Not our night.
It was an uncharacteristic performance from the Stampeders who couldn’t find their footing in the Labour Day rematch against their provincial rival Elks in Saturday night’s Battle of Alberta, resulting in a 31-19 defeat.
The Calgary defence could not find an answer for Edmonton’s Justin Rankin who racked up 204 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
On the other side of the ball, the Stampeders’ offence struggled to sustain drives, forcing the team to punt on eight occasions.
This is the Red and White’s first loss to a Western opponent this season and drops their record to 8-4 while the Elks improve to 5-7.
Short-yardage QB and third-round draft pick Quincy Vaughn had the two touchdowns for Calgary in the contest, increasing his total to four on the season.
QB Vernon Adams Jr. – 15-for-29, 229 yards
REC Erik Brooks – six receptions, 115 yards
The Stamps started off with a strong drive down the field. Vernon Adams Jr. found Jalen Philpot in the end zone for what looked like the team’s first touchdown of the game, however the play was called an incomplete pass after another look from the replay centre. Rene Paredes kicked the ensuing field goal to get Calgary on the board first.
Cody Fajardo led the Elks down the field to answer back with a field goal of their own, knotting the game up at three a-piece.
On the next Calgary drive, Adams located Erik Brooks for a big gain down field, bringing the pass catcher’s receiving yards total to 78 early in the tilt.
Quincy Vaughn and the short-yardage unit lined up to give the Stamps their first major of the game, making the score 9-3 after a missed single attempt.
TOUCHDOWN BIG Q 😤 pic.twitter.com/qqQqIm3VJ0
— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) September 6, 2025
Before the end of the first quarter, Edmonton’s Jake Julien shortened the lead 9-4 after booting a punt 77 yards for the rouge.
Justin Rankin broke free for a 90-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and added to his stat sheet with another score on the next Elks drive to put the Double E up 18-9.
Paredes added another three points for the Red and White to make the score 18-12 at halftime.
The Elks received the ball to start the second half and added another field goal courtesy of Vincent Blanchard to extend their lead to nine.
Adams and the Calgary offence began to find their stride again at the beginning of the fourth, marching down the field and capping off the drive with Quincy Vaughn’s second touchdown of the game to close the gap 21-19.
Quincy punches it in for his second tuddy of the game! pic.twitter.com/fTA2sVPGKa
— Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) September 7, 2025
Fajardo answered right back, loading up a touchdown pass to Kaion Julien-Grant to put the Elks up 28-19. On their next drive Blanchard added another field goal to make it a 12-point game just before the three minute warning.
With under two minutes to go, back-up pivot P.J. Walker finished off the night for the Stamps, completing four of six passes for 38 yards and one interception.
THEY SAID
Coming soon.
NEXT UP
The Stamps remain in second place across the league and will get their chance to bounce back in two week’s time when they return from a Week 15 bye to host the BC Lions at McMahon Stadium on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
