SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 28, 2014
Stampeders 14, Lions 7: Rene Paredes booted four field goals and the stalwart Calgary defense stood tall in a pivotal win over visiting BC.
Paredes was the star on a rough night for both offenses, connecting from 24, 35, 43 and 30 yards as the Stampeders (11-2) moved four points clear of Edmonton and Saskatchewan atop the West Division. Jon Cornish erupted for 156 rushing yards to mask a dreadful effort from quarterback Drew Tate, who was 12-of-23 for 162 yards.
BC counterpart Kevin Glenn had an even rougher time of it, going 14-of-25 for 127 yards and a pair of interceptions as the Lions (7-6) dropped their second straight. Andrew Harris led the way with 12 carries for 76 yards while John Beck added a short touchdown run in defeat.
Glenn and the Lions marched 77 yards in 4:53 on the game's opening drive, surging ahead on Beck's 2-yard TD plunge. Paredes' first field goal with 6:20 left in the half to put Calgary on the scoreboard, but he had a second attempt blocked later in the quarter as BC carried a 7-3 edge into the break.
Calgary used a safety and a pair of Paredes field goals to seize an 11-7 advantage late in the third quarter, and Paredes added his fourth early in the final period while the Lions temporarily lost Glenn to a left elbow injury. Beck couldn't get anything going in his short stint under centre, and Glenn was intercepted by Keon Raymond with 1:26 remaining to snuff out a BC rally.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The teams have split a pair of meetings this season, with the rubber match set for Nov. 7 in Vancouver. ... The thwarted field-goal attempt marked BC's second blocked kick of the season. ... Calgary has allowed a league-low 239 points on the season.