Through two quarters at TD Place Stadium, the Calgary Stampeders trail the Ottawa RedBlacks 13-10.

Three straight completions to Greg Ellingson got the RedBlacks offence off to a hot start before a short Chris Williams crossing route put the first points on the board. The two-point conversion attempt was no good following the 10-play, 87-yard scoring drive.

Calgary would respond two possessions later with a 35-yard touchdown toss from Bo Levi Mitchell to Marquay McDaniel, although Paredes was wide left on his one-point convert try. As a result, the game remained tied with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter.

The TD pass from Mitchell set a new franchise record for the Stamps, as the third-year starter has now thrown at least one touchdown in 18 straight games.

When the Stampeders defence returned to the turf, Charleston Hughes stripped Ottawa QB Trevor Harris of the ball, enabling Micah Johnson to fall on the loose ball and recover the fumble.

Despite favourable field position to begin the series, Calgary was only able to muster a single point due to Paredes’ errant 39-yard field goal.

But the RedBlacks would quickly regain their early lead when Williams beat Fred Bennett out in the flat and raced down the sideline all alone with blazing speed. The 52-yard score gave Ottawa a five-point advantage.

It then went from bad to worse for the Stamps as Connor Williams tipped a Mitchell pass up in the air that David Hinds would haul in for his first career interception.

Returning the favour shortly thereafter was rookie defensive back Tommie Campbell of the Stampeders, picking off Harris in the end zone for the team’s first interception of 2016.

To close out the half, Paredes knocked through a chip-shot field goal to pull within three of the RedBlacks before heading to the locker room.