Calgary Outplayed, Outworked, Outclassed
How bad do you want it? Second place that is. Clearly the Calgary Stampeders knew the magnitude of the game being both the Labour Day Classic -- huge
Telus TV subscribers missed the first five minutes of the game as the noobs tried to figure out how to work their system. TSN blacked out the game but they brought it back on their alternate feed (so they never really technically blacked it out) but Telus TV does not provide subscribers with a TSN ALT feed. So you just sat there watching a blank screen ready to scream. Turns out, it wouldn't matter, as Edmonton dominated from the opening kick-off.
First Half: All Edmonton - Calgary no shows
Calgary managed one single sustained drive on their opening possession largely because they were victimized by a systematic Edmonton offence that picked apart the Calgary D churning up yards although only scoring points in the first half.
The defence would redeem themselves with two forced fumbles on the same Eskimo drive (one didn't count). Admittedly the D managed to make some stops in the second quarter, including the forced fumbles and interceptions, but had to stay on the field too long to keep Ricky Ray from finding open receivers.
The offence would not respond and in fact lost yards so basically Calgary scored one point (the offence conceded a safety and then only put 3 points on the turnover). Henry Burris on another two-and-out series was tackled for a loss and smashed his tow into the turf--the technical turf is 'turf toe'. That would mean Dave Dickenson would enter the game and face another Labour Day Classic--wouldn't have expected Dickenson in the game (nor did he).
Second Half:
It was Dave Dickenson to star the second half and he didn't waste time marching the team down the field. Only thing was, the dude didn't make a pass, it was run after run after run. He did his part drawing a roughing the passer penalty, but other than that it was all Reynolds (with some Cornish mixed in).
Calgary would score their only major of the game. On the ensuing possession Ricky Ray marched down the field, picking apart the Calgary D piece by pathetic piece scoring their own touchdown in response. Calgary got the ball back and what happens? Nate Curry, fresh off--well freshly signed--fumbled on the kickoff. Edmonton scores. Next kickoff Joffrey Reynolds returns--fumble AND knocked out. Edmonton scores.
TD after TD after TD. To put injury to insult Edmonton was hitting, knocking out players, hitting harder, scoring points, rushing QB's, injuring QB's, etc etc etc. Calgary was manhandled and destroyed and there's nothing to suggest they'll be able to recover for Friday. With QB's hurt, star RB, and more, there's a huge question mark on whether Calgary will go the way of BC.
