Vernon Adams Jr. and Dedrick Mills scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to guide the unbeaten Calgary Stampeders previous the winless Toronto Argonauts 29-19 on a breezy Saturday afternoon.
“The defence actually held us in to the primary half,” Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson mentioned after the win.
“It was a tough half for the offence, however the defence made the play, scored, after which (we) rallied within the second half; I assumed the offence acquired again in gear. And I assumed our particular groups once more, regardless that Rene (Paredes) missed a few kicks — powerful within the wind — it was nice protection and guys simply took turns. Completely different guys from final week too, which I feel is essential, as a result of for those who’re going to be a very good workforce everyone’s acquired to benefit from their alternative after they get it.”
Adams Jr.’s eight-yard scamper at 7:43 put Calgary forward 26-11. It got here after Lirim Hajrullahu’s 47-yard area aim at 5:08 reduce Toronto’s deficit to 19-11.
Mills put Calgary forward 19-8 with a one-yard scoring run at 1:19. Each Adams Jr. and Mills capped 70-yard scoring drives.
“Wanna’ be higher on offence for certain, earlier within the sport, however a win’s a win, so we’re going to look at it and study from it,” Adams Jr. mentioned.
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Toronto’s Nick Arbuckle made it attention-grabbing with a 46-yard landing move to Damonte Coxie at 9:50. Then the ’24 Gray Cup MVP ran in for the two-point convert to chop Calgary’s result in 26-19.
However Rene Paredes cemented the win for Calgary (2-0) with a 23-yard area aim 13:45. A BMO Area gathering of 17,902 watched the Argos (0-2) increase their Gray Cup banner earlier than the opening kickoff.
Calgary earned the victory regardless of shedding all-star receiver Reggie Begelton (knee). Begelton went down on the second play from scrimmage and wanted assist to depart the sphere.
Begelton later returned to the Stampeders sidelines on crutches and ice taped to his proper knee.
Toronto misplaced center linebacker Wynton McManis (knee) and beginning working again Deonta McMahon (ankle) to first-half accidents.
Adrian Greene had Calgary’s different landing. Paredes booted three area targets and a convert.
Hajrullahu booted three area targets and a single. John Haggerty added a single.
Hajrullahu’s 45-yard area aim at 13:06 of the third reduce Calgary’s result in 12-8.
Paredes’ 23-yard area aim into the wind at 5:38 gave Calgary a 12-4 lead. Haggerty’s 83-yard punt single at 6:32 pulled Toronto to inside 12-5.
Hajrullahu’s 45-yard area aim to finish the second quarter reduce Calgary’s halftime result in 9-4. It adopted a profitable pass-interference problem by Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie that put the ball on the Stampeders’ 45-yard line with 13 seconds to play.
Each offences struggled establishing the run within the first half as Toronto had simply 28 yards, three greater than the Stamps. And neither unit was in a position to navigate successfully with or towards the wind.
Greene staked Calgary to a 9-1 lead with a 40-yard pick-six at 8:56. He stepped in entrance of Nick Arbuckle’s move for David Ungerer III and ran untouched into the top zone.
There was no convert try attributable to an errant snap.
Greene added one other interception later within the quarter however Paredes’ 46-yard boot right into a brisk wind was vast. Paredes additionally missed from 47 yards out early within the quarter earlier than connecting from 46 yards out at 5:09 to place Calgary forward 3-1.
Hajrullahu’s single off a missed 42-yard boot into the wind opened the scoring at 13:03 of the primary.
UP NEXT
Stampeders: Host the Ottawa Redblacks subsequent Saturday.
Argonauts: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday.
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