The BC Lions remain undefeated on home turf after claiming victory over the visiting Calgary Stampeders on Saturday night. The Stamps suffered their first defeat since Week 2. 

“It was a close game,” says Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “it was a physical game — a game dominated by the defence a lot. And we just didn’t make the plays at the end to get it done. We thought the game would be decided late in the game, late in the fourth quarter, and we had our chance and their defence came up and they made more plays than we did.”

On the opening possession of the game, QB Travis Lulay connected with RB AJ Harris on a short pass out of the backfield and the all-star running back took it 40 yards up the middle for a major score.

Calgary, on the other hand, struggled out of the gate, as their initial drive was stalled by a LB Solomon Elimimian tackle behind the line of scrimmage on second down.

With just over 5:30 left in the first quarter, DE Charleston Hughes dropped into coverage and picked off Lulay, giving QB Kevin Glenn and the Stampeder offence a great opportunity to tie up the score with instant field position.

After Canadian SB Brad Sinopoli caught a short pass in the heart of the Lion defense, SB Nik Lewis helped push the pile within inches of a fresh set of downs inside the five yard line. Third-string QB Bo Levi Mitchell then came in for the short yardage scenario and was successful, before RB Jon Cornish snuck in for his ninth touchdown in 2013. 

BC didn’t waste any time regaining their lead as RB/KR Tim Brown registered his first career kick return touchdown on the next play as he took the kickoff 97 yards after weaving though the Stamps’ cover team.

Glenn finished the opening frame going eight-for-eight as he marched the offence up to midfield.

K Paul McCallum opted to take a knee in the end-zone midway through the second to narrow the point differential to five points. The next points on the board were courtesy SB Marquay McDaniel who caught a screen pass from Glenn from 14 yards out and then dove across the goal line giving the Stamps their first lead by a margin of 16-14.

Calgary committed their first turnover of the game after Cornish had the ball popped out of his grasp via a Korey Banks hit which fell into the hands of linebacker Adam Bighill. The Lions then capitalized on the miscue in just four plays. A pass interference penalty placed the ball on the one-yardline which sent Lulay to the bench in exchange for Thomas DeMarco, who followed the block of his left tackle for six points. It was the first CFL touchdown for second-year backup out of Old Dominion.

Lewis recorded a 19-yard reception — he now has a catch in each CFL game he has played — but suffered a leg injury on the tackle and did not return. 

After a Rob Maver punt, DB Chris Randle intercepted a deep pass inside his own five-yardline with three receivers in area as time expired in the first half. BC held a 21-16 lead going into the break.

A challenge from Hufnagel resulted in the ruling on the field being overturned; instead of Harris being down by contact, the play was ruled a fumble which was recovered by LB Deron Mayo. The much-needed momentum swing gave the Stampeders offence a short field to work with, although three points were all the offence produced. 

After three quarters of play, the teams’ total yardage was nearly even as the Stamps had 190 to BC’s 188.

WR Emmanuel Arceneaux hauled in an impressive 37-yard pass along the sideline to begin the final quarter which set up a chip shot from McCallum, the 21-year veteran. The kick was good and the Lions increased their lead to 24-19.

Instead of punting for the twelfth time in the game, P Rob Maver threw to FB Rob Cote who ran untouched for a gain 22 yards. After the offence earned a first down, Paredes came on to split the uprights from 30 yards out as Calgary came within two points just prior to the 3:00 warning. Paredes’ CFL record for consecutive made field goals has now reached 38.

Lulay then handed the ball off to Harris who tossed in back to his quarterback, but the deep pass downfield was picked off at the one-yardline by DB Jamar Wall, the first interception of his young career.

However, BC scored a safety before Calgary could move the ball out of the shadow of their goal posts.

“Our defence gave us ample opportunities and we just didn’t make the plays on offence,” says Glenn.

With no timeouts remaining, the Stampeders began their final series on their own 37 with only 1:11 left. Calgary eventually turned the ball over on downs, securing the fifth victory of the year for the Lions. 

“I don’t think it was the quarterback’s play that hindered us from moving the football,” says Hufnagel. “We need to catch the football. He was on the money and, in my mind, he did enough to be a winning quarterback in this game.” 

The Stamps, tied with BC at 5-2, are on the road again next week when they travel east to take on the Argos.

Calgary and BC will meet twice more this year before the conclusion of the regular season.