Rene Paredes kicks five field goals as Stampeders get past Roughriders

Davis had three sacks and Hughes had two as the Stampeders improved to 11-1-1 and clinched a playoff berth. They also set a CFL record for 16 consecutive wins against a divisional opponent.

Saskatchewan slipped to 6-6.

“Just to be clear, (Saskatchewan’s) offence didn’t struggle today,” Hughes said. “We completely shut it down.”

Calgary’s offence wasn’t necessarily sparkling, but it consistently moved the ball thanks to running back Jerome Messam, who helped set up all five of Rene Paredes’ field goals.

Messam rushed for 127 yards on 23 carries. He wasn’t a lock to play in this game after he suffered a vicious hit to his head the week previous.

“He has been fighting it all year… he really wanted to play today,” said Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson.

“It was a game where a running back could have a decent game because they basically committed to taking away the pass. It was important for us to have that hammer inside and he played well.”

Saskatchewan quarterback Kevin Glenn, who sat out last week’s game with a sore right (throwing) hand, returned to the starting lineup and was under pressure much of the game. He completed 12-of-19 pass attempts for 127 yards and was intercepted once.

Trailing 15-2 midway through the fourth quarter, Brandon Bridge replaced Glenn and rallied the Riders. Bridge hooked up with Devon Bailey for a 14-yard touchdown to make it a six-point game with about five minutes remaining.

The next time Bridge got his hands on the football, he marched the Riders into Calgary territory. That’s when the Stampeders’ defence made the game’s biggest play.

“They were driving pretty good later in the game when Bridge came into the game,” Hughes said. “We knew we had to step it up and do something about it and we did and we shut them down.”

Davis again found his way to the quarterback and while he was taking Bridge to the turf he stripped the ball and recovered it to secure the victory.

Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell said his team’s victory wasn’t a flashy one, but still counted for an important two points nonetheless.

“Saskatchewan plays very well at home and they play with momentum, their fans are into it all day,” he said. “We did a heck of a job stopping that today. We didn’t allow them to get rolling. It wasn’t our biggest and best game, but we played smart, manageable football and pulled it out.

“Stat-wise and touchdown-wise it might not be there today. Our all-stars aren’t there and guys were stepping up and playing football.”

Mitchell completed 24-of-32 pass attempts for 222 yards.

The Riders had won five of their previous seven games and a win on Sunday could have moved them into a tie for third place in the division. Nonetheless, the Riders are very much in a position to challenge for a post-season berth.

“We’re a playoff team right now,” offered offensive lineman Derek Dennis. “The direction this team is going, people are starting to respect us as a football team. That might be the only win we could take away from this game. We wanted another W, but we’ll get another crack at them in October.”

Calgary will host Montreal next week, while the Riders will travel to Ottawa.

Craig Slater, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Rene Paredes kicks five field goals as Stampeders get past Roughriders

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