Calgary’s Balanced Attack Overwhelms Edmonton in Lopsided Affair
The Calgary Stampeders delivered a statement performance on home turf Saturday night, dismantling the visiting Edmonton Elks 31-4 in a convincing preseason victory at McMahon Stadium. The Stamps controlled the game from the opening quarter, building a commanding 15-1 halftime lead before cruising to victory in front of their home crowd.
Calgary’s offensive machine hummed efficiently throughout the contest, amassing 348 total yards while limiting Edmonton to just 226 yards. The Stampeders demonstrated their depth across multiple quarterback rotations, with three different signal-callers contributing to the scoring effort.
First Quarter Sets the Tone
Calgary wasted little time establishing dominance, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions. Logan Bonner punched in a pair of one-yard rushing touchdowns, finding paydirt at 12:35 and again at 00:44 of the opening frame. Rene Paredes converted both extra points, while also adding a rouge single to give the Stamps a commanding 15-1 lead after one quarter.
Edmonton’s lone first-quarter point came via a Cody Grace punt single, highlighting the early struggles for the visiting offense.
Paredes Provides Field Goal Accuracy
The veteran kicker Rene Paredes proved perfect on the night, converting all three field goal attempts including a long of 52 yards. His consistency provided crucial points as Calgary maintained control throughout the middle quarters, extending their lead to 21-1 by halftime and 24-4 entering the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter Touchdown Caps Victory
The Stampeders added the exclamation point late in the fourth quarter when Phillip Walker Jr. connected with Daylen Baldwin on a 13-yard touchdown pass. The scoring strike capped a four-play, 35-yard drive that put the game firmly out of reach at 30-4 before Paredes’ final convert made it 31-4.
Individual Standouts
Calgary Offensive Leaders
Passing:
- Vernon Adams Jr.: 9/12, 129 yards, 109.4 efficiency rating
- Phillip Walker Jr.: 13/19, 138 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 63.0 efficiency rating
Rushing:
- Jeshrun Antwi: 5 carries, 39 yards (7.8 avg)
- Tiyon Evans: 2 carries, 19 yards (9.5 avg)
Receiving:
- Dominique Rhymes: 4 catches, 81 yards, 20.3 average
- Cam Echols: 3 catches, 51 yards
Defense:
- Kelechi Anyalebechi: 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
- Gary Johnson Jr.: 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
- Anthony Johnson Jr.: 1 fumble recovery, 18 yards
Edmonton Offensive Leaders
Passing:
- Cody Fajardo: 7/8, 57 yards, 104.7 efficiency rating
- Cole Snyder: 5/9, 76 yards, 1 interception
Rushing:
- DeWayne McBride: 5 carries, 28 yards (5.6 avg)
- Artavis Pierce: 6 carries, 21 yards
Receiving:
- JJ Laap: 4 catches, 47 yards
- Zach Mathis: 4 catches, 32 yards
- Kearis Jackson: 4 catches, 60 yards
Defense:
- Chelen Garnes: 6 tackles
- Leonard Johnson: 4 tackles
- Demetries Ford: 4 tackles, 1 interception
Turnover Battle Proves Decisive
Calgary’s defense forced three Edmonton turnovers while committing only two themselves, a crucial factor in the lopsided outcome. The Stampeders intercepted two Edmonton passes and recovered one fumble, converting those opportunities into points that helped break the game open.
Edmonton struggled with consistency on offense, managing just 13 first downs compared to Calgary’s 22. The Elks also faced significant pressure, allowing five sacks for 19 yards in losses.
Looking Ahead
With one preseason game remaining before the June 5th season opener, Calgary appears well-positioned with their offensive depth and defensive playmaking ability. The Stampeders showed impressive balance with multiple contributors across all phases.
Edmonton will need to address their turnover issues and offensive line protection as they prepare for the regular season. The Elks showed flashes of competence but must find more consistency to compete effectively when games begin to count.
Both teams will look to fine-tune their preparations in the final preseason contest before embarking on what promises to be an exciting 2025 CFL campaign.
