Stampeders stick it to struggling Blue Bombers
WINNIPEG — The Calgary Stampeders took advantage of three Winnipeg turnovers to score a trio of touchdowns en route to beating the Blue Bombers 33-18 on Thursday.
Receivers Marquay McDaniel and Anthony Parker each caught touchdown passes after Winnipeg turnovers and defensive back Joe Burnett intercepted Bombers quarterback Drew Willy and ran 34 yards into the end zone for another.
Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 29-of-41 pass attempts for 310 yards, three TDs and one interception to move the team’s record to 2-1-1.
The victory was Calgary’s 14th straight after a bye week and eighth straight in Winnipeg.
The Bombers fell to 1-4 in front of 24,677 fans at a hot, humid Investors Group Field. The team hasn’t won a game at home in its past six tries.
Winnipeg attempted another late comeback, similar to a failed attempt in a July 1 Calgary victory.
Willy was replaced by backup Matt Nichols midway in the fourth quarter and threw an 18-yard TD strike to Weston Dressler at 7:32. A two-point convert pass to Dressler was good and made the score 26-18.
However, Mitchell marched the Stamps down the field and connected with Bakari Grant on a 33-yard pass he dove for. That set up a five-yard TD catch in the back of the end zone by Simon Charbonneau-Campeau with 2:26 left.
Winnipeg kicker Justin Medlock was good on field goals from 46, 42 and 37 yards out and had a punt roll into the end zone for a single.
Willy was 23-of-33 passing for 234 yards, one interception and no TDS. Nichols was 9-of-15 for 88 yards, one TD and no picks.
Calgary scored its first two TDs of the game following Winnipeg turnovers.
McDaniel caught a 10-yard pass and took it to the end zone after a fumbled Bombers catch was recovered, while Parker had a 28-yard TD reception following a Winnipeg turnover on downs.
Calgary placekicker Rene Paredes connected on field goals from 49 and 34 yards. He missed two of his four convert attempts to give him five point-after misses this season. Rob Maver added a punt single for the Stamps.
Calgary led 10-3 after the first quarter and 20-3 at halftime.
The game’s scoring opened with Maver’s 63-yard punt single at 2:27 of the first quarter, followed two minutes later by Medlock’s 46-yarder for a 3-1 Bombers lead.
The team’s then exchanged turnovers in the first quarter on fumbled catches.