Stampeders down Tiger-Cats in Calgary debut for QB Vernon Adams Jr.

CALGARY — Dedrick Mills scored 3 dashing touchdowns for the Calgary Stampeders in a 38-26 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. finished 19 of 28 go makes an attempt for 284 yards in his Stampeder debut whilst additionally dashing for 33 yards on 3 carries. He used to be intercepted two times in the second one quarter. 

His backup P.J. Walker contributed a short-yardage landing and Rene Paredes kicked box targets from 42, 29 and 38 yards in entrance of an introduced 18,682 on a breezy, hazy night at McMahon Stadium. Mills rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries within the sport.

Kenny Lawler and Isiah Wooden scored Hamilton’s touchdowns, whilst Marc Liegghio booted box targets from 47, 37 and 25 yards within the CFL season-opener for each golf equipment. 

The Tiger-Cats have not gained their first sport of the season since 2019, whilst the Stampeders progressed to 3-3 of their remaining six openers.

Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell finished 31 of 50 passes for 304 yards and a landing throw in an interception-free get started. Hamilton grew to become the ball over on downs 3 times within the sport.

The Stampeders scored a pivotal landing to start out the second one half of when Paredes’ kickoff hung within the wind. Calgary’s Jeshrun Antwi were given a hand at the soccer and teammate Kelon Thomas recovered at Hamilton’s 13-yard line. 

After Mills ran the ball to the only, Walker scored and Paredes’ convert gave Calgary a 25-10 lead. Paredes added a 29-yard box function, whilst Hamilton were given an 80-yard punt unmarried from Nik Constantinou overdue within the 3rd quarter.

Adams scrambled out of the pocket to hook up with Clark Barnes on a 65-yard passing play to finish the quarter. Mills began the fourth with a five-yard sprint to attain, however Hamilton’s Wooden returned the following kickoff 105 yards for the guests’ first landing of the sport to path 35-18.

Mitchell were given the offence transferring halfway during the fourth quarter, however the Tiger-Cats grew to become the ball over on downs on 3rd and two at Calgary’s seven-yard line. 

Hamilton’s Mario Kendricks salvaged a two-point protection, alternatively, via sacking Adams after all zone on Calgary’s subsequent power. 

Lawler scored his first landing as a Tiger-Cat with a 19-yard catch and run with two-and-a-half mins closing at the clock. Calgary defensive again Tyler Richardson denied Hamilton’s tried two-point convert via tackling Ante Milanovic-Litre.

The Tiger-Cats failed the following onside-kick restoration try. Paredes’ 38-yard box function had the hosts up 38-26 with simply over two mins to play.

Calgary led 18-9 at halftime. Mills generated his 2nd primary of the sport with 11 seconds left, adopted via a Paredes convert.

The Tiger-Cats had grew to become the ball over on downs with below a minute to head within the half of. Mills punched the ball in from the three-yard line 5 performs and 38 yards later.

Calgary’s 75-yard unmarried via new Australian punter Fraser Masin with a minute left within the half of gave the hosts an 11-9 lead.

A Mills’ 24-yard lift had Calgary threatening, however Adams used to be intercepted a 2nd time in the second one quarter half of with Jonathan Moxey getting Hamilton the ball. The Ticats transformed that turnover right into a 37-yard Liegghio box function to path via some degree.

Calgary led 10-3 after the outlet quarter. The Stampeders scored at the sport’s first ownership with Adams marching the offence 85 yards on 9 performs for Mills to cap with a one-yard dart into the top zone.

Hamilton countered with Liegghio’s 47-yard box function at the Tiger-Cats’ first power of the sport.

Mitchell reached 11th all-time in passing yardage within the CFL on that power to get to 39,047 yards, with 32,541 of the ones produced as a Stampeder between 2012 and 2022.

Calgary’s Paredes replied from 42-yards later within the first quarter, whilst Liegghio used to be just right from 25 yards to start out the second one. 

Stampeders: Visit the Toronto Argonauts subsequent Saturday.

Tiger-Cats: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders subsequent Saturday.