Stamps cruise to 15th win, eliminate Argos

Bo Levi Mitchell and the Calgary Stampeders have completed a perfect home slate, and must now decide if they want to tempt fate next week.

Mitchell and DaVaris Daniels collaborated on two touchdowns at McMahon Stadium on Friday to help the Stampeders defeat the Toronto Argonauts 31-13. Calgary (15-1-1) can finish with the best-ever record in an 18-game CFL season, by defeating the struggling Montreal Alouettes on the road on Oct. 30.

The prospect of making history, along with a double bye before the West Division final, might make Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson more willing to expose Mitchell and other starters, in what would normally be a rest game for the first-place squad.

The Stampeders have a 16-game undefeated streak, along with 14 consecutive wins - both single-season records. They are also 9-0 at home. The only blemishes are a two-point loss against the BC Lions on June 25 and a tie against the Ottawa RedBlacks on July 8. The streak includes two last-play wins: Cornerback Tommie Campbell used an end zone INT to seal a come-from-behind 44-41 overtime win against the Lions in late July, while Rene Paredes kicked a field goal with no time left in a 36-34 decision against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in late September.

Only the 1989 Edmonton Eskimos have ever won 16 regular-season games. That Edmonton team was upset in the West final.

Calgary is the seventh team to go undefeated at home. That list includes the Doug Flutie-era Stampeders in 1993 and '94. However, each of those powerhouse teams was knocked off in the West final.

The Argonauts (5-12) were eliminated from playoff contention shortly after the game kicked off. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9) pulled off a 39-36 double-overtime win against Ottawa (7-8-1).

Mitchell went wire-to-wire. The Stampeders had a characteristic clock-chewing five-minute touchdown drive at the start of the fourth quarter. Daniels punctuated the march by getting behind Argonauts cornerback A.J. Jefferson on a fly route, making a 19-yard TD catch just inside the back pylon of the end zone.

Daniels, who has eight TDs in the last seven games, also torched Toronto for a 41-yard score in the third quarter. The deep strike came just 75 seconds after the Argonauts had pulled within four points on a 15-yard chip-shot field goal from Lirim Hajrullahu.

Argonauts QB Ricky Ray, who has missed most of the season injuries, took Toronto down the field for a touchdown on their opening possession. The Argonauts were unable to replicate the early success, twice settling for field goals after stalling inside the Stampeders' 10-yard line.

Mitchell was an interception-free 20-of-31 for 258 yards, with the aforementioned two TD passes giving him a league-most 32. League rushing leader Jerome Messam made the most of his 10 carries by running for 111 yards, while short-yardage QB Andrew Buckley added a TD on the ground.

Daniels topped Calgary's receivers with three receptions for 94 yards. Paredes was 3-of-3 on field goals.

The Stampeders have scored at least 30 points in 13 of 17 games.

On the eve of his 37th birthday, Ray was 27-of-40 for 309 yards with one TD and two INTs in perhaps his final game at McMahon, where he often shone during his heyday with the rival Eskimos. Brandon Whitaker (nine rushes for 37 yards, five receptions for 28) had Toronto's touchdown.

Kenny Shaw made eight receptions for 112 yards. Hajrullahu was 2-of-2 on field goals.

Toronto is 3-5 with Ray this season and 2-7 without him.