The Calgary Stampeders completed a season-series sweep of the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a 25-13 victory on Friday night at McMahon Stadium.
In addition to giving the Stamps a 4-0 mark against the Roughriders this season, the victory keeps Calgary in contention for top spot in the West Division. The Stamps are now 9-7 while Saskatchewan falls to 4-12.
Calgary quarterback Drew Tate was a winner in his first professional start as he completed passes to 10 different receivers. He finished the night with 23 completions on 32 attempts for 250 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
“I thought he played well,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “He managed the game well, especially in the first half. I thought he had an exceptional first half.
“It was a much-needed victory. He was under pressure in his first start and I thought it was a very well-played game at the quarterback position except for that one mistake (on the second interception).”
Calgary moved the ball well early in the contest but a fumble and a missed field goal prevented them from getting on the board. Instead, it was the Roughriders opening the scoring thanks to a 26-yard Chris Milo field goal.
Early in the second quarter, the Stamps took the lead thanks to Romby Bryant’s four-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by a 26-yard reception by Johnny Forzani.
The Roughriders answered with a major of their own as Darian Durant capped a drive with a five-yard touchdown scamper.
The Stamps picked up their second touchdown of the night to retake the lead as Tate escaped the Roughriders pass rush to find Landan Talley in the end-zone for a 13-yard completion.
Rene Paredes capped the first-half scoring with a 37-yard field goal on the second quarter’s final play.
Milo kicked a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter to cut the hosts’ lead to four points but the Stampeders responded with a touchdown to make it 24-13.
The Calgary major was set up by Charleston Hughes’ interception, with the defensive lineman returning the ball to the Saskatchewan five-yard line. On the very next play, Jon Cornish ran the ball in for the score.
The Stamps added a point on Burke Dales’ punt rouge in the fourth quarter.
The Stamps’ next action comes on Sunday, Oct. 30 as the Red and White will be in Montreal to face the Alouettes.
INDIVIDUAL STATS
PASSING
Cgy: Tate 23-32-250-1-2; Ssk: Durant 20-30-209-0-1, Dinwiddie 6-13-0-0
RUSHING
Cgy: Cornish 13-92-1, Reynolds 4-18, Bryant 1-4-1; Ssk: West 6-39, Cates 6-19, Dressler 1-11, Durant 2-8-1, Hughes 1-5, Bergquist 2-1
RECEIVING
Cgy: Talley 5-51-1, Lewis 4-42, Arthur 3-38, Forzani 2-38, Taylor 2-24, Cornish 1-21, Cote 3-20, Bryant 1-9, Franklin 1-4, Reynolds 1-3; Ssk: Getzlaf 3-58, Koch 4-32, Cates 3-25, Robinson 3-23, Dressler 2-10, Hughes 1-9, Clermont 1-3, Foord 1-0
NOTABLES
Cgy: McCoy 6 TKL 1 STT, McCune 5 TKL 1 STT, Fassitt 4 TKL 1 KD, Fraser 2 TKL 1 STT 1 SK, Morley 2 TKL 1 SK 1 FF, Hughes 2 TKL 1 INT; Ssk: Freeman 8 TKL, Simpson 7 TKL 1 STT, Butler 7 TKL 1 STT, Graham 1 TKL 1 INT 1 KD, McCullough 1 TKL 1 INT
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