Stamps punch their ticket
CALGARY The Calgary Stampeders will play in the Grey Cup game a third straight year after downing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22-14 in Sunday’s CFL West Division final.
Eric Rogers led the Stampeders with three touchdown catches, including a 10yard leaping grab late in the fourth quarter.
Calgary faces the Ottawa Redblacks in next Sunday’s Grey Cup in Edmonton. The Redblacks downed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 46-27 earlier Sunday to take the East Division.
Ottawa will attempt to win its second Grey Cup in three years after beating the Stampeders in the championship game two years ago.
Calgary’s third consecutive appearance in the Grey Cup game is a franchise record. The Stampeders were favoured to win the 2017 and 2016 Grey Cups, but lost to Toronto and Ottawa respectively.
The Stampeders won the Grey Cup in 2014.
The last team to appear in three straight Grey Cups was the Montreal Alouettes from 2008 to 2010. The Als won backto-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
Winnipeg’s Justin Medlock kicked four field goals for the visitors Sunday, including a 57yarder for a CFL playoff record, in front of an announced 29,268 at McMahon Stadium.
Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 17 of 31 passes for 214 yards and three touchdown throws.
Mitchell joins a select group of CFL quarterbacks to lead their teams to a playoff win five straight years. Ron Lancaster, Russ Jackson, Doug Flutie and Tracy Ham are the others.