The Calgary Stampeders continued their spectacular comeback season Monday with a 28-7 victory over the Edmonton Elks within the Labour Day Traditional.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a landing cross to Dominque Rhymes. Tailback Dedrick Mills quietly rushed for 106 yards on 17 carries. The diminutive Erik Brooks scored the primary return landing of his CFL profession.
And on defence, the Stampeders piled up 4 sacks and saved their northern rivals out of the tip zone all afternoon.
“This defence is hard to kill — we don’t surrender many touchdowns,” stated Calgary defensive finish Folarin Orimolade. “If we proceed to do this — and proceed to go penalty-free — we’ll go far.”
The Elks had their three-game successful streak halted they usually stay within the West Division basement with a document of 4-7.
With the win, the Stampeders (8-3) keep second place within the West Division, simply two factors again of the first-place Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-2).
Not unhealthy for a Calgary staff that completed final yr with the worst document within the CFL (5-12-1) — after 18 consecutive seasons of reaching the playoffs.
A type of losses got here within the Labour Day Traditional, a 35-20 loss to the Elks that head coach/basic supervisor Dave Dickenson labelled as “embarrassing.”
What a distinction a yr makes. On Monday, the Stampeders gave the gang of 27,764 cause to get together on a sizzling summer season afternoon within the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.
The Stampeders opened the scoring at 5:52 of the primary quarter with a 22-yard strike to veteran Rhymes deep in the long run zone. As soon as the officers introduced a penalty on the play — unlawful contact on Edmonton — Fast Six, the landing horse, took off on a victory lap across the subject at McMahon Stadium.
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Vincent Blanchard cut up the uprights twice for Edmonton, lacking one from 32 yards. Rene Paredes kicked two subject targets for Calgary.
Halfway via the third quarter, Brooks fielded an Edmonton punt, ran to his proper, reduce to his left and roared 86 yards down the sphere via a sea of white jerseys to present Calgary a commanding 20-7 lead.
‘I really feel prefer it’s a privilege,” Brooks stated. “Not everybody on the staff will get the chance to have the ball of their palms and make issues occur.”
From there, the vaunted Calgary defence made issues occur — shutting down Elks’ quarterback Cody Fajardo and clogging the operating lanes for tailback Justin Rankin.
It received so unhealthy that the Elks went two-and-out on 4 straight possessions within the second half.
Quarterback Quincy Vaughn plunged for a one-yard landing at 4:49 of the fourth quarter. Mills added a two-point convert to spherical out the scoring.
In opposition to a stingy Edmonton defence, Adams Jr. put up mediocre numbers — by his lofty requirements — with 13-of-23 cross completions for 162 yards.
“It’s a bizarre feeling for me,” Adams Jr. stated. ‘We received the win. It’s good. However I really feel like I let my staff down.
“I simply wish to get higher for these guys. They work too onerous. All of us work too onerous for me to play like that. Simply thanks to my defence, having my again as at all times.”
The passing numbers didn’t matter on the scoreboard for the Stampeders, who at the moment are 6-0 towards West Division opponents.
“We’re OK with the grind,” Dickenson stated. “We knew it was going to be sizzling. The fellows simply saved grinding and simply saved working. It wasn’t good by any means.”
With just one:26 on the clock, Calgary linebacker Jacob Roberts stripped the ball from Fajardo simply because the veteran quarterback cocked his arm again to throw on the Calgary 10.
It was that type of day for the Elks, who’ve but to beat a Western opponent this season.
“I received hit on the bottom of my arm,” stated Fajardo, who accomplished 21-of-33 passes for 255 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. “It can most likely simply be a bruise. We’ll see how I get up tomorrow.
“However I by no means really feel good after video games, and I don’t anticipate feeling good after this one.”
UP NEXT
The annual Labour Day rematch is scheduled for Saturday at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
