Riders hand Stamps first loss
Home team dominates all aspects of game
For seven games, everything seemed to be going right for the Calgary Stampeders.
On Sunday, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.
Playing the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-4) at Mosaic Stadium for the second time in three weeks, the Stamps (7-1) were on the receiving end of their first loss of the season, falling 40-27.
The Stamps’ undefeated run is over. They won’t be 18-0 this year.
Their streak of 17 wins coming off a bye week is also done.
And their air of invincibility may have taken a little hit, as well.
From the opening kickoff, the Riders were just that little bit sharper.
They scored field goals on their opening two drives, and then jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the end of the first quarter when DB Nick Marshall ran back an interception from Bo Levi Mitchell.
It was a complete reversal from three weeks ago, when the Stamps had jumped out to a commanding 24-0 lead in the same stadium.
While Mitchell would find DaVaris Daniels for a 45-yard touchdown on the very next play to stop the bleeding, it was only temporary.
Rene Paredes missed the convert and only a couple minutes later a Rob Maver punt was blocked by Samuel Eguavoen, who recovered the ball and ran it in for a touchdown.
By the time halftime hit, the Riders were up 24-6.
It was ugly, as the Riders defence was dominating the line of scrimmage and Mitchell was struggling to find his receivers, as he completed five of 14 passes in the first half for 73 yards.
He finished the game having completed 22 of 36 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns, as well as one interception.
The defence was generally good in limiting the Riders to field goals, but they weren’t quite as sharp in tackling as they usually are.
The second half started just as badly as the first half had gone when Mitchell fumbled the ball while being sacked by former teammate Charleston Hughes, and the Riders capitalized with a Marshall touchdown that made it 31-6.
The game was effectively out of reach at that point.
Mitchell found Kamar Jorden, Juwan Brescacin and Daniels a second time for touchdowns that at least made the score line a little respectable.
But Sunday will go down as a bad night for the Stamps.
The Stampeders still boast a healthy lead atop the West Division and will have the chance to bounce back against another rival next Saturday when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium.
The Riders showed they deserve to be taken seriously, though, especially now that Zach Collaros is back at quarterback.
The veteran completed 25 of 34 passes for 270 yards and looked confident behind centre.
The two teams will meet again on Oct. 20 at McMahon Stadium for the rubber match.