Defensive Touchdowns Lead Stamps to Win
The Calgary Stampeders opened their second home game of the season, third game in total, in classic style dawning vintage 60's jerseys. Visiting were the 1-1 Toronto Argonauts coming off a recent loss to the Roughriders. Calgary, as you may recall, have yet to win a game this season--slow starts one of the big problems.
The Stamps were looking for sustained offense in the first half, instead they got a fumble. The usual sure handed Nik Lewis fumbled the ball after a couple of first downs. The Calgary D stood tall and when the offense came back on the field they marched all the way down for a major and 6 1/2 minutes of play time.
7-0 Stamps.
The second quarter the offense sputtered and bit and they once again abandoned the run....well they didn't quite abandon it since you would have to 'find' the run before abandoning it in the first place--which they didn't do.
The D continued to stand tall preventing Toronto from scoring a major in the first half. The major problems were penalties and the big play which gave the Argos field position when they were stuck deep in their own end. Similarly the Toronto D did their part to limit Calgary's offense but Calgary managed two field goals to match Toronto in the second quarter.
Turnovers Galore in Second Half
The second quarter is where the penalties continued, but the D turned up big in the turnover category.
Calgary seemed to be getting a grip on the offensive game making big gains on 2nd and long twice. Once a 54 yard throw to Jermain Copeland, and another Ryan Thelwell catch and run for a 1st down. Just when you thought Calgary would pull away Henry Burris dropped the ball on a run and turned over the ball. That gave Toronto a chance to go from 9 to 17 instead of Calgary going to 27.
Toronto, once again penalty aided, wound up on the Calgary 30 yard line for the final play of the third quarter. Despite the clock reading 0:00 it took three plays to finish the third. Firstly Toronto gained off of penalties. Then, for the second time, Toronto lined up in a wild cat formation trying to get their first major of the game.
The series of pitches and confusion landed Kerry Joseph with the ball again but Dwaine Carpenter jumped in to force a fumble, pick up the ball, and rumble for a defensive score. Now it was 26-9 after the teams traded turnovers.
That set up a fourth quarter with the Stamps leading by 17; Toronto with the ball again after the defensive score.
On the very next series Kerry Joseph threw an interception that Dwight Anderson caught and returned in fashion all the way to the endzone. He even had time to jump into the stands, grab a beer and have a drink. 34-9 Stamps.
Although there are aspects of the game that need to be addressed (ground game, penalties) the Stamps had positives (forced turnovers, no majors scored against, great pressure on the QB) and cobbled together a convincing win.
After the Carpenter touchdown both offenses went quiet with only a field goal from automatic-Sandro. However, the defense was not done. Maybe there was bet on the sidelines but the D wanted to score more majors than the offense. Operating from their own 1 yet again, Kerry Joseph threw another interception to Brandon Browner who rumbled in 25 yards for yet another major.
The defense might have got yet another (the fourth?!) TD after Dwaine Carpenter recovered ANOTHER Joseph fumble. But alas he tripped over the 35 yard marker..... (but he won the Modova watch.)
Notes: Just like 2008, the defense has components where rebuilding is necessary due to rookies. Rodger Amadi would be this year's major weakness (this year's Calvin Bannister). Two returned turnovers for majors by the defence tied the offence in majors.
Next up the Stamps visit BC for a battle of the basement dwellers in the West.
