The Stampeders fell to 0-2 on the season after a 15-9 loss to the BC Lions Thursday night at McMahon Stadium.
The visitors improved to 1-1.
Veteran Rene Paredes booted three field-goals for the homeside in the low-scoring affair.
The Lions opened the scoring on their second drive of the game, with Michael Reilly – who started at quarterback for BC – leading the visitors down the field on an eight-play, 62-yard drive that ended with Takeru Yamasaki booting a short 22-yard field-goal attempt wide left, B.C. settling for a single point.
Calgary pivot Bo Levi Mitchell went to work after, taking his team on their own march down the field, starting a five-play, 59-yard drive with two big passes to Hergy Mayala and Richie Sindani, but it ended at the BC 17-yard line when backup pivot Michael O’Connor was stopped just short on a third-down sneak attempt.
Yamasaki made good on his second field-goal attempt, nailing a 21-yarder to end the first quarter.
Parades answered on Calgary’s opening possession of the second quarter, putting a 48-yard field-goal right down the pipe to get the homeside on the board.
Reilly made it 10-3 when he finished off a long six-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard plunge. The Lions went for two with James Butler punching it in.
There was no scoring in the third quarter, but Parades kicked another 48-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter and cut the lead to six.
But Yamasaki answered back with another three-pointer of his own on the ensuing BC drive.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Stamps gambled on a third down with Ka’Deem Carey powering a run with his shoulder down for a first down that eventually lead to a short 20-yard field-goal from Parades to cut the lead to six points just after the three-minute warning.
Yamasaki then missed a 43-yard attempt and the Stamps started from their one-yard line with 1:24 to play but Mitchell was picked off on his first pass from scrimmage.
HALL-OF-FAME NIGHT:
The 2020 and 2021 Canadian Football Hall of Fame classes with ties to the Stampeders – including current president and GM John Hufnagel – were honoured with a halftime video. Four others – Fred Childress, Will Johnson, Nik Lewis and Doug Mitchell – were also in attendance.
SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE HOUSE:
The Stamps hosted a large group of Canadian Olympians who were recognized prior to the game: Claudia Holzner (artistic swimming), Halle Pratt (artistic swimming), Haley Daniels (canoe kayak – slalom), Adam Kamieson (cycling-alternate), Vincent De Haitre (cycling-track), Caeli McKay (diving), Vincent Riendeau (diving), Alanna Goldie (fencing), Kelleigh Ryan (fencing), Nicole Hare (rowing), Lynda Kiejko (shooting), Cole Pratt (swimming), Rebecca Smith (swimming), Jay Blankenau (volleyball), Lucas Van Berkel (volleyball), Graham (volleyball), Kyra Christmas (water polo), Kelly McKee (water polo), Paul Kindred (water polo), Danielle Lappage (wrestling), Erica Wiebe (wrestling).
(Photo by Candice Ward)