By Max Campbell
Stampeders.com

John Hufnagel ended his regular-season coaching career with his 102nd victory as the Stampeders head coach in a 28-7 victory over the Lions at BC Place. The Red and White will now enter the post-season with a 14-4 record, including a 6-3 mark on the road.

“I thought our team played well all-around,” said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel. “Like everyone said going into the game, it was ‘vanilla’. But we still had to go out and execute.”

The Lions’ opening drive, led by quarterback Travis Lulay, resulted in a missed 42-yard field goal from newcomer Anthony Fera. The ball was not returned out the end zone as the home side took an early 1-0 lead.

Drew Tate then led the Stamps offence out onto the field, but an abbreviated possession came to a halt with a throw over the outstretched arms of Anthony Parker.

The game’s first major score came courtesy of Lemar Durant, as the 2015 draft pick returned to his home province for the first time as a CFL receiver. The Centennial Secondary School product got free behind the last line of defence for an 18-yard catch, his second touchdown on the year.

Responding in short order, Lulay located a streaking Geraldo Boldewijn for a 50-yard gain before being brought down by a shoestring tackle from Brandon McDonald. Fera would split the uprights from 44 yards out four plays later to cut the deficit to three.

Unable to knock through a deep attempt of his own was Rene Paredes, whose 48-yard boot fell wide left.

A Terrence-Jeffers Harris reception of 38 yards was the first big play of the third quarter and would put Fera in position for a successful 49-yard field goal.

But it would only take Calgary one offensive play to put more points on the board themselves, as Tate scrambled to his right and located Parker along the sideline. The pickup of 70 yards went for six points as No. 86 sped past Steven Clarke and backpedalled across the goal line.

The effective connection continued on the following series, with Parker snatching the ball away from Cord Parks and gaining 38 yards in the process. A pair of BC penalties on a subsequent Stampeders passing plays placed the ball at the Lions one-yard line, and Bryant Moniz sneaked it in for his fifth rushing touchdown of 2015.

Greg McGee and Moniz took over their respective huddles in the final frame before Fera tried his second field goal from the 44-yard line. This time, however, the kick from the Texas Longhorn alum was no good.

As the clock struck five minutes to go, Jerome Messam rumbled for 12 yards to break the 1,000-yard plateau on the season after coming over in a late-season trade from Saskatchewan.

With only two pass attempts to his name prior to tonight’s matchup, Moniz registered his first touchdown toss as a pro with a 22-yard completion to Durant. Following the Paredes convert, the Stamps took a permanent 28-7 advantage.

“The players’ approach to the game was with preparation and intensity,” said Hufnagel. “They played hard, which is good to see. We finished tied with the best record in the league, 14-4, which is a pretty good regular-season record. Now we’re looking to a good – and better – playoff run.”

Calgary and BC will soon square off once again, on Sunday, November 15 at 2:30 p.m. at McMahon Stadium. The winner of next week’s Western Semi-Final will earn the right to take on the Eskimos in Edmonton with a Grey Cup berth on the line.