The Canadian Press
REGINA — A 20-point second half from the Calgary Stampeders would propel them to a 32-21 win from Mosaic Stadium and seemingly end the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ hopes of earning a playoff berth.
Calgary running backs Ka’Deem Carey and Dedrick Mills each played pivotal roles in helping their team earn a road win over the West Division rivals. The pair of Stampeders combined for 178 yards and two touchdowns as Mills led the way with 103 rushing yards and scored his first career touchdown in the win.
Quarterback Jake Maier completed 15 passes for 205 yards, including a 14-yard pass to Richie Sindani who made a highlight-reel play for his first touchdown of the year.
In his first career CFL start, Saskatchewan’ Mason Fine completed over 65 per cent of his passes as he threw for 196 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
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With their opening possession of the game, the Stampeders engineered a methodical 10-play drive that was highlighted by a 30-yard field goal make from Rene Paredes as Calgary assumed the early first quarter lead.
Fine looked to be feeling confident in his first CFL start. On his second series of the game, facing a second-and-long, Fine stayed calm in a quickly collapsing pocket to deliver a strike to Mitchell Picton for a first down.
However, the Calgary defence would manage to hold off the Rider attack, forcing the Green and White to attempt a long field goal. With his first kick of the game, Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther split the uprights with a 46-yard attempt, evening the score 3-3.
The Stampeders would manage to extend their lead nearing the end of the game’s opening quarter. The Riders defensive pressure forced an incompletion from Maier and the Stamps called on their field goal unit for the second time in as many drives. Paredes delivered from long-range converting the 42-yard attempt.
With no time remaining in the first quarter, Fine delivered another beautifully placed ball that found the hands of Kian Schaffer-Baker for a 26-yard gain. Despite the big-play, Calgary’ defence would again hold their ground and manage to stop the driving Saskatchewan offence.
Already having converted once from 40-yards in the game, Lauther lined up a 45-yard attempt and split the uprights, evening the score to open the second quarter.
To start their first drive of the new quarter, the Calgary offence needed just one-play to flip the field as Maier connected with Jalen Philpot for a 47-yard completion. Stevens would follow Philpot with a big-play of his own, rumbling for a 12-yard gain to put his offence on the Saskatchewan 11-yard line.
However, Saskatchewan’s defensive would remain equally stout, forcing an incompletion standing on their own goal-line, bringing up third-down and a Calgary field goal attempt. Paredes had no trouble as he knocked through a 16-yard attempt to gave his team a 9-6 lead.
With just over five minutes to play in the first half, the Stampeders managed to sustain another long drive, taking over four minutes of play off the clock. Calgary opened the drive with four tough runs from Carey and Dedrick Mills. A few plays later, Mills fielded a check-down pass from Maier and made a terrific effort to fight for the first down as the Stamps entered the red zone.
The Riders defensive unit would bend, an incompletion from Maier would force Calgary into attempting yet another field goal. Paredes connected from 28-yards away for his fourth make of the game, pushing his team’s lead to six points as the first half came to a close.
Calgary’s Philpot returned the opening kickoff of the second half, trying to make a move to evade a tackle, Saskatchewan’s Larry Dean managed to jar the ball loose. Tevin Jones recovered the fumble, giving Fine and the Rider offence possession from the Stampeders 28-yard line.
The Roughriders offence wouldn’t waste the opportunity to find points early in the quarter. With just the second play of the drive, Fine delivered a 23-yard touchdown pass to Shaq Evans, as the Riders assumed a one-point lead just 45-seconds into the half.
Following the quick score from the Roughriders, Calgary would manage to regain the lead with a scoring drive of their own. A 17-yard catch and run from Philpot, followed by a nine-yard pick up from Mills would set the Stampeders offence up in the red zone. With a first-and-goal the handoff was giving to Carey as he powered into the end zone for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season.
With their ensuing drive, Calgary remained reliant on finding success through their running backs. Carey broke free for back-to-back 10-yard gains, before a 13-yard rush from Mills helped to put the Stampeders on the Saskatchewan two-yard-line.
Mills was rewarded for his efforts as his number was called to convert the short yardage score, Mills burst through the Saskatchewan offensive line, scoring his first touchdown of the season.
Nearing the end of the third quarter, Saskatchewan found themselves with an opportunity to close the gap on the Calgary lead. The Riders called on Lauther to attempt his fourth kick of the game, but the veteran kicker pushed the ball wide right for his second miss of the game. Philpot would concede the single as the third quarter ended 25-14 in favour of the Stamps.
Calgary opened the final quarter of action with a 10-play scoring drive that spanned nearly seven-minutes. The drive was headlined by a highlight-reel 14-yard catch from Sindani for his first touchdown of the 2022 season. The score would give Calgary a 32-14 lead and help to secure the win.
Saskatchewan return specialist Mario Alford provided an aura of excitement nearing the final whistle. Alford fielded a punt from Calgary’s Cody Grace and broke free for a 104-yard punt return touchdown, his first of the season and fourth return touchdown of 2022.
Looking ahead to the final week of the CFL regular season, the Stampeders and Riders will meet in Calgary for the second game of a home-and-home. The playoff picture in the West is set as the Stamps will be travelling to BC Place for the Western Semi-Final on November 6.
