Playoffs baby!
The Stampeders became the first CFL team to clinch a post-season berth with a 38-16 win over the Toronto Argonauts Friday night, improving to 11-2 in front of 24,126 fans at McMahon Stadium.
After a tight first half that saw a downpour to start the game, the Stampeders piled up 24 points in the second half propelling them to victory.
Bo Levi Mitchell went 20-for-34 and threw for 307 yards in the game, improving his record to 10-0 against the Argos in regular-season play.
Markeith Ambles led all receivers with three receptions for 69 yards, and Alex Singleton topped defenders with nine tackles.
The home-team got off to a quick start, scoring on their first drive of the night when Marken Michel rushed 37 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Rene Paredes’ point-after attempt would go wide-left.
It didn’t take long for the Argonauts to even the score, though. Quarterback James Franklin ran the ball two yards into the endzone to finish the following series. Zack Medeiros’ successful convert would give them an early 7-6 lead.
Two drives later, receiver receiver Reggie Begelton suffered an injury, and did not return to the game.
Then, the Red & White re-gained the lead with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, after a great punt from Rob Maver and strong Stamps defence resulted in Toronto conceding a safety to make it 8-7.
Paredes would open the second quarter with a 13-yard field goal for the Stamps, pushing their lead to 11-7.
Medeiros then narrowed the gap for the Argos with a 29-yard field-goal with 2:19 remaining in the second quarter.
Calgary would answer back with another field goal from Paredes, giving the Stamps a four point lead to close out the half.
A great 40-yard pass from Bo Levi Mitchell connected with Julan Lynch on the first Red & White series in the third, putting Paredes in position for a 14-yard field goal to make it 17-10.
Just under three minutes later, an interception from Brandon Smith set the Stamps up for another score. Nick Arbuckle would rush 2-yards for the major three plays into the drive to make it 24-10.
The Stamps opened with a scoring drive once again on their first series of the final frame, as Michel tallied his second touchdown of the evening with a 21-yard reception.
Seven minutes later, Juwan Brescacin piled onto their monster second half with his first touchdown of the evening.
The Argos would score a touchdown in the final seconds of the game as McLeod Bethel-Thompson ran one yard to the endzone, but in the end, the Stamps would still walk away with the win.