The Calgary Stampeders’ 11-game unbeaten streak at McMahon Stadium was snapped Saturday night as the Red and White dropped a 29-10 decision to the BC Lions.
It’s Calgary’s first setback at home since a 24-23 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 1, 2009. The result also snaps the Stamps’ eight-game winning streak against the Lions over the past three seasons.
After ripping off five consecutive games with at least 36 points, the Calgary offence had its lowest scoring output since Game 13 of the 2007 season.
“I haven’t seen that kind of football around here very often,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “Full credit to BC — their players and their coaching staff. They played an excellent game tonight, but we didn’t play near good enough to give ourselves a chance.”
With the loss, the Stamps’ lead at the top of the West Division is down to two points.
The Calgary offence struggled most of the evening. In the first half , for instance, the Stamps were held to just 93 yards of offence and no points.
The Lions put themselves into good position thanks to lengthy returns by Yonus Davis and forced turnovers, but the Calgary defence held BC to five Paul McCallum field goals.
McCallum converted from 20, 42, 38, 34 and 21 yards to account for the visitors’ first-half scoring.
Calgary’s best chance to get on the scoreboard in the first half came when the Stamps had a first and goal from the BC one-yard line but came up empty after two unsuccessful running plays and a Rob Maver field-goal try that hit the upright.
The Stamps finally got on the board on their first possession of the second half as Maver kicked a 20-yard field goal. The Lions responded with a 28-yard three-pointer by McCallum and a safety to take a 20-3 lead after three quarters.
The game’s first major came in the final three minutes as BC running back Jamal Robertson scored on a 55-yard run.
Drew Tate connected on a pass to Landan Talley with nine seconds to go to account for the only Calgary touchdown.
The Stamps are at home again on Friday, Oct. 1 as the reigning Grey Cup-champion Montreal Alouettes provide the opposition.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
PASSING
Cgy: Burris 11-26-136-0-2, Tate 8-13-88-1-0; BC: Lulay 5-12-85-0-0, Printers 4-9-62-0-0
RUSHING
Cgy: Burris 6-46, Tate 4-25, Reynolds 7-25, Bryant 1-4, Cornish 2-(-3); BC: Robertson 18-140-1, Lulay 3-22, Printers 1-13
RECEIVING
Cgy: Franklin 3-54, Bryant 3-39, Cote 2-36, Rambo 3-26, Arthur 3-24, Murphy 3-19, Reynolds 1-14, Talley 1-12-1; BC: Jackson 3-69, Simon 3-55, Robertson 1-8, Arceneaux 1-8, Wilson 1-7
NOTABLES
Cgy: Simpson 9 TKL 2 STT, Hughes 3 TKL 1 SK 1 KD, Robede 2 TKL 1 SK 1 FF, Isaac 2 TKL 3 STT, Landry 1 TKL 1 SK 1 FF 1 FR; BC: Elimimian 10 TKL 1 STT 1 SK, Reddick 1 TKL 2 STT 1 SK 1 KD, Williams 4 TKL 1 SK, Banks 4 TKL 1 INT 1 KD, Davis 2-131 KOR 6-113 PR