A season-best offensive outburst lifted the Calgary Stampeders to a 56-15 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on 1970s Retro Night at McMahon Stadium on Sunday.
The Stamps chalked up 32 points in the first two quarters en route to a fourth consecutive victory. Calgary heads into the bye-week break with the best record in the Canadian Football League at 6-1.
“We wanted the win; we got the win,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “It’s a good way to go into the bye week. I was pleased with out effort. I thought our guys prepared well all week and they came out ready to play tonight and they gave it their for all four quarters.”
The Stampeders used a variety of ways to get into the end-zone in building a 28-point halftime lead.
First, it was by ground attack as Joffrey Reynolds scored on a 27-yard run to get the Stamps on the board just two minutes into the contest.
Then the Stamps went to the air with Henry Burris connecting with Arjei Franklin from 17 yards. It was Franklin’s first regular-season major in a Calgary uniform.
The Red and White’s third major came courtesy of a Drew Tate one-yard keeper as the Stamps elected to gamble in a third-and-goal situation.
It was then the defence’s turn to get in on the scoring action as Dwight Anderson picked off a Jared Zabransky pass and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown.
The Stamps also got three points on a 33-yard Rob Maver field goal and a Burke Dales punt single.
The Eskimos countered with one major — a 28-yard completion from Zabransky to Jason Barnes — and a punt single.
The Eskimos’ Kelly Campbell returned a punt 95 yards early in the second half to cut the home side’s lead to 32-15.
After getting a single point on a missed field goal, the Stamps got that touchdown back early in the fourth quarter when Nik Lewis scored on an eight-yard catch from Burris.
Burris and Lewis did it again later in the period, this time scoring on a pass from nine yards out. Lewis set up the touchdown with a 74-yard reception earlier in the drive.
Burris finished the night with 305 yards passing while Lewis had five catches for 117 yards and the two scores.
The Stamps tacked on another touchdown late as Tate hooked up with Romby Bryant on a seven-yard scoring pass.
There were a couple of milestones on the evening as Reynolds moved past Tracy Ham to claim 10th place on the CFL’s all-time rushing list. Meanwhile, Jabari Arthur made his first career reception.
Following the bye week, the Stampeders return to action on Friday, Aug. 27 when they make their second trip of the 2010 season to Vancouver’s Empire Field and a date with the BC Lions.
More coverage
>> Video: Highlights
>> Video: Post-game comments
>> Video: Game balls
>> Audio: Coach Huff’s post-game comments
>> Locker-Room Blog: Nik Lewis
>> Locker-Room Blog: Arjei Franklin
>> Updated standings
>> Updated individual stats
>> Photo gallery
INDIVIDUAL STATS
PASSING
Cgy: Burris 21-29-305-3-0, Tate 4-4-40-1-0; Edm: Zabransky 8-16-107-1-1, Maas 5-8-62-0-1, Ray 2-5-19-0-0
RUSHING
Cgy: Reynolds 14-79-1, Cornish 7-74, Burris 1-4, Tate 2-2-1; Edm: Whitlock 11-35, Fils 2-27, Zabransky 1-16, Bertrand 2-11, Ray 1-6
RECEIVING
Cgy: Lewis 5-117-2, Rambo 3-55, Franklin 5-49-1, Bryant 4-36-1, Thelwell 3-30, Reynolds 3-27, Murphy 1-24, Arthur 1-7; Edm: Barnes 3-75-1, Campbell 3-36, Rector 2-35, Talbot 4-31, Bertrand 2-12, Kirkland 1-(-1)
NOTABLES
Cgy: Anderson 4 TKL 1 INT 1 TD, McCune 5 TKL 3 STT 1 SK, Simpson 5 TKL 1 SK, Isaac 3 TKL 1 SK, Robede 3 TKL 1 SK; Edm: Goss 5 TKL, Ellis 5 TKL, Williams 4 TKL 1 KD, Campbell 5-162 PR 5-141 KOR 1 TD