OTTAWA — Titus Wall returned an interception for a 46-yard touchdown to help the Calgary Stampeders defeat the Ottawa REDBLACKS 17-3 on Friday night at TD Place.
The Stamps entered the second half with a 13-0 lead after both offences struggled to establish a rhythm, but their defence continued to dominate in the second half with two more interceptions to close out the game.
Calgary (5-2) snapped a two-game losing skid with the victory, while Ottawa now sits at 1-7.
Stamps quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 13 of 27 passes for 142 yards with one interception.
Caleb Evans started under centre for Ottawa, but Nick Arbuckle replaced him in the third quarter following his second turnover.
The Stamps were without head coach Dave Dickenson, who remains in COVID-19 protocols in Calgary.
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Both defences dictated the tone early on, with the only points in the first quarter coming on field goals of 51 and 34 yards from Calgary kicker Rene Paredes. Calgary’s defence forced seven punts in the first half alone while keeping Ottawa off the scoreboard.
Wall scored the game’s first touchdown in the final minutes of the second quarter with his first career pick-six.
Wall intercepted a short pass over the middle intended for receiver Darvin Adams, and he evaded a diving tackle attempt from Evans on the way to the end zone for the score. Paredes kicked the convert to give the Stamps a 13-0 lead entering the second half.
Paredes extended the lead early in the third quarter with a 24-yard field goal, but Ottawa momentarily shifted momentum with a defensive turnover on the next drive.
Linebacker Shaheed Salmon intercepted Mitchell and returned the pick 30 yards before being pushed out of bounds in the red zone.
But Calgary’s defence got the ball back just two plays later when linebacker Cameron Judge generated pressure and knocked the ball out of Evans’ right hand before he could get the throw off. Defensive lineman Shawn Lemon recovered the fumble for the Stamps, but they were unable to convert the turnover into points.
Ottawa conceded a single early in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard punt from Calgary’s Cody Grace.
Arbuckle took over at quarterback, and Ottawa managed to get on the board with a 25-yard field goal from Lewis Ward late in the fourth quarter.
Wall picked off Arbuckle in the red zone late in the fourth quarter, and Dionté Ruffin added a third interception in the final seconds by picking off Arbuckle in the end zone.
Calgary will host the BC Lions next Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at McMahon Stadium, while Ottawa will have a bye week before hosting the Edmonton Elks on Friday, Aug. 19 to kick off Week 11.