Another game, another nail-biter.

The Calgary Stampeders came up just short against the defending Grey Cup Champions, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers held on for an 18-16 victory at IG Field Sunday evening. It was a defensive battle overall with just two touchdowns scored in total, which saw Winnipeg only surrender three points the entire second half.

The loss set the Stampeders record back to 1-3, while Winnipeg improve to 3-1 and remain undefeated at home so far through the 2021 CFL campaign.

Stamps quarterback Jake Maier had his second consecutive 300-yard passing game, completing 30 passes for 307 yards and also set a Stamps record for consecutive completions with 16. Ka’Deem Carey provided the lone touchdown for the visitors on the ground, ending with 66 rushing yards on just eight attempts.

Andrew Harris, in his first game of the season, made his presence felt for the Blue Bombers rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown while Zach Collaros completed 16 passes for 243 yards.

It was the visitors from the Stampede City who got things started, as Rene Paredes capped off an opening drive with a 35 yard field goal after Maier marched the Stamps down the field with a perfect 5/5 passes to set the tone early.

Winnipeg quickly responded with a five play drive that was highlighted by a 50-yard pass from Collaros to Rasheed Bailey which then set up a two-yard rushing touchdown from Harris to give the home side the lead. The extra point was missed by Marc Liegghio which kept it a three-point game and stayed that way headed into the second quarter.

Paredes provided another field goal, this time from 39 yards out to tie things up again in the second quarter but Liegghio responded with a 50-yard field goal for Winnipeg to give the home side a 9-6 lead.

It was a back and forth affair as the boys in red and white wasted no time to respond yet again but this time for six.

All it took was five plays as a big 14 yard run from Carey and a 20 yard pass from Maier to Huff set up a the 17 yard rushing touchdown from Carey as he zoomed by the Blue Bomber defenders for his third touchdown of the season.

The Stamps took the 13-9 lead into the second half where things tightened up as both defences stood tall in making stops.

In the third quarter, Winnipeg seemed to have a big play touchdown as Collaros found Kenny Lawler deep for a 33 yard connection that Lawler looked to have kept alive staying untouched and ran it into the endzone, but video replay overturned the play as DaShaun Amos got a hand on him to mark him down.

Instead of six, the Blue Bombers had to settle for three, with Liegghio converting from 42 yards out to give Winnipeg a narrow 13-12 lead.

The stage was set for a thrilling finish headed into the final quarter and it didn’t disappoint.

After a couple of staled drives to start the fourth, the Blue Bombers were able to extend their lead with just over five minutes to go as Liegghio yet again was good, this time from 37 yards out making it a 15-13 lead.

When they needed it most the Stamps seamlessly marched down the field from their own 35 yard line, even pulling a rabbit out of a hat with a little trickery as Markeith Ambles would be the one to throw the ball over to who else but Maier for a six yard gain.

The Philly special? Tonight it was the Calgary special.

With 1:52 remaining, Paredes hit a field goal from 33 yards for another lead change to make it 16-15 for the visitors.

From the very start, the game had all the makings of coming down to the final few possessions and as fate would have it, that’s exactly how it went down. The Blue Bombers were able to get the ball all the way down to the Stamps 35 yard line to set up another Liegghio field goal attempt.

Initially it seemed the Stampeders dodged a bullet as the kick went wide right, but a 10-yard time count penalty gave Winnipeg another chance. This time from 45 yards, Liegghio made no mistake on converting, sending the kick right down the middle for an 18-16 Blue Bombers lead.

It all came down to one last possession.

A big 22 yard connection to Kamar Jorden followed by a 10 yard pass to Ambles two plays later set up one last kick to decide a winner. The 52 yard field goal attempt with no time left on the clock ended up wide to the right resulting in the Blue Bombers victory.

Up next the Stamps will welcome the Edmonton Elks at McMahon Stadium for the Labour Day Classic and the first meeting of the season between the rivals.