The Stampeders are taking the 2008 season seriously, serious enough to stop a number of dubious records including no wins in Skydome since 2001. Despite a slow first half the Stamps managed to put up points against the sporadic and inconsistent Argonauts.
First Half:
Joffrey Reynolds 4 carries in a full half and 4 yards to count for. No run game planned or executed in the first despite facing the worst run defence in the CFL. Mind you, that pretty much reflected the overall offensive capabilities of the Stampeders in the first 25 minutes.
Quick two and outs kept the defence on the field for almost an entire half. The Stamps longest running play by a RB came at the 3 minute warning in the second half. 34 passing yards for Burris in the first half.
It was almost a turn of events between the teams. Scoring mostly done by special teams (forced fumble deep in Argo territory that lead to a TD) and the defence, the defence limiting the capabilities of the Toronto offence. One of the only penalty aided foray into Toronto territory was negated by a Burris interception in the endzone.
Although the tape will show all the mistakes, fans will remember the last two minutes where Calgary managed two score a TD off an impossible over the shoulder 60 yard catch by Jermaine Copeland who rolled into the endzone. The score put Calgary up 20-13 and gave the offence some much points. (The difference in the game up to this point was the Vanderjat punt mistake that lead to a TD.)
Second Half: Calgary Responds
Calgary managed to get the offensive machine churning in the second half making long drives but unable to capitalize in the red-zone scoring field-goals. The defence continued to perform against a struggling Cody Pickett; people are still shaking their heads as to why the QB remained in the game (he was sporadic at best.)
Loose ball interference. A rarely called penalty was used after Henry Burris was hit and fumbled the ball. The ensuing scramble saw Calgary OL Armstrong pull a Argo defender out of the way and landed on the ball. Apparently you can't do this, however, APPARENTLY the penalty is automatic loss of ball. Toronto ball on the Calgary 30, and since they aren't a threat to score a major, it was a three point gain for T-dot.
The defense came up big at the end of the third when Dwight Anderson recovered a fumble in Toronto territory. Anderson was a force all game even knocking himself out in the early first quarter (himself yes.) Calgary quickly made the home team pay with a nice pump fake pass to Ryan Thelwell for his second TD as a Stamp.
Toronto responded with a promising drive yet poor discipline and a forced fumble recovered by Armour put the Calgary D on top again. Dangelis split the uprights to go 4 of 5 for the night and put the Stamps up 36-16.
Ben Sankey came on late in the forth to plunge for a score and cap another Calgary drive. Most of the subs entered the game at the 3 minute mark and Calgary took soul place of first division in the West and sits atop in the CFL.
Notes: Wes Lysack left the game early. The Stampeders no longer dress Richard Karikari despite his Canadian status. They would prefer to dress second year import Raymond (although he wasn't victimized long.) Mike Labinjo didn't make the trip after injuring his foot in practice. Summers drew into the line up with Jennings going back to the states on suspension.
