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July 28, 2018

Stamps Stay On Top

Calgary Stampeders wide receiver Eric Rogers (15) celebrates a touchdown during first half CFL action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina, SK, July 28, 2018. (CFL PHOTO - MATT SMITH)

Make it an even half-dozen Ws.

The undefeated Red & White improved to 6-0 after dumping the Roughriders 34-22 at New Mosaic Stadium in Regina Saturday night.

“It was a great atmosphere,” said head coach Dave Dickenson. “It was a great night, it was a great CFL game to be at.

“There was great energy there and we responded with some great football, and sometimes when that happens it’s easy to back off. I didn’t feel like we lost our desire and our passion (in the second half), we just lost a little bit of the detail and the focus of our plays – that’s going to happen throughout a game anyways.

“But we had a cushion, we needed it, and we took advantage of it to get the win.”

Bo Levi Mitchell went 18-for-24 for 187 yards in the win, while DaVaris Daniels led receiving with six receptions for 61 yards.

A great night for Stamps defenders as well, Alex Singleton led the defence in tackles at seven, while Folarin Orimolade tallied his first career sack.

Calgary opened the scoring after a fumble forced by Ja’Gared Davis led to a 41-yard pass from Mitchell to Marken Michel, who ran for a touchdown less than five minutes into the game.

It was his first of this season.

“I was kind of lost for a celebration,” laughed Michel. “I didn’t know what to do, so I just threw my hands up.

“It was amazing, I ran a corner route, I looked up and the ball was there, and all I could see was the endzone…it was a great feeling.”

“We had other throws on there but I trusted Marken to beat this guy, outrun the guy,” added Mitchell.

“He did a great job; keeping speed, keeping high angle, and obviously making the catch and finishing it off.”

On the next series, a lengthy 51-yard field- goal from Rene Paredes made it 10-0.

Terry Williams kept the momentum going for the Stamps, returning a Josh Bartel punt 78 yards for the major.

Just 4:34 later, Eric Rogers put up another six for the Stamps, following a 15-yard completion with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter. Paredes nailed the convert to make it 24-0.

“We had a good start no doubt,” said Dickenson of the first quarter. “Then we started making a lot of mistakes.

“It’s difficult assignment-wise making sure everyone is on the same page in this building. Not only that, but Chris Jones runs a bunch of stuff.

“We weren’t sharp mentally a little bit, the noise got us, we kept our poise though.”

The Roughriders’ first points of the evening came early in the second quarter, after a 35-yard field-goal from Brett Lauther.

Tobi Antigha then returned an interception 52 yards for a major for the homeside with five minutes remaining.

Another field-goal from Lauther would close out the scoring in the half, before he came out in the third quarter and booted two more to close the gap make it 24-19.

“Getting out to a 24-0 lead and letting them do what they did in the third quarter is on us, we can’t let those things happen if we want to be a championship team,” said Mitchell.

But the Stamps answered back, as Mitchell threw a 15-yard endzone strike to DaVaris Daniels to extend the lead.

Just over five minutes into the final frame, Lauther tacked on a 47-yard field-goal before Paredes kicked one for the visitors, sealing the deal.

“We understand that any team we play in the CFL is going to be a battle,” said Michel.

“But we especially enjoyed coming into this green stadium and getting a W.”