Three takeaways after dropping CFL tilt at BC Place in late levels resulting from turnovers
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Time is working out on a 20-year custom for the Purple and White.
In mere hours, the Calgary Stampeders may very well be eradicated from the Canadian Soccer League playoff race, marking the primary time in 19 seasons — plus one COVID-scratched marketing campaign — that the workforce will miss out on the post-season.
A win by the Saskatchewan Roughriders over the host Edmonton Elks on Saturday afternoon (5 p.m., TSN) would formally take away the Stampeders from the 2024 CFL playoff image.
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The Stamps superior their destiny late Friday evening with a 32-15 loss to the host BC Lions, with the choice leaving them winless in seven-straight contests, including to a awful 4-10-1 report.
Three turnovers by quarterback Jake Maier, together with two returned for touchdowns, on consecutive fourth-quarter drives spelled the distinction on the night, because the Lions turned a four-point lead right into a 21-point benefit in a span of simply 5:02.
There have been brilliant spots for the offence Friday: Operating again Peyton Logan topped 100 yards, with 15 carries for 89 and three catches for 29 extra; Vast receiver Ishmael Hyman hauled in a 10-yard TD strike from Maier for the one main of the primary half; and veteran pass-catcher Reggie Begelton had a team-high 73 yards on 4 catches, together with 53 on a TD reference to back-up QB Matt Shiltz late within the recreation, to maneuver him six receiving yards shy of 1,000 on the season.
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Listed below are three takeaways from Friday’s Week 18 loss at BC Place:
Well timed turnovers … once more
The sport was unsure via three quarters with the Stamps taking part in for his or her lives and taking part in fairly properly.
However then got here the fourth body and two well timed turnovers that broke the sport the way in which of the BC squad.
With the Lions up 12-8 with simply over 10 minutes remaining in a decent tilt, Maier threw a ball meant for crossing hands-man Hyman that was picked off by Lions defensive lineman Mathieu Betts, who took it the other method for the 70-yard pick-six.
Then simply 82 seconds later, Maier’s ill-advised cross to the flat — a backwards one — was knocked down by Lions defensive again T.J. Lee III, who gathered the ball and ran 27 yards to paydirt for the scoop-six.
The 2 defensive scores by the Lions fully modified the complexion of the sport, placing the Stamps abruptly behind the eight-ball by two-plus scores.
A 3rd turnover not lengthy after — an interception that went via the fingers of veteran receiver Marken Michel — led to a few extra factors for the Lions on a Sean Whyte 23-yard field-goal.
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Late-game turnovers — together with fumbles, interceptions and third-down failures — have been an enormous bugaboo, taking place far too usually for the Stamps on the season.
Dynamite defence
When the defence is on, the Stamps are in video games, simply as they have been Friday.
Brent Monson’s unit allowed simply 269 yards on the evening, together with solely 73 by the Lions run recreation.
By comparability, the Stamps offence rolled up 371 yards.
Three sacks of extremely regarded QB Nathan Rourke helped pave the way in which for the Stamps D, with defensive tackles Julian Howsare — with two — and Mike Rose recording these.
Sadly, Howsare, Rose & Co. couldn’t power a turnover, whereas the Lions’ crew did on 4 events — together with a Hyman first-quarter fumble — turning Maier’s error-free recreation via three quarters right into a nightmare within the ultimate body.
The Stamps defence was and not using a few key gamers, too, as veteran defensive again Branden Dozier (shoulder) and defensive deal with Josiah Coatney (knee) have been sidelined by damage.
Regardless of, although as a result of those that have been available stored the workforce within the recreation all through, additional proving that when the defence is working sturdy, it may be élite.
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Subsequent step to keep away from elimination out of Stampeders’ fingers
Friday evening’s loss probably seals the deal for the Stamps from reaching the playoffs for a nineteenth consecutive season.
With the victory, the Lions — at 8-8 — ensured themselves that they’ll end forward of the Stamps within the standings.
The one method the Purple and White can now attain the post-season is by profitable out whereas the Riders lose their remaining three video games. And in doing that, the Stamps would additionally need to beat the Riders within the regular-schedule’s final-week match-up by greater than 9 factors to win the season sequence between the West rivals to earn the tiebreaker.
Which means if the Riders (7-7-1) win Saturday, the Stamps shall be eradicated.
A Riders victory over the Elks (5-10), who’re additionally hanging on to playoff hopes by a thread, would assure playoff spots for the each the Riders and the Lions and make sure the three West Division berths go to the Riders, Lions and first-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-6).
On X: @ToddSaelhofPM
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