EDMONTON – Rene Paredes struck for five field goals, including one from 50 yards, as the Calgary Stampeders won their second game over the hapless Edmonton Eskimos in a five-day span, coming away with a 22-12 victory on Friday night.
The Stampeders, who won the first half of the Labour Day double-dip 37-34 on Monday, have now won three in a row to improve to 8-2.
The sorry season continues for the Eskimos (1-9) who have lost eight in a row, the second worst start in team history after a 1-10 launch in 1971.
Edmonton’s hard luck to start games continued early, as Cary Koch fumbled a punt return and Stampeder Ben D’Aguilar pounced on it at the Eskimos 21-yard line. The error quickly turned into an 11-yard TD pass from Stamps starter Bo Levi Mitchell to Jon Cornish for a 7-0 Calgary lead less than four minutes into the game.
Koch would leave the game with a knee injury later in the first quarter.
Both teams remained off the scoreboard until Edmonton got a single five minutes into the second quarter on a 36-yard field goal miss by Hugh O’Neill.
The Eskimos’ defence came up with a much-needed big play as Chris Thompson picked off a Mitchell pass and returned it 27 yards to the Calgary 27. The Eskimos were able to make the most of the turnover as John White took it in from the one to take an 8-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Calgary responded on its next possession with a 42-yard Paredes field goal.
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Edmonton’s defence forced another turnover deep in Calgary territory with three minutes left in the first half as Matt Walter fumbled and linebacker Damaso Munoz jumped on the ball at the Calgary 33. However, O’Neill was off target again as he missed a 24-yard field goal to make for a 10-9 Calgary lead at the half.
The Stamps added to their lead with a 34-yard field goal by Paredes midway through the third quarter to make it 13-9.
Paredes kicked his third field goal from 37 yards out to start the fourth quarter and put the Stampeders up by seven points.
Edmonton got a bit of a break three minutes into the fourth when quarterback Mike Reilly was ruled to have been down on a fumble at the Calgary 39-yard line after a video review overturned what was originally thought to be a fumble recovery for the Stamps. Edmonton could have tied the game, but White dropped a perfect pass on his way into the end zone. The Eskimos settled for a 14-yard O’Neill field goal.
Calgary restored its advantage with six minutes remaining as Paredes hit for a 50-yard field goal to make it 19-12. It was the longest field goal in the CFL this season.
Paredes added a 42-yarder with two minutes left to put the game out of reach.
The Stampeders suit up again next Friday when they play host to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Edmonton remains at home to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Saturday.
Notes:
Edmonton’s worst start in team history was in 1971 when they went 1-10 before winning their next five
The Eskimos lost their previous five games by a combined 15 points, and their last three games were three-point losses
Eskimos GM Ed Hervey publicly dressed down his squad after Monday’s loss in Calgary, focusing much of his ire on offensive lineman Simeon Rottier. He was replaced on the line by Cliff Louis as Edmonton went with the rarity of three import linemen and three rookies
Edmonton finally saw the return of receiver Adarius Bowman, who has not been able to suit up in a regular season game since Week 2 of the 2012 season due to injuries
The Stampeders had offensive lineman Edwin Harrison and defensive lineman Etienne Legare come off the nine-game disabled list in time for the game
Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell made his second start of the season with normal starter Kevin Glenn still smarting from a knee injury
Calgary general manager and head coach John Hufnagel coached his 100th game with the club. Only Wally Buono has coached that many games for the Stampeders.
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