight-yard pass on the next play, with Quincy Vaughn coming in at pivot and punching it in from the one-yard line.
A solid Calgary drive that featured a 17-yard catch and short run by Jalen Philpot and a lovely 17-yard scamper by Adams finished with a 22-yard field-goal from Parades to knot the game at 13 with 40 seconds before the half.
Kaidon Salter replaced Rourke at QB for the visitors in the second half, but they were held without a point.
Paredes added his third field-goal of the night after the Stamps first drive of the second half stalled out.
Looking to add to their total at the midway point of the third, Adams was picked off by Christophe Beaulieu at the BC 13-yard line.
After Adams was flagged for intentional grounding to avoid a sack bringing up third down, Paredes came up a yard short on a long 57-yard field-goal attempt.
Then it was Whyte coming up well short on a field-goal boot just before time expired in the quarter.
Calgary got another field-goal in the fourth quarter after a lengthy drive, Brooks and Ajou both unable to haul in touchdown passes in the endzone.
Then came that long, five-play, 84-yard drive that featured McMahon’s scamper, ending with Ajou’s major. Calgary was unsuccessful on the two-point convert.
Vaughn added another TD with 1:20 to play to put the game away.
THEY SAID IT
UP NEXT
The Stampeders head into Week 21 on a bye and will await their CFL playoff fate at the culmination of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers versus BC Lions contest on Friday, Oct. 23.