VANCOUVER – The Calgary Stampeders have secured their spot within the playoffs, however head coach Dave Dickenson says there may be nonetheless loads to be finished. “We’re not even near the crew we may be.
VANCOUVER – The Calgary Stampeders have secured their spot within the playoffs, however head coach Dave Dickenson says there may be nonetheless loads to be finished.
“We’re not even near the crew we may be. We simply have to ensure we preserve bettering, “he mentioned Friday after his crew beat the BC Lions 33:23 to safe a spot within the postseason.
“Everybody who wins the Grey Cup improves over the course of the season by the playoffs, they do not keep static. When you keep static, somebody will overtake you. “
After beginning the 2021 season with 1-4, the Stampeders (7-6) have risen sharply in latest weeks and have gained 5 of their final six video games. The crew cannot breathe a sigh of reduction after making the playoffs, nevertheless, mentioned quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, particularly with one ultimate common season matchup in opposition to the league-topping Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“Now we have a tricky street forward of us, we all know that, everybody is aware of that. However from seven weeks in the past I am very pleased with this crew. However I am not completely satisfied,” he mentioned. “Now we have an extended approach to go, we now have loads to do. I am completely satisfied to be the underdog and I would like individuals to doubt us.”
There was little doubt on Friday night.
Mitchell threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns for the Stampeders and joined on 20 of 26 tries. Calgary kicker Rene Paredes scored two area targets within the third quarter, together with a 44-yarder.
BC’s Michael Reilly had 340 passing yards and a landing when his crew misplaced the seventh sport in a row. Nick Vogel added three area targets for the Lions in his hometown, together with a 39-yard strike, in his very first CFL sport.
The outcome formally eradicated the lackluster Lions (4-9) from the playoff competitors.
“It is powerful man. It is powerful,” mentioned BC recipient Jevon Cottoy.
“That wasn’t the plan for the season. However solely two seasons in a row not within the playoffs … it sucks. That is going to harm for the following couple of hours however we nonetheless have a sport to work tomorrow. Now we have one other sport forward of us so we simply need to preserve our heads up and give attention to the following sport. “
Lions followers started flocking to the exits a little bit over two minutes earlier than the tip of the sport after Reilly was fired a second time and Darnell Sakney regained the fumble on the BC’s 46-yard line.
“It is a sport with momentum. You form of held out, “mentioned Sakney.” It was a confidence enhance, I’d say. We are saying, ‘Okay, we all know we now have a sport to play, however they’ve a much bigger surge than earlier than.’ ”
Early within the quarter, Mitchell performed a brief go to Malik Henry and he sprinted 9 yards into the tip zone for Calgary’s fourth TD of the night time. Paredes managed to transform, placing the stamps on the clock at 33-23 in lower than 4 minutes.
Fortunate Whitehead appeared to provide the house aspect the lead with an 86-yard return TD halfway by the final body.
The quick receiver made a entrance flip into the tip zone earlier than the sector official known as Lions linebacker Josh Wooden for the maintain and fullback Mario Villamizar for the roughness.
“These errors should not occur,” mentioned Lions head coach Rick Campbell. “And alternatively, if you change into a crew that’s ok, you may be resilient sufficient to grasp a few of these issues. It is a twofold factor: we need to cease doing this stuff, and on the identical time, when one thing unhealthy occurs that we are able to endure and overcome. “
BC dropped 10 factors within the fourth quarter however refused to roll over.
Cottoy completed a 14-game, 91-yard drive with a courageous 12-yard dash, dodging two tackles earlier than diving into the tip zone. Vogel made the conversion and decreased Calgary’s result in 26:23.
Within the third quarter, the 2 groups exchanged area targets.
Paredes took a 44-yard kick to get the stamps to 26-13, and Vogel responded with a 37-yarder earlier than the tip of the quarter.
The Lions struggled with kicking all season, signing the 25-year-old American on November 2 after he was deserted by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens earlier than coaching camp.
The Stamps opened the second half with a 71-yard four-game scoring drive that ended with Ka’Deem Carey working in a 6-yard TD.
Regardless of the ultimate rating, the Lions saved tempo within the first half, opening the gate and protecting the hole down to simply three factors initially of half.
Reilly, nevertheless, didn’t need to console himself with that.
“If you’re eradicated from the playoffs, I do not suppose there may be something that can make you are feeling higher,” mentioned the veteran QB.
BC scored on the sport’s opening drive, with Reilly scoring 13 yards with Cottoy and Bryan Burnham with a 19-yard throw, whereas the Lions made regular progress on the sector with eight video games. Vogel topped the drive with a 13-yard area objective to provide BC an early 3-0 lead.
Calgary replied rapidly. Mitchell despatched a 38-yard missile throughout the sector to Begelton, then discovered Markeith Ambles extensive open ultimately zone for a two-yard TD go.
After just a few massive runs from James Butler’s working again, BC obtained a 39-yard area objective from Vogel to cut back their deficit to 7-6 on the finish of the primary quarter.
In the midst of the second, Reilly despatched a throw at Burnham ultimately zone, solely to see the ball slide off his fingers. BC challenged Richard Leonard for go interference and upon verification, the decision was lifted on the sector giving the Lions a primary down on the one yard line.
Nathan Rourke introduced the ball over the objective line for a landing and Vogel hit the convert to provide the house aspect a 13-7 lead.
Calgary leveled issues earlier than the tip of the quarter when Mitchell discovered Begelton ultimately zone for a 15-yard TD strike. Paredes’ conversion try sailed far previous the publish, nevertheless, leaving the rating knotted at 13-13.
A careless misstep by BC gave Calgary the lead at halftime.
The Lions had stopped the stamps in third place with only a few seconds on the clock, however have been known as for too many males. Calgary pushed the sector up earlier than Paredes hit a 35-yard area objective to lift his aspect 16-13 to finish the second.
BC will finish its season on November nineteenth when it hosts the Edmonton Elks. The Stampeders will finish their common season the next night time after they host the Bombers.
Notes: BC additionally missed the playoffs in 2019, the final time the CFL hosted a season. It’s the first time since 1990 that the membership has missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. … Burnham has had two receptions and now has at the least one in all 95 video games in a row. … The Stampeders are actually 18: 2 after a goodbye week from 2008.
This report from The Canadian Press was first revealed on November 12, 2021.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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