The Calgary Stampeders (2-3) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2) met for the second time this year on Saturday night from Mosaic Stadium. In their last meeting on June 24th, the Roughriders won a close game 29-26 in Calgary. Calgary looked to return the favor while the Roughriders aimed to win their third game in a row.
In the first quarter, Calgary punter Cody Grace punted the ball for 42 yards toward Mario Alford. Alford took off with a few great blocks in front of him for a 66-yard touchdown run. It was 7-0 Saskatchewan with 9:48 left. Later in the first quarter, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes made a 28-yard field goal to cut Saskatchewan’s lead to 7-3 with five seconds left. The Roughriders had the ball on their 45-yard line to begin the second quarter up 7-3.
In the second quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris threw two passes for 21 yards before the drive stalled. Kicker Brett Lauther made a 36-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead with 11:57 left. On Calgary’s next series, quarterback Jake Maier threw two passes for 26 yards before Rene Paredes made a 51-yard field goal. It was now 10-6 with ten minutes left.
Later in the second quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw four passes for 52 yards, while Dedrick Mills had one carry for six yards, and Tommy Stevens’s four-yard gain led them to the Roughriders’ seven-yard line. On the next play, Maier threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tommylee Lewis which put Calgary up 13-10 with 2:37 left.
Late in the second quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Luther Hakunavanhu. The score was now 20-10 Calgary at halftime.
Calgary had 228 yards on offense. Jake Maier completed (72.7%) for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Dedrick Mills had six carries for 19 yards, and Luther Hakunavanhu had four catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. The defense got to Harris three times.
Saskatchewan had 74 yards on offense. Trevor Harris completed 9 of 13 passes (69.2%) for 53 yards, running back Jamal Morrow had five carries for 18 yards, and Kendall Watson had three catches for 24 yards.
In the third quarter, Calgary returner Tommylee Lewis returned an Adam Korsak punt for a 76-yard touchdown but a holding penalty on Calgary wiped it off. Later, Calgary punter Cody Grace punted the ball for 60 yards toward Mario Alford. For the second time in this game, Alford turned on the jets for a 94-yard punt return touchdown which put the Roughriders back up 20-17 with 7:01 left. Calgary’s offense was not sharp in the third quarter. Saskatchewan controlled the quarter and had the ball on their 45-yard line to begin the fourth quarter up 20-17.
Saskatchewan failed to get a first down and punted the ball to Calgary. Calgary was on their 51-yard line when Jake Maier tried to throw a pass to Tre Odoms-Dukes but Deontai Williams intercepted it. Saskatchewan moved the ball to Calgary’s 46-yard line.
However, during the drive, Trevor Harris tried to avoid being tackled. In the process, he twisted his right knee and immediately went down holding it. The crowd went silent. Players from both sides waived to get the medical staff on the field to attend to Harris. Harris had to be helped onto the cart and left the stadium to a standing ovation with a towel covering his face.
The injury did not look good at all. Shea Patterson finished the drive. Brett Lauther attempted a 54-yard field goal but he missed wide right. Calgary returner Clark Barnes almost returned it for a touchdown until he was tackled by Lake Korte-Moore.
Calgary had great field position on Saskatchewan’s 24-yard line. Four plays later, Dedrick Mills rushed up the middle breaking two tackles for a three-yard touchdown for a 27-17 lead with 5:06 left. On Saskatchewan’s next drive, Mason Fine was the new quarterback. He took off for a gain of 24 yards on the second drive to Calgary’s 45-yard line. Four plays later, Fine dumped the ball to Jamal Morrow for a six-yard touchdown.
It was now 27-24 Calgary with 2:38 left. Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw a 39-yard pass to Reggie Begelton. The Stampeders made it to the Roughriders’ 26-yard line before Rene Paredes converted a 34-yard field goal for a 30-24 lead.
With under a minute left, Saskatchewan quarterback Mason Fine threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Tevin Jones. The crowd went nuts as the Roughriders took a 31-30 lead with 36 seconds left. Calgary needed to respond. Jake Maier threw a 22-yard pass to Luther Hakunavanhu. Two plays later, he threw an eight-yard pass to Tre Odoms-Dukes with seven seconds left.
Calgary kicker Rene Paredes then attempted a 50-yard field goal. Paredes had enough leg to make it which gave the Stampeders a thrilling 33-31 win.
This was another entertaining game to close out the week. Of course, we’ll see what the status is for Trevor Harris. The CFL can not afford to lose another quarterback given losing Jeremiah Masoli last week, and Matthew Shiltz on Thursday. There is a chance Harris is going to miss some time and expect Saskatchewan to sign a quarterback this week.
Calgary quarterback Jake Maier completed 26 of 37 passes (70.2%) for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Dedrick Mills had 11 carries for 36 yards and one touchdown. Wide receivers Luther Hakunavanhu and Reggie Begelton combined with eight catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Calgary’s defense allowed 300 yards, with 56 tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris completed 16 of 22 passes (72.7%) for 115 yards, and two carries for 18 yards. Mason Fine completed 6 of 8 passes (75%) for 116 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for 24 yards.
Running back Jamal Morrow had nine carries for 37 yards, eight catches for 63 yards, and one touchdown. Wide receivers Tevin Jones and Kendall Watson combined with nine catches for 127 yards and one touchdown. Saskatchewan’s defense allowed 360 yards with 50 tackles, one sack, and one interception.
Next Saturday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders visit the B.C. Lions at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network, while the Calgary Stampeders host the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
