It wasn’t the start to the season the Stamps were hoping for.

A fourth-quarter comeback from the Ottawa Redblacks proved too much for the Red & White as they fell 32-28 at McMahon Stadium in a 2018 Grey Cup rematch Saturday night.

Bo Levi Mitchell threw 275 yards and went 23-for-39, Juwan Brescacin led receivers with four receptions for 68 yards, while Don Jackson led rushing with nine carries for 22 yards.

Cory Greenwood led the defence with nine tackles, while Tre Roberson made four – along with three interceptions on the night.

Roberson got the 26,301 fans in the house going early after returning an interception 26 yards to put the Stamps in the redzone on their second drive of the night. Jackson finished the job with a one-yard run for the first score of the Stampeders’ 2019 season.

The Redblacks answered back on their next series after a one-yard Dominique Davis touchdown rush. They would miss a two-point convert attempt to leave the score at 7-6 Stampeders.

Rene Paredes widened the gap for the Red & White shortly after with a 42-yard field goal. Roberson picked off another pass the following Redblacks play, putting the ball right back in the Stamps’ hands.

It didn’t take long for Mitchell and Brescacin to connect on a 50-yard touchdown pass following the turnover. Reggie Begelton was successful in a two-point convert attempt to put the Stamps up 18-6 after the first.

Paredes opened scoring in the second after booting a 17-yard field goal.

The Redblacks’ Dominique Davis tallied a touchdown on the next drive. R.J. Harris caught the two-point convert attempt. A 44-yard Lewis Ward field goal closed out scoring for the half leaving it at 21-17.

Ottawa tallied a single on their first punt of the third.

Then, with 8:43 remaining in the frame, Brandon Smith returned an interception 59-yards for a pick six to make it a ten point game.

Ward notched a field goal for the Redblacks late in the quarter reducing the Stamps lead to just one score.

Ottawa would pick up a punt single early in the final frame.

With just over ten minutes remaining in the game, Roberson tallied his third pick of the evening – matching his season total from 2018 in just one game.

Ward kicked his third field goal of the night with just over five minutes left in the fourth to chip away at the Stamps’ lead once again, making it 28-25.

A 5-yard touchdown rush from Davis with 1:15 remaining in the game gave Ottawa their first lead of the game at 32-28. A Jonathan Rose interception on the Stamps’ final possession with five seconds remaining was the nail in the coffin.

The Red & White didn’t come out unscathed, either, as running back Terry Williams, and defensive linemen Junior Turner and Ese Mrabure all left the game due to injury.