CP Images/Ian Jackson
By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com
The Calgary Stampeders improved their record to 9-1 with a dominant 41-34 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in Saturday’s Labour Day Rematch from Commonwealth Stadium. The win swept the season series between the two teams and was Calgary’s 11th straight triumph over their Alberta rivals dating back to September 9, 2011.
“Edmonton’s a good football team and they showed today that they’re a very resilient football team,” says Stamps head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “We gave them a little bit of life and they took it and ran with it. Truthfully we had a great drive to make it 41 (points) and they came back a couple plays later. Hats off to them — they did everything they could to do to win this football game. We made one more play than them and that’s what you need to do to win big football games against good teams.”
Both offences struggled to move the ball on their respective opening drives before Edmonton gained first down yardage on three consecutive plays, marching across midfield into Stampeder territory. Soon after, a botched snap on a third down gamble resulted in a turnover on downs, and K Rene Paredes provided the Red and White with an early 3-0 lead five plays later from 41 yards out.
When the Stamps’ defence returned to the field, DL Shawn Lemon chased down QB Matt Nichols for the game’s initial sack before veteran SB Fred Stamps was brought down for a two-yard loss on the very next play.
The Eskimos then responded with a sack of their own, as DE Cameron Sheffield tracked down QB Bo Levi Mitchell who was unable to escape the pressure within the pocket. It was the first quarterback takedown in the CFL for the Troy University product.
The home team built on that momentum in a big way, as a pair of lengthy catches from Eskimo slotbacks set up a 26-yard touchdown from AJ Guyton. DB Keon Raymond was unable to maintain his footing, allowing the former Central Florida Knight to cross the goal line untouched for his third major of the year. The Stampeder defence had not given up a touchdown in 35 straight possession before Guyton’s grab ended the streak.
The Green and Gold could not maintain their four-point advantage for long, as Mitchell exploited blown coverage within the secondary by throwing a perfect 30-yard strike to Canadian wideout Simon Charbonneau-Campeau. After failing to find the end zone in six appearances as member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats throughout the past two seasons, the reception marked Charbonneau-Campeau’s first career touchdown. Paredes tacked on the extra point to reclaim the lead and go ahead 10-7.
The Stamps weren’t done there though, with Mitchell locating SB Marquay McDaniel off of play action three minutes later, who then turned upfield and scampered 38 yards to the Edmonton one-yard line before being stopped by S Chris Rwabukamba. Mitchell punched in it from there to go up 17-7 and complete a four-play, 59-yard drive.
A punt return of 24 yards by RB Kendial Lawrence and SB Adarius Bowman’s sixth catch of the evening set up the first field goal attempt of 2014 from P/K Hugh O’Neill, who is filling in for the injured Grant Shaw. The 2011 BC Lions draft pick was good from the 25-yard line, narrowing the lead to 17-10. Through 10 games in 2014, Calgary has yet to trail after two quarters of action.
Lemon made his presence felt again to begin the third quarter, coming around the edge with a sack and strip of Nichols. The fumble was promptly recovered by fellow DL Corey Mace before being tripped up after a 10-yard return, but Edmonton’s second turnover gave the Stamps prime field position at the Esks’ 10-yard line. With the offence taking the field and looking to capitalize, McDaniel juggled a pass in the corner of the end zone before reeling in the toss from Mitchell to go up by two converted touchdowns.
McDaniel added to his superb outing with a 32-yard gain on a crossing route as he slipped by LB Eric Samuels. With the ball then spotted at the 20-yard line, Mitchell followed his blockers and evaded numerous would-be tacklers before diving over the pilon for six points. His second rushing major of the contest gave Calgary a 31-10 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Desperate for a spark, Nichols handed the ball off the Guyton who connected with SB Fred Stamps downfield for a pickup of 32 yards on the trick-play. The Eskimos were unable to find paydirt and instead settled for three with O’Neill knocking a 20-yard field goal through the uprights to finish off the drive in the opening moments of the final frame.
Paredes came on to attempt a field goal from 35 yards out and was good, as the scoreboard read 34-13 after the successful attempt.
Nichols would hook up with Guyton for 39 yards on the following series which was the first completion by an Eskimo quarterback in the second half, coming with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation. Bowman would eventually score a 21-yard touchdown on a quick toss from Nichols and was the sixth major of the season for the league’s leading receiver.
Edmonton came within seven points of the Stampeders with a two-yard quarterback sneak from Nichols, giving the Esks 14 points in 2:01. The TD was set up courtesy of a Stamps’ over-the-shoulder snag in front of second-year DB Adam Berger.
Calgary responded in style however, as two offensive players hit the century mark to clinch their fifth win in a row. McDaniel hauled in a 43-yard catch to break 100 on the night, and RB Jon Cornish romped for 26 yards to reach triple digits as well. Cornish sealed the victory with a 10-yard score after also finding the end zone against the Esks just five days ago.
Former University of Calgary Dino WR Nate Coehoorn caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in the final minute but it was too little, too late as a subsequent onside kick was recovered by the special teams unit of the Red and White.
Stamps quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell improved to 12-1 as a starting quarterback, passing Jackie Parker and Jim Van Pelt. He threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns and added 23 yards and two touchdowns of his own along the ground.
“I thought he was outstanding,” says Hufnagel of his quarterback. “It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but that’s been the trademark of Bo. He’s going to go out there the next series and do the best he can. I thought he saw the field very well, took great care of the football, made excellent throws — some big throws — and allowed us to do the things we needed to do to help us win.”
Next up for the Stamps is a home date with the 3-7 Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, September 13 from McMahon Stadium. The game can be seen live on TSN with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. MT.