Stamps start to pull away with win on Labour Day

The Calgary Stampeders gained breathing room atop the CFL’s West Division with a 16-7 win over the Edmonton Eskimos in Monday’s Labour Day game. Calgary moved to 8-2 atop the division, while the Eskimos dropped to 6-4 in second spot. Calgary’s Greg Wilson had a touchdown catch. Rene Paredes kicked a trio of field goals with his third from 45 yards out late in the fourth quarter. Edmonton kicker Sean Whyte had two field goals and a punt single. The Stampeders extended their win streak against the Eskimos to 12 in a row, including four straight Labour Day victories. The rematch is Saturday in Edmonton. Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was 24 for 36 in passing for 251 yards and one touchdown throw. He was intercepted once. At 23-4, Mitchell surpassed Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Parker for the best record after 27 starts in the CFL. With the Stampeders up nine points, Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly went in early in the fourth quarter for his first action since tearing knee ligaments in Edmonton’s season-opener in Fort McMurray, Alta. The veteran was five for 12 in passing for 90 yards.

Roughriders 37, Blue Bombers 19

On Sunday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders recorded their first victory of the 2015 CFL season with a convincing 37-19 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium. It was the first career headcoaching win for Bob Dyce, who was named interim head coach Aug. 31 after Corey Chamblin and GM Brendan Taman were fired. Sunday’s victory was the 11th consecutive win for the Riders in the Classic and improved their record to 1-9 before 33,427 spectators. The Bombers fell to 3-7. The teams meet again on Saturday. Rookie quarterback Brett Smith guided the offence while completing 19 of 25 passes for 211 yards and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Smith.