The Stampeders’ struggles at home continued on Saturday as Calgary dropped a 32-19 decision to the BC Lions in the 2011 Canadian Hall of Fame Game at McMahon Stadium.
Calgary falls to 2-4 on McMahon turf this season, marking the first time since the 2005 season the Red and White have lost four home games in a single campaign. The setback also prevents the Stamps (7-4) from reclaiming first place in the West Divison.
BC, meanwhile, extends its winning streak to four games to improves its season record 5-6.
The Lions had a couple of big plays in the third quarter that resulted in touchdowns and helped BC build an insurmountable 25-13 lead.
First, it was Travis Lulay hooking up with Akeem Foster for a 48-yard passing score.
Later, Paris Jackson blocked a punt by Calgary’s Burke Dales, allowing Tim Cronk to pick up the ball and ran it in from 31 yards out for a major.
“It was a close game that turned into a rout because of our lack of attention to details,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “BC played well; we helped them out a little bit and you can’t do that against good football teams.
“When you’re in a tight football game and you lose control of it, it’s because of penalties and turnovers. My message all week long was, ‘Do not allow penalties and turnovers to ruin the football games for us,’ and it did.”
Calgary turned the ball over four times and committed 11 penalties.
In between BC’s third-quarter scores, Calgary pivot Henry Burris found Larry Taylor for a 15-yard passing touchdown.
Another bright spot for the Stamps was rookie Anthony Parker, who made three catches and also recorded an interception on a fake-punt play by BC.
The Lions extended their lead in the fourth quarter thanks to Arland Bruce’s 41-yard touchdown catch.
Drew Tate got one back for the Stamps late in the game when he capped a four-play, 101-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown.
The Lions recorded the first half’s only touchdown as Rolly Lumbala capped a BC drive with a one-yard dive into the end-zone.
The visitors also got a 48-yard field goal by Paul McCallum as well as a punt single.
The Stampeders replied with a couple of Rene Paredes field goals as the rookie connected from 17 and 41 yards.
During the first half, Burris surpassed Tracy Ham (40,534 yards) for seventh place on the CFL’s all-time passing list. Burris finished the contest with a 75 per cent completion rate and 184 passing yards.
The Stamps’ next action is the Atlantic Bowl on Sunday, Sept. 25 as the Red and White will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Moncton.
More coverage
>> Video highlights
>> Audio: John Hufnagel
>> Locker-Room Blog: Juwan Simpson
>> Photo gallery
>> Video: Hall of Famers montage
>> Updated standings
INDIVIDUAL STATS
PASSING
Cgy: Burris 15-20-184-1-1, Tate 6-10-129-0-0; BC: Lulay 13-26-186-2-0, J.Jackson 0-1-0-0-0, McCallum 0-1-0-0-1
RUSHING
Cgy: Burris 3-21, Cornish 3-16, Reynolds 7-15, Tate 3-3-1, Taylor 1-1; BC: Harris 11-50, Brown 5-26, Lulay 5-19, Gore 2-17, Lumbala 2-6-1, Lee 1-3, J.Jackson 1-1
RECEIVING
Cgy: Cornish 1-61, Forzani 3-56, Bryant 4-53, Lewis 3-44, Parker 3-39, Rambo 3-23, Reynolds 3-21, Taylor 1-15-1; BC: Bruce 2-49-1, Foster 1-48-1, Simon 3-34, Harris 3-26, Brown 2-19, Gore 2-10
NOTABLES
Cgy: Phillips 5 TKL 1 KD, Claybrooks 5 TKL, Stone 4 TKL 1 STT, Simpson 3 TKL 1 SK, Parker 1 INT; BC: Phillips 5 TKL 1 KD, Marsh 4 TKL 1 INT, Iannuzzi 1 TKL 1 FF, Cronk 1 STT 2 FR, P.Jackson 1 BLK