Opening With A Win!

JUNE 16, 2018

A rainy evening didn’t stop the Stampeders’ shine. After trailing by three at the half, they rallied for a 28-14 comeback win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in front of 23,717 fans at the Red & White’s home-opener Saturday night at McMahon Stadium. Kicker Rene Paredes put the Stamps on the board first, tallying three after capping off a 10-play opening drive with a 24-yard field goal. Shortly after, a Ti-Cats punt blocked by running back Charlie Power with five minutes left in the first began the Stamps’ second scoring drive of the night, with Paredes making it 6-0 after a 17-yard field goal. The Ti-Cats took the lead after a 13-yard rush from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ended with a touchdown. Lirim Hajrullahu followed up with a successful 32-yard convert kick to make it 7-6 Ti-Cats after the first quarter. It took 10 minutes before more points were put on the board in the second quarter. The Ti-Cats picked up a single on a punt from Hajrullahu to give the visitors a two-point lead. The Stamps had a good shot to even the score before the half, after an incredible 42-yard, one-handed reception from receiver Juwan Brescacin. An interception by Hamilton defensive back Cariel Brooks two plays later would end the drive. Paredes would give the Red & White a one-point lead at 9-8 after a 22-yard field goal on the following drive. However, it was short-lived as Hajrullahu answered back with a 41-yard field goal to close out the first half at 11-9 Ti-Cats. A solid performance from the Stampeders defence would highlight the third, holding the Ti-Cats scoreless over three drives. While the board remained unchanged in the quarter, Stamps defensive backs had a good outing with Tunde Adeleke forcing and recovering a fumble from Masoli and Emmanuel Davis managing two defensive tackles. Linebacker Alex Singleton also made two tackles in the frame. The last drive from the Red & White late in the third wouldn’t end in points on the board, but notably included rookie receiver Richard Sindani’s first CFL catch – a 13-yard reception from Bo Levi Mitchell. Twenty seconds into the fourth, Paredes would get his fourth field goal of the night, kicking it 19 yards to put the Stamps up 12-11. A 15-yard reception by Kamar Jordan from Mitchell gave the Stamps their first major of the night with 10 minutes left in the game. Running back Terry Williams followed up by adding two more points with a successful conversion. Hajrullahu made it 20-14 with a field goal but Don Jackson scampered for a 44-yard major with less than a minute left and then ran in a two-point conversion to round out the scoring.