The Stampeders’ offence, special teams and defence all shined bright during their highlight-filled 60-1 victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night in Calgary.
Calgary scored six offensive touchdowns on the night, while also adding defensive and special teams scores. Stamps’ receiver Marken Michel led the way with 190 yards receiving and a score, while running back Jerome Messam added a hat-trick with three rushing touchdowns. quarters.
1st quarter: Defence and special teams was the story of the game early on in this one, as both units looked virtually impenetrable during the first quarter of action. Calgary managed to get on the board first with just three minutes to go in the first, when kicker Rene Paredes knocked a 43-yard field goal through the uprights.
Calgary struck again minutes later when Roy Finch took a punt and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown. Finch turned on the burners and quickly found a hole into open space to put add to his team’s lead, putting the Stamps up 9-0.
The Stampeders’ suffered a loss on offence in the first quarter when their leading receiver Kamar Jorden appeared to injure his ankle while making a block on an early first down run by running back Jerome Messam.
2nd quarter: Messam began to really get things going in the second quarter, taking the ball 28 yards early in the quarter to help the Stamps maintain their momentum on offence.
Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell found his receiver Marken Michel with a big throw on the next play. Michel stepped up in the absence of Jorden on the drive, reeling in the monster 40-yard grab over the middle to set his offence up at Hamilton’s goal line.
Messam took the ball up the middle for the short one-yard score on the next play. Mitchell went on to complete the two-point conversion throw to offensive lineman Spencer Wilson, who was an illegible receiver on the play.
The biggest play for the Ticats early in the game came when Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros hit receiver Luke Tasker on the right side of the field for 21 yards.
Unfortunately, Tasker was briefly hurt on the next play of the drive when he spun off a tackle after making another reception. Fortunately for Hamilton, Tasker ended up returning to action before the end of the opening half.
The Ticats’ drive came to a sudden halt after that, as Calgary defensive back Shaquille Richardson intercepted a Collaros pass and took it all the way to the house for a 47-yard touchdown. Paredes successfully kicked the convert to extend Calgary’s lead to 24-0 in the opening half. The play was Richardson’s first interception and touchdown of his CFL career.
The first sack of the night came when Calgary defensive end Charleston Hughes dragged Collaros down in the backfield for a loss of nine yards. The sack was Hughes’ 93rd as a Stampeder.
Calgary’s offence kept things moving after getting the ball back, with Michel reaching 100-yards receiving on just his second catch of the game.
Michel put his speed on display during an impressive 60-yard catch and run. Messam scored his second rushing touchdown of the half after Michel set his team up in scoring position once again, putting Calgary up 32-0.
Hamilton managed to get on the board before the end of the half, when Sergio Castillo punted the ball 53-yards through the end zone for a single point.
The momentum remained on Calgary’s side, however, as Michel continued to shine in a big way for the Stamps. The explosive receiver made an amazing 35-yard grab in the end zone to help put his team up 39-1.
3rd quarter: Michel continued to make plays for the Stamps after the half, reeling in a 26-yard catch on what turned out to be another huge drive. Messam took the ball up the left side of the field for 21 yards on the following play.
Calgary’s backup quarterback Andrew Buckley then advanced the ball near the end zone with his legs, setting up Messam’s third rushing touchdown of the night to help put his team up 46-1.
Finch showed off his own rushing prowess when he spelled Messam for a play, taking his team into the red zone with a beautiful 37-yard run. Finch’s efforts on the drive led to a short 4-yard touchdown run for Calgary running back Ante Milanovic-Litre.
The rushing score was the first of Milanovic-Litres’ career, increasing the Calgary lead to 53-1 after the convert.
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli took over under centre for the Ticats near the end of the third quarter, while Buckley also relieved Mitchell of his duties after an incredibly successful night.
Buckley looked solid for the Stamps as well, throwing a 10-yard touchdown strike to receiver Anthony Parker to bring the score to 60-1.
The Ticats’ final attempt to get into the end zone ended when Calgary defensive back picked off Masoli with to seal the 60-1 victory for Calgary.
The Stampeders will next head to Toronto to face the Argonauts on August 3rd, while the Ticats will look to get their first win of the season in their Week 7 game on the road against the Edmonton Eskimos on August 4th.
