Improving to 7-1-1 on the season was the Calgary Stampeders with a 30-24 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from McMahon Stadium on Sunday night.

Hamilton’s Zach Collaros threw for 432 yards and had a pair of receivers break the 100-yard plateau, but Bo Levi Mitchell of the Stampeders located eight different receivers and linebacker Deron Mayo recorded 10 tackles.

“We expected Hamilton to play well and I think they did,” said head coach Dave Dickenson. “Our guys, I thought, made more plays. I thought our discipline was there and we didn’t turn the ball over. It’s hard to beat us when we’re playing good, disciplined, smart football, fundamentally sound and (with) guys making plays.”

Both sides were forced to punt on their initial drives, although Hamilton’s punt attempt was blocked by reserve receiver DaVaris Daniels. The ball was recovered by the Ticats, but the loss of 12 yards on third down gave possession to Calgary on Hamilton’s 43-yard line.

After the turnover, three first downs through the air courtesy of Bakari Grant, Lemar Durant and Daniels preceded a 13-yard field goal from Rene Paredes.

On Hamilton’s next series, Collaros connected with Terrence Tolliver on back-to-back plays for a total of 64 yards. The 15-play sequence eventually concluded with a 21-yard touchdown toss to Tolliver as he tumbled out of the end zone.

Calgary wasted no time in answering back, as Mitchell threw a perfect pass down the sideline for Daniels, who raced his way to six points just seconds later with a 76-yard reception.

With less than eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, Ja’Gared Davis came around the edge and delivered a punishing blow to Collaros’ blind side on second-and-three. The Stampeders offence then returned to the turf to see Jerome Messam and Anthony Parker move the chains, but the unit soon stalled. Paredes’ kick of 17 yards gave the hosts a 13-7 advantage.

Shortly thereafter, the Stamps placekicker booted through a 41-yard attempt to conclude the scoring in the opening half.

Brett Maher’s 47-yard try spilt the uprights in the early stages of the third frame to pull within six points.

A 24-yard pickup by Marquay McDaniel set up the Stampeders at the three-yard line before the third quarter expired, and Messam busted his way across the goal line to begin the fourth. The two-point covert was scored by Grant to create a 14-point lead.

Parker then made his presence felt with a reception of 26 yards which helped pave the way Paredes’ fourth field goal of the evening.

The Tiger-Cats accumulated 43 yards with a Chad Owens catch-and-run and Tolliver would score his second TD of the contest in a five-play, 77-yard drive, but the two-point conversion fell incomplete.

A late major by Luke Tasker brought the visitors to within three points, although the Ticats ensuring onside kick sailed out of bounds and Calgary added a 45-yard field goal to claim victory.

The Red and White will next host the Edmonton Eskimos in the annual Labour Day Classic on Monday afternoon. The long-standing provincial rivalry gets going at 1 p.m. MDT.