Skip to content

Messam helps Stampeders close out 'Riders, retain West lead

Twitter/@CFL

Jerome Messam and Bo Levi Mitchell delivered the backbreaker in the Calgary Stampeders' 35-15 win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday.

In the first leg of a home-and-home series between the West Division clubs, Calgary (4-1-1) took a seemingly slim four-point lead into the fourth quarter. On the Stampeders' first possession of the period, Mitchell coolly conducted an 11-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, with 31 yards coming through the 263-pound Messam. Canadian rookie Andrew Buckley cashed in the touchdown on a 5-yard quarterback keeper with 7:22 remaining.

Messam also ran through a worn-out Roughriders defence for an insurance touchdown with 1:33 left. The burly running back had 17 rushes for 109 yards and made five receptions for another 36.

Calgary moved one point in front of the B.C. Lions (4-2) for the West lead. Mitchell improved to 32-7-1 as a starter, which trails only 1950s Edmonton Eskimos legend Jackie Parker (33-7) for the best 40-game start in league history. The QB's .813 winning percentage is also a Stampeders team record, just ahead of Doug Flutie's .806 (50-12-0) from 1992-95.

Darian Durant, back from an ankle injury, sparked Saskatchewan to a promising start. However, the Roughriders (1-5) failed to get in the end zone in the final three quarters. They also allowed at least 30 points for the 18th time in their last 24 games.

Mitchell was 25-of-36 for 312 yards with one touchdown. A 16-yard scoring pass to Anthony Parker with 11 seconds left in the first quarter extended Mitchell's TD pass streak to 21 games.

Calgary's veteran slotback Marquay McDaniel made eight receptions for 110 yards. Kicker Rene Paredes was 5-of-5 on field goals, but missed a convert for the sixth consecutive game.

Thanks in large part to cornerback Tommie Campbell, the Stampeders limited the Roughriders' No. 1 receiver, Naaman Roosevelt, to just two receptions for 18 yards. Campbell laid out for an end-zone pass breakup in the second quarter when Durant sent Roosevelt deep immediately after the Roughriders had taken over in Calgary's zone.

Veteran receiver Rob Bagg picked up some of the slack with four receptions for 135 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown in opening quarter. Bagg made two other long catches in the first half, but a 48-yard reception ended in a turnover when Stampeders defensive back Joe Burnett forced a fumble and Ciante Evans recovered.

Durant was 17-of-28 for 247 yards and one touchdown. Johnny Mark was 3-of-4 on field goals in his CFL debut.

Less than a hour before the game, the Roughriders announced that rookie placekicker Tyler Crapigna had gone on the six-game injured list with an undisclosed injury. Crapigna had been off to a strong start, converting 16-of-18 field goal attempts.

Calgary and Saskatchewan meet again on Aug. 13 in Regina.

Week 7 concludes with a matchup between the Eskimos and RedBlacks in the nation's capital on Saturday. Edmonton (2-3) and Ottawa (3-2-1) are both on a two-game losing streak.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox