The Stampeders built an early 16-0 lead and forced eight turnovers en route to a 32-21 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Saturday afternoon at Canad Inns Stadium. With the result, the Stamps have clinched a playoff berth for an eighth consecutive season.
“Anytime you can go into a road game — in an important game — and come away with a win, you’re pleased,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel, “You have to give a lot of credit to Winnipeg. They really hung in there. They made a game out of it.”
Jon Cornish ran for 87 yards and a touchdown for Calgary, Kevin Glenn completed 21 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two scores and Marquay McDaniel led the Stamps receivers with six catches for 73 yards a major.
Calgary opened the scoring when Demond Washington fumbled a Rob Maver punt, allowing Derrius Brooks to recover for the Stampeders at the Winnipeg 12-yard line. Three plays later, Cornish ran the ball into the end-zone from three yards out.
After a Rene Paredes 25-yard field goal made it 10-0 for the vistors, Glenn hooked up with Nik Lewis on a 25-yard touchdown strike.
Chad Simpson scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter for the Bombers while the Stamps replied with another Paredes field goal — this one from 29 yards — and 10-yard touchdown catch by McDaniel. That made the score 26-14 for Calgary at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, Paredes sandwiched field goals of 27 and 26 yards around a 27-yard Winnipeg touchdown pass from Alex Brink to Chris Matthews to close out the scoring in the final period.
The Stamps defence had a big day as the unit forced one turnover on downs, three on fumbles and four on interceptions by Keon Raymond, Fred Bennett, Eric Fraser and Brooks.
“Offensively, as much as we moved the ball int he first half, we didn’t in the second half,” said Hufnagel. “So the defence was out there a lot. (The Bombers) did a nice job of completing passes, but when they got near our end-zone, we came up with huge interceptions.”
The Stamps return home on Saturday, Oct. 20 to take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It’s the annual PinkPower in support of the the battle against women’s cancers.