CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders clinched a playoff spot in Week 16 with a 38-16 win over the Toronto Argonauts, but the biggest story of the game was the way their receivers stepped up to fill the void left by injuries to Kamar Jorden, DaVaris Daniels and Eric Rogers.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season despite working with an injury-depleted receiving corps and having to overcome the loss of Reggie Begelton to injury in the opening quarter.
“The depth is being tested and guys are responding, that’s the beauty part about it,” Mitchell said after the win. “It’s not easy to see your brothers go down like that. None of them are hamstring tweaks or pulled quads, they’re all like season ending type injuries and that’s what’s really being detrimental to us right now. But we have faith in our guys, and the other guys stepped up.”
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Marken Michel scored two touchdowns against the Argos, with a 36-yard rushing score and a 21-yard touchdown reception, while receivers Juwan Brescacin, Julan Lynch and Markeith Ambles each came up with big plays at key moments for the Stamps. All three receivers had plays of over 30 yards against the Argos, and Brescacin added a five-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Lynch had two big plays of 40 and 22 yards in the second half, showing Calgary fans just how much depth the team truly has at receiver.
“Julan doesn’t get a lot of reps,” Mitchell said. “He does a lot of scout team and special teams, and he was ready to go and came in and made two really big plays tonight.”
Head coach Dave Dickenson was concerned to lose another important player in Begelton, but said he was impressed with the effort the rest of the group showed to make up for the added loss.
“We’re running out of guys, but let’s talk about the guys that stepped up,” Dickenson said. “Brescacin first off, that’s two weeks in a row he’s been outstanding. And Julan Lynch finally gets a shot to make a play and does it.”
Although Calgary’s passing offence was still productive while facing serious injury adversity, Mitchell was still frustrated after the game over missed opportunities and points left on the field.
“The timing was off a lot,” Mitchell said. “We missed some very easy touchdowns and things that were frustrating me very much. But I gotta chalk it up just to me and those guys getting a couple more throws together, you know being used to how other guys run their routes and who I’ve been throwing to all season. I gotta adjust for what those guys do and what they’re good at.”
Moving forward, Mitchell and his group of receivers will work on building chemistry and developing the kind of timing that had become second nature with players like Jorden.
“None of those guys had any reps of any of those plays tonight, so it was not easy for them,” Mitchell added. “I have to adjust on the fly and make sure that I’m giving them easier throws to go out there and make plays.”
With an 11-2 record and the league’s first playoff spot locked up this season, the Stamps are firmly in the driver’s seat in the West division. Even more impressive is that the team has now clinched a playoff spot for a club-record 14th straight season.
“It is a great accomplishment, especially in Week 13,” Dickenson said. “If you’re in the dance, you have a chance to win it.”
Calgary will look to make it three straight wins when they travel to take on the Montreal Alouettes in Week 17.
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