Stampeders win 14th straight by beating Argos; go 9-0 at McMahon Stadium

“Talking to a lot of the vets, they say that they’ve never had anything like this. It’s exciting just to be a part of this team and to be a part of this. This is history and we’ve got one more to go and then get ready for the playoffs.”

Rene Paredes kicked three field goals for the Stampeders (15-1-1), who won their 14th straight game and extended their unbeaten streak to 16 in a row.

“A lot of people are saying that it’s going to be tough to keep the foot on the gas pedal but I really feel like our guys’ effort,” said rookie Calgary coach Dave Dickenson.

“We’re a little bit loose on our execution and maybe the details of things, but the guys just keep winning and it’s not easy. I know Toronto needed that win and the guys just keep plugging away and gave me a great win.”

Andrew Buckley ran for his eighth touchdown of the season — and third in as many games — in the second quarter to tie the single-season record for TDs by a Canadian quarterback. Russ Jackson also had eight touchdowns in 1962 for the Ottawa Rough Riders.

“It’s pretty crazy in my first year,” said Buckley. “I’m just thankful to be getting the opportunities down there. I really appreciate that the coaches are letting me run the ball down there and I think that’s super cool.”

Brandon Whitaker caught a touchdown pass from Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray, while Lirim Hajrullahu kicked a pair of field goals for the Argonauts (5-12), who needed a win over the Stamps and a loss by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to remain in CFL playoff contention.

“It’s been a tough go,” said Ray, who completed 28-of-42 passes for 311 yards. “It feels like we’re so close, but just aren’t able to get it done. We had some opportunities out there. We just couldn’t offensively get it in the end zone for touchdowns and had to settle for field goals.”

Unfortunately for the Argos, they were eliminated before the first half even ended due to Hamilton’s 39-36 overtime win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

“It’s frustrating,” said Toronto coach Scott Milanovich. “I found out at halftime that Hamilton had come back and won. It’s been a tough year. I felt like we played a little bit better tonight. We were down there on the two-yard line a couple times where we could have made it a closer game and maybe put some pressure on them, but it wasn’t to be.”

The Stamps took a 3-0 lead after a 32-yard field goal by Paredes at 3:39 of the first quarter.

The Argos answered right back two minutes later when Ray tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Whitaker to cap off a five-play, 75-yard drive.

Paredes kicked a 37-yard field goal late in the opening quarter before Mitchell engineered a seven-play, 90-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard TD run by Buckley early in the second. Lemar Durant then hauled in a short pass from Mitchell for a two-point convert to give the Stamps a 14-7 lead.

The teams then traded field goals before halftime. Paredes kicked his third of the game from 48 yards out before Hajrullahu connected on a 10-yard chip shot with 16 seconds left on the clock.

Hajrullahu booted another field goal from 15 yards out early in the third quarter before Daniels hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell on Calgary’s next drive to put the Stamps up 24-13.

Daniels then caught another pass from Mitchell deep in the Toronto end zone at 5:47 of the fourth quarter to round out the scoring.

“Bo just put them both in perfect spots,” said Daniels. “I just had to run down there and catch them.”

Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Stampeders win 14th straight by beating Argos; go 9-0 at McMahon Stadium

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