Max Campbell
Stampeders.com

The Calgary Stampeders won their final regular season matchup of the 2014 with a 33-16 Week 20 victory over the BC Lions on Friday night. Over 200 passing yards from both Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell along with 12 catches by SB Marquay McDaniel helped pave the way for the Stamps at BC Place, who tied the franchise mark for wins by finishing the 2014 campaign with a 15-3 record.

Tate, who got the start under centre in place of Mitchell, began the contest by scrambling to his right and finding WR Joe West over the middle for a 31-yard pickup. Two plays later, Tate connected with McDaniel who returned to the lineup after sitting out the past six games with a broken arm suffered against the Argos. The drive was completed shortly thereafter with a field goal of 13 yards by K Rene Paredes for an early 3-0 advantage in favour of the Red and White.

On the Lions’ opening possession, ex-Stampeder QB Kevin Glenn led an eight-play, 66-yard drive that included receptions by a trio of Lions. Veteran K Paul McCallum eventually trotted on for a short field goal of his own and was successful from 18 yards out.

When the Calgary offence returned to the field, the unit produced a pair of first downs before Rob Maver executed a punt to perfection by forcing BC to set up inside their own five-yard line. Faced with a critical second-and-long situation, Glenn was able to move the chains when he hooked up with WR Ernest Jackson on a corner route for 36 yards who was eventually brought to a halt by DB Keon Raymond. 

First-year wideout Simon Charbonneau-Campeau came up with a beautiful sliding snag to begin the second frame, and WR Eric Rogers followed that up by hauling in the first touchdown toss of his CFL career. The 21-yard catch came in just the second appearance for the former California Lutheran Kingsman and gave the visitors a lead of 10-3.

Minutes later, a third-down gamble paid off for the Lions as shifty RB Stefan Logan turned a quick pass upfield for a gain of 14 yards. DL Shawn Lemon rushed around the edge and promptly stripped Glenn of the ball on the very same series, thus tying Joe Montford and John Grace for the most forced fumbles in a single season with eight. BC did manage to add to their point total, as a 47-yard field goal courtesy of McCallum sailed between the uprights.

The teams then traded interceptions, with CB Dante Marsh jumping in front of a throw from Tate and DB Fred Bennett tracking down a deep heave by Glenn.

After coming up with their first turnover of the night, it was Mitchell’s turn to take the reigns, completing three passes for 55 yards. The Lions were subsequently flagged for pass interference in the end zone, and with the ball placed just outside the goal line, third-string pivot and Hawaii native Bryant Moniz snuck behind the offensive line for his first major score a pro. The 15th rushing touchdown for a Calgary quarterback in 2014 gave the Stamps a 17-6 advantage with under three minutes remaining until the break.

BC was quick to respond, however, with a 46-yard TD grab by WR Emmanuel Arceneaux just 1:11 after Moniz found pay dirt himself. But Calgary was not done, either. Rogers leaped above two defenders and came down with the catch for another six points in the closing moments of the half.  

Lemon’s 13th quarterback takedown put an end to a third quarter drive for the Lions, but when Maver booted the ball back to BC following a Calgary two-and-out, Logan fielded the punt and accelerated straight ahead for 38 yards. The return set up a 27-yard field goal by McCallum, who was taking part in the 325th game of his 22-year career.

Then, with Matt Walter unable to earn a fresh set of downs for the Stamps, Paredes was good from 26 yards out to extend the lead to 11. 

The second takeaway for the Red and White came when Raymond picked off Glenn, who was looking for Jackson deep in Calgary territory. The Middle Tennessee St. alum was able to weave his way up to midfield, and two first downs preceded Paredes’ third field goal of the evening.

A drive featuring three first downs by Logan — both on the ground and through the air — looked to be promising, but LB Juwan Simpson forced a turnover on downs by wrestling Logan to the turf when BC elected to forego a field goal attempt. The Stampeders would take nearly five minutes off the clock until Paredes added three more points to the scoreboard.

With Calgary having earned a first-round playoff bye, they will now prepare to take on the winner of the Western Semi-Final for a berth in the 102nd Grey Cup. Kickoff for the Western Final is set for 2:30 MT at McMahon Stadium on Sunday, November 23 and can be seen live on TSN.