The Calgary Stampeders took the lead at the end of the second quarter and never looked back, picking up a 22-14 victory on the road. 

Both Calgary and Montreal were coming off disappointing losses last week at the hands of the Roughriders and Blue Bombers respectively.

DB Keon Raymond got his first start after sitting out the beginning of the season, DL Kevin Huntley saw his first action as a Stampeder and Brad Sinopoli finally appeared at receiver after making the switch from quarterback.

Kevin Glenn started under centre in a scenario nearly identical to his first start last year — replacing an injured Drew Tate in Week 3 on the road in Montreal.

“It just feels good to get back on the field and play and get that competitiveness in your blood,” says Glenn. “When the time’s running down and you have to go back out there and get a first down, that kind of stuff fuels my fire.” 

“I thought Kevin played extremely well,” says Calgary head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “He took care of the football No. 1, he made plays, threw the ball very precisely and passionately, and was able to extend some plays. I’m pleased so far with both of my starting quarterbacks.”

Calgary received the opening kickoff and quickly went two-and-out. Montreal then took advantage of the Stamps’ slow start with an impressive 13-play opening drive.

Whitaker had the first big play of the game with a 21-run into the heart of the defence and Brandon London finished off the series with a 14-yard touchdown with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter as he out-jumped Chris Randle to register his first major of the new season.

Calgary then got on the board with a Rene Paredes field goal from 20 yards out.

Larry Taylor caught a 22-yard pass from Glenn at the beginning of the second quarter, which was immediately followed by a first down catch by SB Nik Lewis. The drive also featured the first CFL reception for Brad Sinopoli.

With less than four minutes remaining in the half, Lewis hauled in a deflected ball at the goal-line for a nine-yard score to give Calgary a 13-7 lead. The play moved him into third place on the Stampeders all-time touchdown list.

DB Fred Bennett recorded the first turnover of the game by intercepting Anthony Calvillo over the middle with six seconds left before heading into the locker room.

In the third frame, Sinopoli made an impressive one-handed catch down the sideline for a 42-yard gain to put Calgary in the redzone.

“I thought he played very well,” Hufnagel says about Sinopoli. “He played the way he played in training camp. I’m pleased that he had the opportunity and he didn’t disappoint me when he got the opportunity.”

Their next drive featured RB Jon Cornish rumbling off the left side for 19 yards before Paredes hit yet another field goal.

Through three quarters, Montreal LB Chip Cox had registered a game-high eight tackles and both quarterbacks connected with seven different receivers. Calvillo ended the third as the first quarterback to pass for over 79,000 career yards.

In the fourth, SB Arland Bruce III caught a screen pass from Calvillo for a first down before the veteran pivot went right back to the Bruce.  He hauled in the pass over his shoulder as he fell to the ground — good for the Als’ longest play from scrimmage on the night. 

Canadian LB Shea Emry was then credited with the first sack on the night as he dropped Glenn for a seven-yard loss, forcing a third-and-long situation.

Calvillo had the ball stripped from his grasp by DE Charleston Hughes as he went to throw the ball, but Montreal would get the ball right back only a few plays later. DB Ed Gainey blocked a Rob Maver punt and returned the ball untouched for a touchdown.  At the three-minute warning, Montreal had narrowed the score to 19-14.

Parades then connected on a 39-yard field goal — his fifth of the game — bringing the score to 22-14. With 25 consecutive field goals, Paredes now has sole possession of third place on the CFL’s all-time consecutive field goal list.

“It was a gutsy effort,” says Hufnagel. “It was a hard-fought contest on both on both sides. I thought they played extremely hard. We have an extra day before we play them again so hopefully they’ll get a chance to heal, but I thought it was a gutsy effort.” 

“It was a total team effort. It says a lot — it was a big character win,” echos Glenn. “For our team to come into Montreal, especially after what happened to them last week and knowing that they were going to come out hungry, for us to come in here and get this one away from them on a back-to-back is big.”

Calgary improved to 2-1 on the campaign while the Als fell to 1-2 and have yet to pick up a home win after two games at Percival Molson Stadium.

The two teams will now prepare for a rematch on Saturday, July 20 at McMahon Stadium at 5:00 p.m. MT.