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The Calgary Stampeders kept their playoff hopes alive on Saturday, defeating the Ottawa Redblacks 45–31 in a game that extended Ottawa’s winless streak to 14 games. Calgary’s dominant performance was fueled by a sharp passing display from quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and a multi-score effort from running back Deonta McMahon.
Stampeders Control the Game from the Start
Calgary set the tone early. On their opening drive, Adams threw 45 yards to Clark Barnes to reach Ottawa’s 12-yard line, then connected with McMahon for the first score of the game. Ottawa never led at any point during the contest.
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The Stampeders extended their lead in the second quarter. Tyreik McAllister scored on a 28-yard rush, and McMahon added his second touchdown of the afternoon on a four-yard run. Anthony Johnson also intercepted Ottawa quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson during that stretch, further disrupting the Redblacks’ momentum.
In total, McMahon scored both a rushing and a receiving touchdown. Tevin Jones and Barnes also caught touchdown passes for Calgary. Jones capped the third quarter with a 15-yard scoring catch in the final seconds of the period, keeping the pressure firmly on Ottawa.
Adams finished the game completing 24 of 30 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns, without throwing a single interception. Meanwhile, receiver Jalen Philpot crossed the 1,000 receiving yards mark for the season during the win. Head coach Dave Dickenson praised Philpot’s contribution. “He’s looking fast and running with the ball,” Dickenson said. “He does a lot of gritty stuff in the run game as well. If we’re going to do well, he’s gotta continue to be the guy.”
Kicking Game Adds to Calgary’s Margin
Kicker Rene Paredes also contributed significantly for Calgary. He connected on field goals from 40, 49 and 43 yards, and added five convert points. His Ottawa counterpart, Brett Lauther, made field goals from 13, 56 and 28 yards and contributed two convert points for the Redblacks.
The result continued a strong stretch for Calgary at home and away. The previous week, Paredes had hit a 62-yard field goal to secure a win over the visiting Redblacks at McMahon Stadium.
Ottawa Fights Back but Falls Short
Ottawa showed some resilience, particularly in the second half. Bethel-Thompson capped a 75-yard, eight-play drive with a 13-yard catch-and-run alongside Ayden Eberhardt just before halftime for Ottawa’s first touchdown. The Redblacks then scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a two-point convert by Justin Hardy with under five minutes remaining.
However, the late push was not enough to overcome the deficit. Justin Hardy and Eberhardt each caught touchdown passes, and Mario Anderson Jr. scored a rushing touchdown for Ottawa. Bethel-Thompson, in his second consecutive start this season, finished 30 of 47 for 418 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
“In the third and the fourth we just played simple football and did the simple things well,” Bethel-Thompson said. He also acknowledged the team’s continued effort despite the difficult season. “We’re definitely close and it’s a testament to the guys in the locker room how they fought, keep fighting each week. One thing we can’t question is our fight — we fight for a full 60.”
Playoff Picture and a Word for Dinwiddie
With the win, Calgary improved to 7–8 and remained tied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for fourth place in the West Division, each holding 14 points. A crossover playoff berth remained within reach. The fourth-place team in the West can claim a playoff spot from the third-place team in the East if it finishes the regular season with more points. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats held third place in the East heading into Saturday night’s game against the Edmonton Elks.
After the game, Dickenson offered words of support for Ottawa head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who left Toronto — where he won two Grey Cups between 2022 and 2024 — to rebuild the struggling Redblacks franchise. Dickenson previously worked alongside Dinwiddie in Calgary, when Dinwiddie served as an assistant coach for the Stampeders.
“I’ve got respect for Ryan,” Dickenson said. “I think the league knows he’s an excellent offensive mind, head coach. I know this year hasn’t gone the way he was hoping for, obviously, but I know he’s going to just keep working. He’ll find a way.”
Dinwiddie, for his part, acknowledged that execution must improve. “Our level of execution has got to get better,” he said, while also crediting his players for their continued effort through a difficult season.
