The Calgary Stampeders won their sixth straight game on Monday as they defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 52-5 in the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium.

The Stamps, who have won the annual Labour Day matchup with their provincial rivals in four of the past five seasons, reach the halfway point of the season with a league-best 8-1 record.

“I was very pleased that our players, No. 1, prepared hard to play this game and they played hard for four quarters,” said Stamps head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “My concern in the first half was about the penalties but I htought we did a good job in the second half controlling our emotions and playing by the rules.”

Calgary’s defence held the Eskimos without a touchdown and to just five yards rushing.

“The defence played excellent football today and I think they’re going in the right direction,” said Hufnagel. “I wouldn’t want to play that defence right now.”

The Eskimos took a very early lead when they recorded a single point on the opening kickoff but the advantage was short-lived as the Stamps’ Rob Maver kicked a 29-yard field goal at the conclusion of Calgary’s first possession of the day.

After another Eskimos single point and a safety conceded by Edmonton made the score 5-2 for the Stamps, Calgary scored the game’s first major on the first play of the second quarter as Joffrey Reynolds ran the ball in from nine yards out. Malik Jackson recovered an Edmonton fumble to set up the score.

The Stamps went to the air for their next touchdown as Henry Burris connected with Romby Bryant for a 30-yard strike.

Then the defence got in on the act as Stampeders halfback Brandon Smith picked off a Ricky Ray pass and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. Smith, who hadn’t recorded a CFL interception prior to Monday’s game, also had a pick in the second half.

Calgary’s first-half onslaught concluded with a 10-yard scoring pass from Burris to Ken-Yon Rambo to make the halftime score 33-5.

The Stamps found the end-zone again on their first possession of the second half as Burris connected with Bryant again, this time from 19 yards out.

Calgary scored a late touchdown when backup quarterback Drew Tate combined with Deon Murphy for a 12-yard passing touchdown.

On the milestone front, with Burris’ first completion of the game — a 46-yard pass to Rambo — the Calgary pivot moved past Dieter Brock and into 10th place on the CFL’s all-time list in passing yards. In addition, slotback Nik Lewis made his 500th career catch.

Calgary and Edmonton meet again on Friday at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

PASSING
Cgy: Burris 15-23-226-3-1, Tate 6-7-96-1-0; Edm: Ray 9-22-157-0-2, Zabransky 3-8-36-0-2

RUSHING
Cgy: Reynolds 18-85-1, Cornish 9-76, Tate 4-27, Bryant 1-0; Edm: Whitlock 3-3, Fils 5-1, Ray 1-1

RECEIVING
Cgy: Bryant 5-80-2, Rambo 4-84-1, Lewis 4-48, Forzani 1-32, Murphy 2-20-1, Arthur 1-20, Franklin 1-13, Cornish 1-12, Cote 1-7, Reynolds 1-6; Edm: Campbell 4-80, Nowacki 1-49, Rector 2-22, Barnes 2-21, Fils 2-18, Kirkland 1-3

NOTABLES
Cgy: Browner 2 TKL 2 INT 1 KD, Smith 1 TKL 2 INT 1 TD, Johnson 3 TKL 1 SK, McCune 2 TKL 2 STT 1 KD, Jackson 2 TKL 1 FR, Hughes 2 TKL 1 STT 1 SK 1 FF; Edm: Hill 9 TKL, Nugent 8 TKL, Lloyd 6 TKL 1 SK, Sterling 3 TKL 1 SK, Williams 1 TKL 1 SK