Argos fall 48-20 to Stamps on Thanksgiving

TORONTO — The Calgary Stampeders had a lot to be thankful for when they left BMO Field on Thanksgiving Monday.

Calgary celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with a dominant 48-20 win over the Toronto Argonauts in their second of five games against Eastern opponents to end the regular season and also clinched the top spot in the West Division while they were at it.

The Stamps were thankful for their defence, as they got to Toronto’s pivot Drew Willy six times, with Ja’Gared Davis providing three of the sacks. They also held the Argonauts’ offence to just two field goals in the first half of the contest.

Calgary was also thankful for their offence, led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who threw for 281 yards connecting on 18-of-27 passes and three touchdowns, and running back Jerome Messam who surpassed the 1000 yard rushing mark on the season in the contest. Both helped lead the Stamps to their 12th win in a row and extended their winning streak to 14.

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Mitchell made use of DaVaris Daniels, Jerome Messam and Kamar Jorden to trot his team down the field to score the game’s first major score, capping a 76-yard, nine-play drive.

The Calgary pivot first found Daniels for a 42-yard gain and then passed off to Messam for a five-yard run to bring Calgary to the Argos’ 31-yard line. A few plays later, Mitchell threw to Daniels who caught the ball and stepped out of bounds at the one-yard line. Messam needed two attempts to punch it in, powering his way into the end zone on his second attempt.

Mitchell handed off to Messam who ran into the end zone for the two point convert, giving the Stampeders an 8-0 lead just four minutes into the contest.

The Calgary defence started the game flexing their muscles, showing exactly why they’re one of the top groups in the league, forcing a two-and-out for Drew Willy and his offence on the Argos’ first offensive touch of the afternoon.

On the Argos next possession, Toronto turned the ball over on downs, when Dan LeFevour couldn’t get the final yard on a quarterback sneak and Calgary took over on the Argos’ 48-yard line.

But after the Stampeders couldn’t capitalize, Rene Paredes and the field goal unit made their way to the field for the first time that afternoon. Paredes made his 35-yard field goal, adding to the Stamps’ lead (11-0) with four minutes left in the opening quarter.

The next time Toronto had the ball, they tried to make their way down the field, but after a penalty, an incomplete pass and a pass to Brandon Whitaker who was unable to get the first down, they were forced to kick the ball away.

Just as the first quarter ended, Mitchell threw a 41-yard bomb to Jorden who dove, catching the ball midair, into the end zone for the Stamps’ second major of the ball game. Daniels caught Mitchell’s pass at just inside the corner of the end zone for the two-point convert giving Calgary a 19-0 lead after the first 15 minutes.

To start the second quarter, Willy found Andre Durie for a 26-yard gain to bring the Argos to the Stampeders’ 44-yard line. Then, to cap the 51-yard, 10-play drive (that included penalties for both teams), Hajrullahu kicked a 41-yard field goal, giving Toronto their first points of the ball game, cutting the Stampeders’ lead to 19-3 with 10:55 left in the first half.

Matt Black forced Messam to fumble on Calgary’s next possession and Marcus Alford recovered it, giving the Argos the ball right back.

Willy passed to Brian Jones, playing in his first start as an Argo, who picked up 17-yards for the Boatmen, bringing Toronto to the Calgary 21-yard line. But the Calgary defence still stood tall, taking down the Argo pivot on the next play. After Willy’s failed attempt to rush into the end zone himself, the Argos had to settle for a field goal as Hajrullahu kicked a 14-yarder, cutting the Stampeders’ lead to 19-6.

The Stampeders matched Toronto’s three points with six of their own as Daniels trotted into the end zone to score a 61-yard touchdown, capping off a 74-yard, three play drive. Bryan Hall knocked down the Stampeders’ attempt at a two-point convert and Calgary held a 25-6 lead with just under six minutes to play in the half.

After Toronto wasn’t able to get their offence rolling on their next possession, the Stampeders took over, moving the chains down the field to the Toronto four-yard line.

That’s when things started to get a little heated close to the end of the first half.

Both teams started to get into with each other as some pushing and shoving occurred in the Argonauts’ end zone. The scuffle resulted in five penalties between both clubs. Toronto’s Josh Mitchell was charged with two unnecessary roughness penalties and Devin Smith was charged with an unnecessary roughness and a disqualification. Calgary’s Jorden was charged with an unnecessary roughness penalty and Marquay McDaniel obtained an unnecessary roughness penalty along with a disqualification.

After everything was sorted out, Andrew Buckley plunged one-yard into the end zone for another Calgary touchdown. Following Paredes’ point after, Calgary’s lead extended to 32-6 with 2:19 left in the first half.

The Stampeders took their commanding lead to the locker room at the half.

To start the second half, Hajrullahu’s punt was blocked by Jorden and recovered by Adam Tibault at the Toronto 25-yard line, giving the Stampeders optimal field position.

After a pass that was almost intercepted by Toronto, and a fumbled snap, Paredes kicked a 36-yard field goal, adding to the Stampeders’ lead (38-6).

The Argonauts scored their first major of the ball game, taking advantage of a turnover, with just over four minutes left in the third quarter, as Willy found Kenny Shaw wide open in the end zone for the score.

The play was set up when Hickman forced Mitchell to fumble the ball and Shawn Lemon recovered it, then tossed it to Jermaine Gabriel who just barely stepped out of bounds at the Calgary 21-yard line.

Hajrullahu’s point after was good and the Argonauts cut the Stampeders’ lead to 38-13.

Just when it looked like momentum may have swung in the Boatmen’s favour, Calgary took over once again.

Just 18 seconds into the final quarter, Mitchell found Rob Cote who ran into the end zone for the major. The drive covered 64-yards in seven plays. Paredes made the point after, extending Calgary’s lead to 45-13.

With 10 minutes left in the contest, the Argos weren’t ready to give up.

Willy tossed a 10-yard pass to Diontae Spencer who plunged into the end zone, set up by a blocked punt by Hickman, capping a 23-yard, three play drive. Following Hajrullahu’s point after, Toronto cut the Stamps lead to 45-20.

Drew Tate took over for Mitchell at quarterback, leading the Stampeders 62-yards down the field, setting up Paredes to kick a 20-yard field goal. With four and a half minutes left in the contest, the Stamps extended their lead to 48-20 and held on for the victory.

The Stampeders head home for a matchup against the Montreal Alouettes while the Argos head to Saskatchewan to take on the Roughriders in Week 17.