Stampeders score final 18 points to beat Lions 44-41 in overtime | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Stampeders score final 18 points to beat Lions 44-41 in overtime

BC Lions' Shawn Gore, left, misses a catch as Calgary Stampeders' Tommie Campbell looks on during second half CFL football action in Calgary, Friday, July 29, 2016.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Original Publication Date July 29, 2016 - 10:45 PM

CALGARY - Rene Paredes did his job in overtime and then Tommie Campbell sealed the deal.

After Paredes kicked a 42-yard field goal, Campbell picked off a Jonathon Jennings pass in the end zone to earn the Calgary Stampeders a thrilling 44-41 win over the B.C. Lions on Friday night.

"I just couldn't believe it at first," said Paredes, who finished the game with five field goals.

"I wasn't sure he got the interception, but once the fireworks came out, I knew it was a win. The team fought hard all game and we did a great job."

After his game-winning pick, Campbell fell to the ground and was mobbed by his appreciative teammates.

"We didn't want to leave it in nobody else's hands so we took full advantage of it and I came down with the play and we won the game," said the rookie defensive back.

Trailing 41-26 late in the fourth quarter, the Stampeders (3-1-1) rallied with two touchdowns and a two-point convert to tie up the score and send the game to overtime.

"I noticed a couple people leaving," said Calgary coach Dave Dickenson in regards to several of the 27,651 fans in attendance at McMahon Stadium heading for the exits when the Stamps were down by 15 points.

"I hope they stay next time because this team has a lot of fight in them."

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell started the comeback by leading the Stamps on a seven-play, 94-yard drive that culminated with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Greg Wilson, his second TD of the game.

Stamps cornerback Ciante Evans then picked off an errant pass by Jennings and ran it back 18 yards to the B.C. 32-yard line.

Two plays later, Bakari Grant hauled in a 12-yard TD pass from Mitchell, who promptly tossed a strike to Anthony Parker in the end zone for a two-point convert to make it 41-41.

Mitchell went 29 for 44 for 364 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Tory Harrison ran for a TD for the Stamps, while Rob Maver booted a single.

Despite the loss, Jennings had a great game for the Lions (3-2) as he completed 26-of-41 passes for 374 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

"We just couldn't get it done," said a dejected Jennings. "I made two terrible mistakes and let the team down. We just didn't finish. We didn't close the game out. That's my fault."

Shawn Gore, Bryan Burnham and Geraldo Boldewijn hauled in the TD passes from Jennings, while Chris Rainey returned a punt for a touchdown and Richie Leone kicked a field goal and two singles.

"All we came in here to do was win and we couldn't get it done," said Burnham, who led all receivers with 139 yards on nine catches.

Rainey started things off for the Lions with a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown just 49 seconds into the first quarter. Allen then caught a short pass from back-up Lions quarterback Travis Lulay for a two-point convert to give B.C. an early 8-0 lead.

After Paredes kicked a 46-yard field goal to get Calgary on the board, the Lions marched back into Calgary territory but were unable to find the end zone. Facing a third-and-one situation, the Lions gambled but were stopped as Stamps linebacker Taylor Reed tackled Rainey for a one-yard loss short of the goal line.

Leone then kicked a 64-yard single before Jennings opened up the second quarter by running for a one-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Leone booted an 81-yard single to give the Lions a 17-6 lead.

The rest of the second quarter belonged to the Stamps as Paredes connected on a 27-yard field goal before Leone kicked the ball wide to the right on a 53-yard attempt.

Calgary returner Roy Finch ran the ball out to the 35-yard line and on the next play Wilson hauled in a long pass from Mitchell and ran the rest of the way for a 75-yard touchdown.

Paredes then booted a 44-yard field goal to pull Calgary to within a point before halftime.

Jennings engineered a four-play, 82-yard drive to start the third quarter that he capped off by throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Gore.

After Leone kicked a 20-yard field goal, Paredes answered back with one of his own from 32 yards out.

Burnham then hauled in a seven-yard TD pass from Jennings as the Lions scored on all three of their possessions in the third quarter to build up a 34-19 lead.

Harrison ran for a 10-yard score at 2:20 of the fourth quarter to complete a successful five-play, 54-yard drive, but Paredes missed the convert. Maver got that point back with a 52-yard punt single six minutes into the final quarter to pull the Stamps within eight points.

Jennings then led the Lions on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a seven-yard TD pass to Boldewijn before the Stamps rallied for the win.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016
The Canadian Press

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