The Calgary Stampeders completed a sweep of the Labour Day home-and-home series with the Edmonton Eskimos by claiming a 20-18 victory Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
It’s the sixth year in a row the Stamps have won the Labour Day rematch game in Edmonton.
As was the case Monday in Calgary, the back end of the series came down to an unsuccessful Edmonton field-goal try as Grant Shaw’s last-second 42-yard attempt hit the upright and fell to the turf. The win is the Stamps’ third in a row and improves Calgary’s record to 6-4. The Eskimos fall to 5-5.
It was another big night for Stampeders running back Jon Cornish, who ran for a career-high 185 yards including a 56-yard touchdown.
“He made some good runs on his own and then he had excellent blocking on that long touchdown run,” said head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “We need to have that type of performance from him week in and week out.”
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The Stamps started the night a man down as defensive lineman Dorian Smith was injured in the pre-game warm-up and several other players were hurt during the contest.
“We understand that we were fortunate enough to win the game but, on the other side of the coin, we did have to fight through some adversity even before the game started,” said Hufnagel. “I’m very proud of the players in that locker-room. They hung tough against a good football team at their house and managed to win the football game.”
The Stamps got off to a quick start, with a score on their opening possession. Following a direct snap to Cornish for nine yards, Johnny Forzani hauled in a 37-yard bomb from Kevin Glenn for the score. The drive lasted eight plays and 75 yards.
The first half was highlighted by Glenn connecting with his receivers for two long receptions — Forzani got things started with a 37-yard touchdown and Romby Bryant caught a 50-yard pass.
Edmonton got on the board with its first possession as well thanks to a Shaw punt single. Calgary linebacker Malik Jackson sacked Kerry Joseph for a loss of seven to force the kick.
Calgary would end the first quarter with a four-play drive capped off by a Rene Paredes 28-yard field goal.
The Eskimos added a 22-yard field goal and then, on the final play of the opening half, got a touchdown after a botched field goal when holder Matt Nichols scrambled with the ball and hit Corbin Sharun for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
There was no scoring in the third quarter.
In the fourth period, Calgary added a second Paredes field goal, this time from 13 yards out to end seven-play, 66-yard drive and give the Stampeders a 13-11 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, Cornish bolted for his 59-yard score to extend Calgary’s advantage. Cornish’s touchdown and Paredes’ convert put the Stampeders up 20-11.
With less than three minutes left, Joseph completed a 22-yard touchdown strike to Fred Stamps, with the convert cutting the score to 20-18.
The Stamps return to McMahon Stadium on Friday, Sept. 14 when they will entertain the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. It’s the Stampeders Wall of Fame Game as the club honours former players Jeff Garcia, Kelvin Anderson, Rudy Linterman and Gerry Shaw as well as builders Sig Gutsche and Normie Kwong.