Eight Straight: Stamps continue win streak with 27-13 victory over Lions

CALGARY — Make it eight in a row for the Calgary Stampeders.

In a game dominated by defence, the Stamps picked up a 27-13 victory at McMahon Stadium to extend their impressive win steak and put more distance between themselves and their divisional opponents at the top of the West.

The victory was Calgary’s 15th straight win against teams in their own division.

Alex Singleton racked up 11 tackles in the win. It was the third straight game that the linebacker has recorded double digit tackles.

The Stamps appeared to have an early pick six when Ciante Evans intercepted a pass from Jonathon Jennings near midfield and ran it back to house. However, Evans was ruled down by contact after the play was reviewed and Calgary began their drive at their own 49-yard-line. The Stamps were unable to capitalize on the turnover, going two and out on the next play.

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Calgary would be the first to get on the board when  Bo Levi Mitchell connected with Marken Michel in the right corner of the end zone for a 31-yard major. The extra point was good to give the Stamps a 7-0 lead.

The Lions notched a single to prevent a scoreless first quarter.

Calgary’s defence wreaked havoc on Jennings through the first 15 minutes by racking up three quarterback sacks, including a pair of takedowns on back-to-back plays.

The Stamps extended their lead when Roy Finch ran the ball back 47 yards on a punt return to begin the Stamps drive in BC territory. Rene Paredes split the uprights from 27 yards out to cap off the drive and pull the Stamps ahead 10-1.

The Lions responded with a field goal of their own to chip away into Stamps’ lead.

Paredes notched his second field goal of the game with less than a minute on the clock to put Calgary ahead 13-4 lead heading into halftime.

It was a scary moment for Stamps fans when running back Jerome Messam made helmet-to-helmet contact with a Lions defender while being tackled. Messam appeared to be in immediate pain and laid on the field for a short time, but was able to walk to the sidelines without any help. He was taken to the dressing room and ruled as doubtful to return.

The Lions would continue to hang around with another field goal courtesy of Ty Long to once again make it a one score game.

Jennings was picked off for the second time in the game when Jameer Thurman anticipated the pass and caught it clean to give Calgary possession of the ball at the Lions’ 24-yard line. The Stamps continued their drive into the fourth quarter. The Lions defence would come up strong, keeping the Stamps out of the end zone. Paredes made the short 17-yard punt through the uprights to make it a 17-7 game.

Jennings led a steady charge down the field on the ensuing drive, connecting with Bryan Burnham for two double digit gains. Long finished the drive with a 36-yard field goal to put a dent in Calgary’s lead.

The Stamps picked up a huge first down when Rob Maver was pressured while trying to punt the ball away on third and long and was forced to run for the first down.  He rushed for 24-yards to keep the ball in Calgary’s hands. The Stamps were once again forced to settle for a field goal to make it a 10-point game.

The Stampeders would finally find the end zone before the end of the quarter to put the nail in the coffin. It started with Finch’s 66-yard punt return to put Calgary in the red zone. Just two plays later, Mitchell made a short toss to Reggie Begelton, who picked up 20 yards after the catch and charged across the plane for the Stamps’ second major of the game.

Long made his fourth field goal of the day as the clock dwindled down. The Lions attempted an onside kick with less that three minutes to go, but the Stamps successfully recovered the ball.

Calgary will go for their ninth straight win on Sunday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders while the Leos are back at home Friday to take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.