The Toronto Argonauts have no time to stew about last week’s collapse as they prepare for Friday’s rematch with the visiting Calgary Stampeders.
The Stampeders (4-4) scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Sunday to complete a 27-23 comeback against the visiting Argonauts (4-4).
Jake Maier threw touchdown passes to Marken Michel (15 yards) and Cam Echols (40 yards), and Rene Paredes booted his third and fourth field goals of the game as Calgary rallied from a 22-6 halftime deficit.
“I swear if you win the fourth quarter, most of the time you’re going to win in our league,” said Calgary coach Dave Dickenson, per TSN. “It’s just so balanced, so many good players. It’s an interception here or a touchdown catch there or a penalty here or something that you did — kickoff returns, something like that. Honestly, fourth-quarter football is where it’s at.”
It was a welcome reversal for a Stampeders team that was outscored 9-0 in the fourth quarter of a 26-17 loss to the B.C. Lions on June 15 and outscored 15-0 in the fourth quarter of a 30-26 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on July 6.
“We’ve had a hard time finishing in the fourth — offense, defense and special teams, everything,” said Calgary defensive end Mike Rose, who had two of Calgary’s six sacks against Toronto on Sunday. “This is the first time we’ve looked like a full-form fourth-quarter team.”
After improving to 4-0 at home with the come-from-behind win, the Stampeders are seeking their first road win of the season in Toronto. The Argonauts are 3-1 at home.
Toronto had a late chance to salvage Sunday’s game before Cameron Dukes’ deflected pass was intercepted with six seconds remaining.
Dukes rushed for a 4-yard touchdown and threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Richie Sindani in the first half, and Ka’Deem Carey’s 2-yard TD run pushed the lead to 22-6 entering the break.
Argonauts coach Ryan Dinwiddie blamed himself for the second-half swoon.
“I just told the locker room just now I felt like I let them down,” he told reporters after the game. “I didn’t call the best game in the second half. Our guys fought. I’ll own this loss. It falls on my shoulders. I just feel awful.”
–Field Level Media
