Stampeders.com Staff

The Stampeders let an 11-point halftime lead slip away on Friday at McMahon Stadium as they suffered their first loss of the 2014 season, a 25-24 setback against the BC Lions.

“We didn’t play as well in the second half as we did in the first half,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel, whose club drops to 4-1 on the season. “I thought we had some chances in third quarter to do a little bit more damage and put some points on the board. That didn’t occur.

“BC is a good football team.”

The visitors, who improve to 3-3, capped off their comeback when ex-Stamp Kevin Glenn connected on a 65-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Jackson with 1:32 remaining in regulation. The Stamps were driving late in a bid to get into position for a game-winning field goal but receiver Anthony Parker turned the ball over after a catch when he fumbled while trying to fight for precious extra yards.

The BC comeback spoiled a solid performance by Stampeders running back Martell Mallett, who was playing his first regular-season CFL game since 2009 when he was a member of the Lions. He then tried his luck on the National Football League and has battled injuries.

Mallett rushed for 116 yards and had six catches for 59 yards. The only blemish on his performance was a third-quarter turnover when he fumbled the ball away to end a promising Calgary drive.

“Martell played well,” said Hufnagel. “He ran the ball hard with authority, showed some explosions, did a good job of pass protection and had some key first downs receiving.”

After spotting the Lions a 7-0 lead on a 34-yard interception return by Ronnie Yell, the Stamps outscored BC 21-3 the rest of the way in the first half.

Calgary’s points came on an 18-yard touchdown catch by Marquay McDaniel, 63-yard interception-return major by Keon Raymond and a one-yard TD plunge by Drew Tate that was set up by a 57-yard Mallett run.

BC replied with a 45-yard Paul McCallum field goal.

McCallum connected from 21 yards out in the third quarter to cut the Stamps’ lead to eight points and Andrew Harris scored on a four-yard TD catch to get the Lions to within two. A two-point conversion attempt by the Lions failed.

Rene Paredes kicked a 35-yard field goal to stretch the Calgary lead back to five points with 5:58 to play but the Lions had the last word thanks to the Glenn-to-Jackson connection.

Raymond’s pick-six was the fourth of his career and places him in a tie for second place in Stampeders history. Only William Hampton, who had five interception-return touchdowns for the Red and White, remains ahead of Raymond.

The Stamps are at home again next Saturday as they play the expansion Ottawa Redblacks for the first time. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.