Stamps prevail in opener
CALGARY After settling for field goals, the Calgary Stampeders finally broke through with fourthquarter touchdowns in a 28-14 win over the Hamilton TigerCats on Saturday.
Calgary’s first five trips to the red zone — within 20 yards of the goal line — yielded four field goals and an interception.
But quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kamar Jorden and Don Jackson rushed for a 44-yard touchdown in the final quarter.
Terry Williams and Jackson both ran for two-point converts for the hosts in the season-opener for both CFL teams.
“When you settle for field goals, you get a little nervous,” Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson said. “You really do because you’re missing opportunities to really put a gap between you and the opponent.
“It was a grind. It’s early season. I don’t think it’s always going to be pretty.
“The team we played is a good football team and it’s going to be a team that’s going to win a lot of games, so for us to grind it out at home in a hard-fought game, that says a lot about our guys.”
Rene Paredes kicked field goals from 22, 17, 29 and 19 yards in front of an announced 23,717 at McMahon Stadium.
Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli rushed for a touchdown.
Lirim Hajrullahu kicked field goals from 41 and 43 yards for the Tiger-Cats, who have lost 13 in a row to the Stampeders. Hamilton’s last win at McMahon was in 2004.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel did not see action as Masoli’s backup, so Manziel’s CFL debut will have to wait.
Masoli moved the Hamilton offence efficiently with an 82 per cent completion rate in the first half and 69 per cent overall. But the Ticats also struggled to finish drives.