Calgary’s bid for a share of first place in the West Division fell just short on Saturday as the Stampeders dropped a 27-22 decision to the BC Lions at Vancouver’s BC Place.
Down 27-13 early in the fourth quarter, the Stamps got a 44-yard field goal from Rene Paredes and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Glenn to Romby Bryant to cut the deficit to five points. Calgary had two late chances to get a go-ahead touchdown but the first drive was snuffed out by an interception and the other by a turnover on downs.
The result allows the Lions (10-4) to increase their lead atop the West to four points over the Stamps (8-6).
“We gave ourselves an opportunity to get something accomplished and we just didn’t finish it,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “When you have to settle for field goals when you had the oppurtunity to score touchdowns, that’s usually not a good thing.”
Calgary opened the scoring with a 13-yard Paredes field goal but BC answered with a touchdown by Shawn Gore on an eight-yard throw from Travis Lulay to take a lead the home side would never relinquish.
After Paredes’ 26-yard field goal cut the BC lead to a single point, the Lions made it 17-6 with a 20-yard touchdown catch by Nick Moore and a 22-yard Paul McCallum field goal.
The Stamps started the second half in fine fashion as Charleston Hughes forced an Andrew Harris fumble on BC’s first possession after the halftime break and Brandon Smith picked up a loose ball and ran it in from 48 yards out to give Calgary its first major of the night.
A 12-yard McCallum field goal made the score 17-13 for the hosts after three quarters.
Stampeders slotback Nik Lewis had six catches for 77 yards on the evening to pass the 1,000-yard mark in receiving for the ninth consecutive season.
The Stampeders’ next game will be on the road again as the Red and White will travel to Winnipeg on Saturday, Oct. 13 to face the Blue Bombers. Game time is 11 a.m. MDT.