Jeff McIntosh/THE CANADIAN PRESS
CALGARY – They say that you need all three facets of the game running on all cylinders to push for a win but it’s rare to get full contributions from each.
That wasn’t the case for the Calgary Stampeders on Mark’s Labour Day Weekend, who used their special teams, defence and offence to surge to their seventh straight win. The latest, a 45-24 victory over the rival Edmonton Eskimos, pushed the team to 8-1-1, good enough for the best record in the CFL.
The Stamps hold the best marks for points scored and allowed, a testament to what many are calling one of the most complete teams in the league. In Monday afternoon’s win, Roy Finch returned a punt all the way for a touchdown, defensive back Jamar Wall picked off Mike Reilly twice and Bo Levi Mitchell and Jerome Messam paced the offence to its largest output of the season.
The victory wasn’t without it’s concerns. After jumping out to a quick 21-0 lead, the Stamps let the Esks rally back and cut the deficit to just a touchdown. That’s as close as Edmonton would come, however, as Calgary put its foot back on the gas to put the game away. Wall’s two interceptions ended a pair of scoring threats as well.
Playing in his 100th career game, Messam recorded 110 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns to go along with 49 receiving yards. It was his final score, a 47-yard run with 2:36 remaining, that put the game away in favour of the Stamps.
Wideout Anthony Parker, in his sixth season with his hometown Stampeders, notched some career marks in what has been his best year to date. The 26-year-old already has career highs in total receptions and yardage halfway through the year, setting both in Monday’s victory. He needs just two more touchdowns this season for a new career high in that category.
Finch’s 85-yard punt return in the first quarter was the first of his career. He leads the league in net return yards and sits third in average yards with at 14.1. It can be tough to give the ball back to Mitchell and the offence but adding another threat on kickoffs can’t be fun for opposing teams.
After losing to the Eskimos in last year’s West Final, the Stampeders were able to exact revenge. The two teams square off again in next week’s rematch, this time at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The Stamps will need a complete game again to top the defending Grey Cup champions but have proven throughout the season they are capable of meeting the task.
