By Mike Hardiman
Special to Stampeders.com

The Pregame

The Calgary Stampeders are back at home for Week 4 as they play the second half of a back-to-back series with the Montreal Alouettes.

The teams met last week in Montreal, with the Stamps prevailing by a 22-14 score, a result that left Calgary with a 2-1 record and in second place in the West Division.

Calgary is 4-1 in its last five games at McMahon against the Als and the Stamps have scored at least 38 points or more in each of the four wins.

Calgary is 1-0 at home this season and is 33-12-1 at McMahon Stadium since the 2008 season. The Stamps have won at least seven home games in three of the past five seasons. Calgary is 1-0 against the East in 2013 and 28-13 against interdivisional opponents since 2008. 

The Kickoff

When/Where: Saturday, July 20 at 5 p.m. MDT at McMahon Stadium in Calgary
Television: TSN, ESPN2
Radio: News Talk 770, Sirius Satellite Channel 157, XM Satellite Channel 160
Internet: www.newstalk770.com

The Stampeders

The Stamps played a solid road game in Montreal last week. With 314 yards of offence, 22 first downs, 36 minutes of possession and a plus-3 showing in turnover differential, Calgary dominated the game statistically but still only won by eight points thanks in part to a blocked punt that was returned for an Alouettes touchdown.

QB Kevin Glenn picked up where he left off last season in relief of starter Drew Tate, passing for 268 yards and a touchdown (running his regular season record as a Stampeders starter to 11-5) while RB Jon Cornish got back on track with 18 carries for 90 yards. Cornish sits second in league rushing with 304 yards rushing and a 6.1-yard average.

Calgary’s defence held Montreal to just 14 first downs, one offensive touchdown and 245 yards of offence while forcing four turnovers. The 14 points allowed was the lowest total of the season for Calgary’s defence and ran the Stamps’ record to 25-0 since 2008 when allowing 20 or fewer points.

Who to watch:

Brad Sinopoli, WR, #3

2013 stats – 5 catches, 81 yards, 16.2-yards average, 0 TDs in one game                  
Last Game – 5 catches, 81 yards, 16.2-yards average, 0 TDs at Mtl. Last week was his first game in the CFL at receiver after two seasons with Calgary at quarterback

Nik Lewis, SB, #82

2013 stats – 14 catches, 180 yards, 12.9-yards average, 1 TD – leads the team in receiving, 10th overall in CFL
Last Game – 6 catches, 80 yards, 13.3-yard average, 1 TD vs Mtl.
2012 vs Mtl. – 18 catches, 169 yards, 9.3-yard average. 1 TD in two games played

Rene Paredes, K, #30

2013 stats – 30 points scored, 9 for 9 in converts, 7 for 7 in field goal attempts; leads the CFL in points
Last Game – 16 points, 5 for 5 in field goal attempts vs Mtl. – named CFL’s Special teams Player of the Week, ran his current regular-season field-goal streak to 25 straight successful attempts
2012 vs Mtl. – 22 points scored, 5 for 5 in field goal attempts in two games played

Keon Raymond, DB, #25

2012 stats – 44 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 Ints, 1 TD, 7 pass knockdowns, 2 tackles for loss; 2012 West Division All-star
Last Game – 6 tackles vs Mtl, led team in his first game of the season
2012 vs Mtl. – 3 tackles in two games played

The Alouettes                                                                  

The Alouettes continued to struggle on offence at home last week, totalling only 245 yards and 14 first downs. It was the second straight game the Als have scored only one offensive touchdown. Montreal’s offence ranks in the bottom half of the league in most offensive categories but did score season highs on the road in Winnipeg in Week 1 with 38 points and 314 yards.

QB Anthony Calvillo (#13) sits sixth in league passing with 590 yards, 3 TDs and a QB rating of just 69.0 while his main targets — slotbacks S.J. Green (#19) and Jamel Richardson (#18) — have combined for just 19 catches for 262 yards and two TDs in three games.

The Alouettes were also dealt a serious blow on the offensive line as perennial All-star guard Scott Flory (#57) will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

Montreal’s defence is playing solid however and leads the CFL in fewest touchdowns allowed and most takeaways. The Als are second in the CFL with 14 sacks and managed to take down Calgary QB Kevin Glenn six times last week. S Kyries Hebert (#34) is second in the CFL in sacks with four and fourth in the CFL with 16 tackles.

Who to watch:

Brandon London, WR, #14

2013 stats – 7 catches, 73 yards, 10.4-yard average, 1 TD        
Last Game – 4 catches, 37 yards, 9.3-yard average, 1 TD vs Calgary
2012 vs Calgary – 7 catches, 116 yards, 16.5-yard average, 0 TDs in two games played

Chip Cox, LB, #11

2013 stats – 24 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble return, 3 tackles for losses
Last Game – 10 tackles vs Calgary
2012 vs Calgary –15 tackles in two games played                                             

Mike Edem, S, #21

2013 stats – 13 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 Int, 1 fumble recovery; the rookie safety is a former Calgary Dino and was named 2012 Canada West Defensive Player of the Year
Last Game – 5 tackles vs Calgary 

Stats

Here are the two teams’ offensive and defensive totals and league rankings for last week’s games

The CFL this Week

Friday, July 19, 6 p.m. — Toronto (1-2) at Winnipeg (1-2)
Saturday, July 20, 8 p.m. — Edmonton (1-2) at BC (2-1)
Sunday, July 21, 5 p.m. — Hamilton (1-2) at Saskatchewan (3-0)