Football

Chorus of Boo-Birds: Calgary Stampeders Sink Argonauts With Furious Fourth Quarter, Ineffective Offensively

Nero Scofield

After a tough loss in Ottawa and facing the challenges of a short week and travel disruptions due to forest fires, the Calgary Stampeders had a lot to prove as they prepared for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts in front of just over 19,000 fans at McMahon Stadium.

By halftime, the home team was booed off the field, trailing 22-6. Their offense struggled, managing just two long field goals, three punts, and two turnovers—one fumble and one interception.

This criticism from the crowd was something the Stampeders heard as they headed to the locker room, and there were complaints among players who had been perfect at home until that point.

“We earned it, and while it upset everyone, it’s the reality. We weren’t playing well,” head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said after the game, addressing his halftime message. “We just needed to stop talking and increase our physical play.”

The Stampeders responded with determination, restricting the Argonauts to only one point in the second half and scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 27-23 victory.

With this win, the Stampeders improved to a 4-4 record for the season, putting them just one game behind the West Division leaders, the B.C. Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders, both of whom lost this week.

Here are my key takeaways from the game:

Sack Attack

Heading into the weekend, the Stampeders had the lowest sack total in the league, with only eight in their first seven games. They significantly improved this stat by sacking Argonauts quarterback Cameron Dukes six times.

Mike Rose recorded two sacks and credited his teammates for the improved performance. “My defensive ends are outstanding, and they excelled today. I benefited from their hard work,” he said.

James Vaughters, Clarence Hicks, Julian Howsare, and Justin Sambu also contributed to sacking Dukes. Notably, Sambu, who had been drafted by the Argonauts earlier this year before joining the Stampeders three weeks ago, made his impact felt.

No Breaks for the Defense

Last week, I criticized the defense for their inability to get off the field against the Redblacks. This week, they forced eight punts and secured two late turnovers that helped seal the win.

One turnover came on a third-down play, knocked down at the line by Julian Howsare. The other occurred in the final moments when Demerio Houston grabbed his third interception of the season.

The Calgary defense kept former Stampeders running back Ka’Deem Carey to just 31 yards on eight carries, with a maximum gain of seven yards. Dukes found some success on the ground, rushing for 95 yards with three runs over 10 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown after shaking a defender in the backfield.

In the air, however, Dukes managed only 177 yards, completing 18 of 26 attempts.

Maier Breaks Out of Slump

Jake Maier threw for 287 yards on 26-of-37 passing, with two touchdowns and one interception. While these numbers may not seem dazzling, they represented a step forward after a shaky start marked by inaccuracies and dropped passes.

A promising opening drive ended in a fumble deep in the Argonauts’ territory, which required a challenge to confirm. Playing against a team that led the league in sacks added to the pressure, especially after the Stampeders allowed four sacks to Ottawa last week and had to shuffle their offensive line.

This narrative troubled Maier. “I dislike the idea that last week was something to be upset about. I’ve always thought our team performed well, and we did so again tonight,” he stated.

Maier even avoided a sack by throwing the ball to offensive tackle D’Antne Demery, who made the catch and gained three yards, though still short of the first down—marking his first career reception.

Echols Shines Again

Cameron Echols has had several standout performances this season, and his catch against the Argonauts in the fourth quarter is sure to be featured in highlight reels for the 2024 season.

Echols made an impressive catch over a defender, securing a 40-yard pass from Jake Maier and landing at the two-yard line without being touched. He quickly got back up to cross the goal line.

“That was unbelievable,” Maier remarked. “It’s a game of inches. I felt I put enough on the throw, but as it descended, I saw the DB closing in. He just barely missed it, and Cam did what he does best.”

Tommy Stevens Remains Unstoppable

The Stampeders benefit from the reliable play of Tommy Stevens, who adds depth to their roster. The third-string quarterback is extremely effective in short-yardage situations and was called to run the ball nine times in this game, converting eight of those into first downs.

The only time he was stopped was on a second-and-short situation, but he secured the first down on the following play, keeping his perfect record intact for the season on third downs.

Maier expressed how reassuring it is to know that if they gain eight yards or more on the first two downs, they’re likely to keep the drive alive. “If we’re efficient on first down, we’re going to be tough to beat,” he said. “I’d even extend that to when facing second and three due to his value.”

Paredes Maintains Perfection

Rene Paredes had another stellar performance, continuing his perfect streak this season with four successful field goals, all from 43 yards or longer. He remains flawless at 23-of-23 on the season and added an important 100-yard kickoff single, matching Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu’s opening play effort.

Despite challenging winds at McMahon Stadium, both kickers made their attempts, and the punters effectively adjusted to maximize their distances.

A Lighthearted Moment

In the fourth quarter, the Stampeders faced a rare penalty for an objectionable conduct infraction after a player inadvertently impeded an official on the sidelines. Without the broadcast to clarify, I could only speculate about the circumstances, but there was a noticeable delay in resuming play, which made me wonder if a player might be ejected.

However, the actual delay stemmed from the official’s difficulty in finding the flag they had thrown to signal the penalty. The wind, which was carrying kickoffs over 100 yards, picked the flag up and sent it into the stands.

A fan who caught the flag enjoyed a moment of fun, spinning it overhead before wisely handing it to a police officer, allowing the game to continue. While it’s common for players to toss balls into the stands for fans, this is the first time I’ve seen an official attempt it.

Looking Forward to Next Week

While there were explanations provided for Calgary’s loss in Ottawa due to timing, travel, and the quick turnaround, there will be no such reasoning this week when the Stampeders face the same team again in Toronto during Week 10.

If Calgary can secure a win on the road, it would mark their first away victory of the season and could indicate that their rebuilding process is on track.

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