Paredes kicks late field goal as Stampeders beat Roughriders to cap pre-season

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant runs down Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Demonte' Bolden after grabbing an interception in the first quarter of CFL pre-season football action in Regina, Sask., Thursday, June 20, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards

June 20, 2013 - 10:16 PM

REGINA - Rene Paredes scored his third field goal of the game from 29 yards with less than three minutes left as the Calgary Stampeders beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 24-23 on Thursday in the final CFL pre-season game for both teams.

Six days after the Roughriders scored twice in the final minute to beat the Edmonton Eskimos by a touchdown, it was Saskatchewan that couldn't hold a fourth-quarter lead.

Down 23-14 after three quarters, the Stampeders drew within two points 41 seconds into the fourth on LaMarcus Coker's one-yard touchdown run.

The Roughriders moved into scoring position twice after that but failed to capitalize, missing one field goal from 48 yards and bobbling the snap on another from 36.

Saskatchewan opened the scoring on its first possession of the game, which primarily featured the first-team offences and defences for each club.

Starting quarterback Darian Durant recovered his own fumble and passed to Rob Bagg at the sideline for a first down on the third play of the drive, and Kory Sheets ran for a one-yard TD three plays later.

Calgary replied with 14 straight points on field goals of 37 and 35 yards from Paredes' field goal, a 26-yard touchdown pass from Drew Tate to Rob Cote before the first quarter was up and a 63-yard punt single from Rob Maver that bounced past Riders returner Jock Sanders and into the end zone.

Saskatchewan's sputtering offence got a jolt after Calgary punter Maver conceded a safety early in the third quarter.

Sheets' second touchdown of the game, a 12-yard rush midway through the third, put Saskatchewan ahead 16-14.

Sheets followed up on the next possession with a 50-yard run from near half that set up a four-yard TD toss from Durant to Scott McHenry that put Saskatchewan ahead 23-14.

Sheets finished the game with a game-high 97 yards rushing on 10 runs.

Durant finished 14-of-23 passes for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Drew Willy and Tino Sunseri relieved Durant in the fourth quarter. Willy was 2 for 5 for 24 yards and Sunseri was incomplete on his only throw of the game.

Tate played the first half at quarterback for the Stamps before giving way to Ryan Perrilloux, Kevin Glenn and Bo Levi Mitchell in the second half.

Tate went 9 for 21 for 107 yards and a touchdown. Perrilloux was 1 for 3 for 14 yards in two series of action. Glenn finished 4 for 5 for 39 yards, and Mitchell closed out the game completing all four passes he attempted.

Calgary opens the regular season June 28 at home against the B.C. Lions while the Roughriders are in Edmonton June 29 to take on the Eskimos.