Stampeders blow out RedBlacks, run streak to 11

With Jamar Wall and Ja'Gared Davis contributing defensive touchdowns, the Calgary Stampeders ran their undefeated streak to 11 by defeating the Ottawa RedBlacks 38-23 on Saturday.

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders (10-1-1) built a big halftime lead at McMahon Stadium before bogging down offensively, failing to convert on 10 consecutive second downs at one stretch. The undefeated streak briefly hung in the balance, when QB Trevor Harris and Ottawa (5-5-1) clawed to within eight points early in the fourth quarter. Mitchell and Calgary responded with a clinching 66-yard touchdown drive that rookie wide receiver DaVaris Daniels consummated with a diving one-handed catch for a 10-yard scoring grab with 4:23 remaining.

On Ottawa's next possession, the Stampeders collapsed the pocket and defensive tackle Micah Johnson strip-sacked Harris. Davis scooped up the ball and scored on a 14-yard return to put the game out of reach.

Calgary, which is on its longest undefeated streak since the famed 1948 team had a perfect 12-0 season, will try to tie the club record against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-4) on Sept. 24. The Blue Bombers, not to be outdone, have won seven in a row.

Wall delivered a pick-6 with a 60-yard interception-return TD in the second quarter, while veteran Charleston Hughes also contributed two sacks. Calgary shut down Ottawa speedster Chris Williams, holding the star wide receiver to one reception for four yards. Williams had 10 receptions when the teams tied 26-26 on July 8 in the nation's capital.

Mitchell was 23-of-35 for 353 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Marquay McDaniel, who made five receptions for 102 yards. Andrew Buckley and Jerome Messam each had rushing touchdowns, although Messam was held to 35 yards on the ground. Rene Paredes was 2-of-2 on field goals.

The Stampeders scored touchdowns on all four trips to the red zone, although they made just 1-of-3 two-point converts. Slotback Bakari Grant (lower body injury) came out of the game in the second half.

Harris was 17-of-29 for 289 yards with two TDs and one INT. Ernest Jackson (four receptions, 93 yards) and Greg Ellingson (4-82) caught touchdown passes. Wide receiver Juron Criner had four receptions for 91 yards in his first CFL start, but made only one catch in the final 30 minutes. Chris Milo was 3-of-3 on field goals.

Criner was about the lone bright spot for the RedBlacks, who have won only two of their past eight games, during the opening 30 minutes. Ottawa scraped back into the contest late in the third quarter when Tristan Jackson broke loose for a 53-yard punt return deep into Calgary territory, setting up a touchdown by Ellingson.

Down by 11 with 11:08 left, Harris and Ellington connected for a 63-yard gain down to Calgary's 12. The drive ended with a chip-shot field goal after an end-zone toss to Criner fell incomplete, and Ottawa did not threaten to score again.

Ottawa has been outscored 134-43 in three visits to McMahon Stadium since re-joining the CFL in 2014.

Ottawa (5-5-1) hosts the Toronto Argonauts (5-7) on Friday in the rubber match of their season series. The road team won each of the first two games. Ottawa has not defeated the Argonauts at TD Place since the franchise's first-ever home game in 2014.