Stamps beat the Roughriders on a Paredes field goal in the final second | The Canadian News

REGINA – Rene Paredes saved the best for last when the Calgary Stampeders defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 22-19 in a last-second field goal on Saturday.

Paredes hit a 44-yard field goal, the fifth of the game, on the last play of the fourth quarter to give Calgary the win. Paredes initially struck from 39 yards, but an illegal procedural penalty on the Stampeders forced a second try.

“I’ve never played a better kicker,” Stamps quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell said of Paredes. “He’s the guy that I always know that if I can get close enough, no matter how far left or right, it will put him right in the middle.

“He has won me a lot of games in my career.”

It was the second straight win over the Riders for the Stampeders, who posted a 23-17 win last week in Calgary. The victory improves Calgary’s record to 4-5 as the Riders fall to 5-4.

It was a tough loss for the Riders, who will now go on a bye week before traveling to Calgary on Oct. 23 to finish their regular-season series with the Stampeders.

“We knew we had to win two out of three,” said Craig Dickenson, Saskatchewan’s head coach. “We didn’t have to do it, but we wanted to. If we could win two of three, we would put Calgary behind the eight ball with them from the outside looking in. Now it is the opposite. They’re right behind us now, which makes every game that much more important down the stretch. “

The Stampeders started their final drive at their own 41-yard line with one minute left. Two receptions by Nick Holley mixed with three runs by Ka’Deem Carey totaling 19 yards put the Stampeders in position for the game-winning field goal.

Carey, who was a game-time decision due to a back problem, had a strong game with 109 rushing yards on 20 carries. The Riders knew exactly what they were up against with Carey, who is making a name for himself with a physical racing style.

“He’s very physical and you have to want to tackle him,” Riders defensive tackle Micah Johnson said. “If you don’t, it will expose you. He’s a big guy, he gets to the north and south fast. You have to decide in your mind that you want to hit him. If he doesn’t, he can feel that. “

The Stamps, who held a 14-0 lead in last week’s win over the Riders, got off to another great start Saturday.

Mitchell connected with Markeith Ambles on a 71-yard touchdown pass on the first offensive play of the game. Ambles opened wide on the right sideline, caught the pass at Saskatchewan’s 30-yard line and escaped from Riders defensive back Christian Campbell into the end zone.

Mitchell scored the same all-star numbers in the first quarter, completing 6 of 8 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, the Riders tied the game with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cody Fajardo to Ricardo Louis. Catching a short pass along the sideline at Calgary’s eight-yard line, Louis slashed inward to reach the end zone.

Both kickers scored two field goals in the first half. Paredes hit 19 and 12 yards, while Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther split the 45 and 52-yard stanchions. Lauther also contributed two special team tackles in the first half.

The kickers exchanged field goals in the third quarter. Paredes led Calgary 16-13 with 27 yards. Lauther responded with an 18-yard field goal to tie the game 16-16.

The Riders took their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter after an interception by Nick Marshall. Marshall jumped a crossing route from Stamps catcher Hergy Mayala at Calgary’s 35-yard line.

Saskatchewan’s offense was unable to advance the ball, so Lauther was called up for his fourth field goal of the game to give the Riders a 19-16 lead.

Calgary went deep into Saskatchewan territory midway through the fourth quarter with a trick play that brought the Stampeders to the 24-yard line. Mitchell passed Colton Hunchak on a sweep around the left end only for Hunchak to stop and throw at him. a pass to Josh Huff for a 36-yard gain.

Two plays later, Mitchell threw his second interception of the game. He defeated Henry to Riders safety Loucheiz Purifoy, catching the ball at the three-yard line and carrying it to Saskatchewan 28.

Paredes tied Lauther with his fourth field goal of the game, connecting from 43 yards to tie the game 19-19 with 3:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell finished 20 of 28 passes for 296 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Fajardo was 20 of 31 for 191 yards and a touchdown.

The Stampeders totaled 422 net yards on offense with 22 first downs, while the Riders gained 244 net yards on offense with 13 first downs.

Johnson, AC Leonard and Pete Robertson had sacks for the Riders, while Mike Rose had two sacks for Calgary.

This Canadian Press report was first published on October 9, 2021.