The Calgary Stampeders left Investors Group Field with a 33-18 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday to hand the Bombers their sixth straight loss at home. In the Stamps’ second victory of the season, both of which have come against the Blue and Gold, Calgary scored 19 points off of four Blue Bombers’ turnovers.

With the Week 5 triumph, Bo Levi Mitchell has now won 30 of his first 38 starts in the CFL. 

A 63-yard rouge off the foot of Rob Maver closed out Calgary’s opening possession before Winnipeg’s Weston Dressler hauled in a 16-yard reception on the Blue Bombers’ first play from scrimmage.

Justin Medlock then attempted a field goal from 47 yards out and managed to split the uprights for an early 3-1 lead. 

The speedy Greg Wilson, inserted into the starting lineup in place of the injured Joe West, then made a first-down reception which immediately preceded a Marquay McDaniel pickup of 23 yards. But a Bakari Grant fumble ended the drive prematurely, as the host side made the quick recovery deep inside their own territory.

However, Dressler would return the favour just three plays later, as veteran defensive back Fred Bennett dislodged the ball from the receiver’s grasp.

Immediately afterwards, Jerome Messam broke a series of tackles while rumbling for a 15-yard romp. Mitchell then found McDaniel who had broke free from coverage as the Stamps scored their first major of the night. 

Giving the Red and White a seven-point advantage just prior to the initial quarter coming to a close was Rene Paredes, connecting from the 49-yard line.

Winnipeg’s second turnover of the contest came via a failed quarterback sneak on third-and-one near midfield. Soon thereafter, the first TD of the season for Anthony Parker was scored off a 29-yard catch-and-run to open up a two-touchdown advantage.

Ja’Gared Davis spun down Drew Willy for his first career sack and Paredes knocked through a 35-yard boot as the visitors took full control heading into halftime.

A Medlock field goal of 42 yards narrowed the deficit to 14 points in the early stages of the third quarter. He would then tack on a punt single minutes later.

With less than two minutes remaining in the frame, the Blue Bombers’ defence picked off Mitchell on a touchdown toss intended for Simon Charbonneau-Campeau when Kevin Fogg leaped up to bring down the interception. However, the Calgary would prevent any damage on the scoreboard.

Willy’s deep heave to Darvin Adams went for 45 yards to move the Bomber offence into eventual field goal range as Winnipeg continued to gain ground on the Stampeders.

Dropping into coverage on the subsequent series was Joe Burnett, as the strong-side linebacker capitalized on an errant Willy pass for a timely pick-six. The interception marked the end of the evening for Willy who was replaced by backup quarterback Matt Nichols when the offence returned to the field.

The switch proved to be effective in short order, as Nichols hooked up with Dressler for both an 18-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion. With just over seven minutes remaining, Calgary led 26-18.

A driving catch by Grant at the Blue Bombers’ seven-yard line not only took the clock down to the three-minute warning, but also put Mitchell over the 300-yard passing mark. Charbonneau-Campeau would put the game out of reach by beating CJ Roberts in the back of the end zone.

Next up for the Stampeders is a home date with the BC Lions at 8 pm MDT on Friday, July 29.