The Calgary Stampeders (5-11) hosted the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-11) on Friday night from McMahon Stadium in their third and final meeting of the season. In their first two meetings, neither team won at home until Friday night.
In addition, both teams came into this game on losing streaks. The Stampeders were on a three-game losing streak, while Saskatchewan lost their last five games. Both teams were vying for a playoff spot. In all honesty, neither team deserves to go to the playoffs, and this game proved it.
In the first quarter, there was a lot of two-and-outs. Both defenses made quick work, and there was not a lot of action. On the final play of the first quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala completed a 19-yard pass to Shawn Bane Jr. before he was tackled on the Stampeders’ 28-yard line. The game remained scoreless at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Ryan Meskell scored the first points of the game with a 34-yard field goal. It was 3-0 Saskatchewan with 13:02 left. Later in the second quarter, Saskatchewan running back Jamal Morrow found an open hole for a gain of 20 yards.
Next, quarterback Jake Dolegala threw two passes for 48 yards, including a 30-yard pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker. Three plays later, Saskatchewan running back Jamal Morrow rushed for an 11-yard touchdown that made it 10-0 with 6:39 left of the second quarter.
Late in the second quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Ryan Meskell kicked a 38-yard field goal for a 13-0 lead with 2:24 left. Calgary finally got on the board with 1:22 left after Saskatchewan gave up a safety which made it 13-2 Roughriders. On the final play, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes kicked a 45-yard field goal that made it 13-5 Saskatchewan at halftime.
Saskatchewan had 212 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 10 of 14 passes (71.4%) for 151 yards and two carries for 84 yards. Running back Jamal Morrow had a good first half with nine carries for 58 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. made four catches for 68 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense made one sack.
Calgary had 88 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 9 of 18 passes (50%) for 86 yards. Running back Peyton Logan had two carries for eight yards. Calgary’s running game had five carries for 10 yards, and wide receiver Floyd Allen made two catches for 22 yards. Calgary’s defense made one sack.
In the third quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Ryan Meskell kicked his third field goal of the night for 43 yards which made it 16-5 with 9:10 left. The turning point of this game came on third down. Calgary punter Cody Grace punted the ball 51 yards into the direction of Mario Alford. Alford fumbled the ball which was recovered by Calgary on the Roughriders’ 15-yard line.
The turnover would lead to a Jake Maier 15-yard touchdown pass to Floyd Allen that made it 16-12 with 6:24 left. It was Allen’s first career CFL touchdown.
Later in the third quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala tried to throw a pass to Shawn Bane Jr. but it was intercepted by Cameron Judge for a pick-six 34-yard touchdown. Calgary took their first lead 19-16 with 1:15 left. On the final play of the third quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala was sacked by Mike Rose. Calgary led 19-16 with one quarter left to play.
In the fourth quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Ryan Meskell converted a 19-yard field goal which tied the game 19-19 with 14:21 left. The game remained tied until Calgary backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored a one-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak for a 26-19 lead with 4:33 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala needed to convert a 3rd and 15 but decided to run the ball but was well short of the first down. Saskatchewan’s offense fell apart in the final three minutes of the game and the Stampeders won the game 26-19.
The win snaps Calgary’s three-game losing streak, while Saskatchewan’s losing streak reaches six games. Both teams made sloppy plays in this game. It felt like neither of them wanted to win.
At one point, before the second half started, Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson called out his guys for their performance and suggested that a lot of them wouldn’t be on the team next year if they didn’t win this game. However, they did and Calgary is still alive for a playoff spot.
Calgary had 208 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 17 of 29 passes (58.6%) for 184 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Ka’Deem Carey had nine carries for 32 yards, and five catches for 45 yards, and wide receiver Luther Hakunavanhu made two catches for 47 yards. Calgary’s defense made 52 tackles, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Saskatchewan had 378 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 23 of 33 passes (69.7%) for 272 yards, one interception, and five carries for 22 yards. Running back Jamal Morrow had 17 carries for 86 yards, one touchdown, and four catches for 32 yards.
Saskatchewan wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. made seven catches for 103 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense made 29 tackles and one sack.
Next Friday, the Calgary Stampeders visit the B.C. Lions at 10 pm on CFL+, while the Roughriders host the Toronto Argonauts next Saturday at 4 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
