Stampeders punch playoff ticket in win over BC Lions
VANCOUVER — The Calgary Stampeders punched their ticket to the playoffs as they earned a hard-fought 25-11 win over the BC Lions to close out Week 16 of league action.
In a relatively unassuming performance from the young Stamps quarterback, Jake Maier completed nearly 82 per cent of his passes for 294 yards as he helped to avenge his team’s Week 15 overtime loss and avoid being swept in the season series.
Running back Ka’Deem Carey was the driving force behind the Stampeders offence in their win on Saturday night. The Calgary back rushed 12 times, turning up field for 84 yards and a touchdown.
The defensive pressure from the Stampeders was relentless as they created pressure situations and disrupted the design of the BC offence. The Stamps managed five sacks in the game and holding BC’s Vernon Adams Jr. to 151 yards and just 12 completions.
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Calgary opened the game with a bit of trickery as Rene Paredes chipped an onside kick toward the right sideline. Stampeders defensive back Nick Statz got a hand on the ball and batted it out of bounds to give his team’s offence possession on the opening drive.
Fortunately for the Lions their defence was ready to defend the short field, and eventually forced the Stampeders to attempt a long-range field goal. Paredes lined up a 41-yard attempt and had the leg, but missed the kick wide right, giving him just his sixth miss of the year.
The Stamps would be the first team to break open the scoring with time winding down in the first quarter. Maier completed five consecutive passes to put his team in position to score, but the BC defence held strong and once again forced Calgary to settle for a field goal. Paredes redeemed himself for the earlier miss as he split the uprights on a 39-yard attempt to give his team the early lead.
A defensive battle consumed much of the game’s second quarter, but once again it was the Stampeders who would manage to break the lull in scoring. Maier completed three consecutive passes including a 27-yard completion to Luther Hakunavanhu to put his team in striking distance.
However, the BC defence would hold the Stamps on a second down, halting the offensive momentum. Calgary called on Paredes for the third time in the game’s opening half and the veteran kicker delivered as he converted a 33-yard field goal, giving his team a 6-0 lead.
Calgary’s offence continued to apply pressure on the Lions defence into the second quarter and were finally rewarded. With under three minutes remaining in the first half, Maier found receiver Jalen Philpot for a 54-yard gain, the longest play through the first two quarters of action.
The big-play from the rookie receiver put his team on the BC three-yard line, giving the Stamps a tremendous opportunity to find points. The play call went to running back Ka’Deem Carey who powered his way through a handful of Lions defenders and into the end zone for the first score of the game.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS RUNNING BACK KA’DEEM CAREY AVERAGED 7.0 YARDS PER CARRY AND WAS THE LEADING RUSHER IN HIS TEAM’S WIN OVER THE BC LIONS IN WEEK 16 (THE CANADIAN PRESS).
Calgary opted to keep their offence on the field to attempt the two-point conversion. The call again went to the Calgary running back, but this time the Lions defence was ready as they stuffed the attempt, as Calgary assumed a 12-point lead to end the half.
The Stampeders would continue to build on the momentum of their first-half score with the third quarter of action underway. A 29-yard rush from Carey would help set up a 31-yard field goal from Paredes. The Stamps kicker split the uprights, helping push the Calgary lead to 15 points early in the second half.
Despite facing offensive adversity for much of the game, the Lions would move the ball downfield and set themselves up for their first score. A 21-yard completion to Keon Hatcher would set up help set up a 34-yard attempt for BC kicker Sean Whyte, who converted the attempt to give the Lions their first points of the game and break the Calgary shutout.
Holding onto a 15-3 lead entering the final quarter of action, the Stampeders would manage to match the score from BC and push their lead back to two scores.
Calgary’s Paredes continued to be relied on to score points for his team as he was called on for his fifth attempt of the night. Paredes knocked through a 33-yard field goal for his fourth make of the evening, giving the Stamps an 18-3 lead with just over 11 minutes remaining.
With under two minutes remaining in the game, Calgary running back Peyton Logan seemingly put the game on ice as he broke away from multiple BC defenders on his way to a 19-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 25-3 lead over the division rivals.
Looking ahead to Week 17, the Stampeders will head home as they get set to host the Toronto Argonauts from McMahon Stadium on Saturday. The Lions take on the Ottawa REDBLACKS in a Friday Night Football matchup from BC Place.
