The Calgary Stampeders clinched the final playoff spot in West Division Friday night at BC Place with a 33-23 win over the Lions.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was 20/26 for 264-yards, and three touchdowns. Mitchell’s touchdown happened in the first half and fourth quarter.
Mitchell scrambled out of the pocket in the first quarter, while Ka’Deem Carey got the defense to freeze just as Mitchell threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Markeith Ambles for a 7-3 lead with 6:35 left. Then, in the second quarter, Mitchell again scrambled out of the pocket, finding Reggie Begelton for a 15-yard touchdown that tied the game 13-13 with 3:17 left.
Finally, in the fourth quarter, Mitchell threw a couple of passes. One to Reggie Begelton that set them up on the Lions’ nine-yard. Reggie Begelton was hurt after the play and did not return. Begelton led the receivers with seven catches for 119-yards and one touchdown. Then, Mitchell threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Malik Henry for a 33-23 lead with 4:54 left.
Running back, Ka’Deem Carey had 15 carries for 85-yards and one touchdown. His touchdown happened in the third quarter on a six-yard run that extended Calgary’s lead 23-13 with 12:45 left. Kicker Rene Paredes was 2/2 with his longest field goal for 44-yards. The defense recorded two sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
For the Lions, quarterback Mike Reilly went 30/37 for 340-yards, one touchdown, and six carries for 31-yards. Backup quarterback Nathan Rourke did not complete a pass but had two carries for 13-yards and one touchdown. His touchdown happened in the second quarter on a one-yard run that put the Lions up 13-7 with 8:32 left.
BC Lions running back James Butler led in rushing with 11 carries for 89-yards, and wide receiver Dominique Rhymes led the receivers with six catches for 111-yards. Wide receiver Jevon Cottoy had six catches for 70-yards and one touchdown.
His touchdown came in the third quarter when Mike Reilly threw a 16-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Stampeders lead 26-23 with 11:03 left. Kicker Nick Vogel was 3/3 with his longest field goal for 39-yards. The defense recorded two sacks.
In the fourth quarter, Lions wide receiver Lucky Whitehead returned a punt for an 86-yard touchdown to put them in the lead. However, the return was called back after a holding penalty.
Next week, the BC Lions wrap up the season on Friday, November 19th, against the Edmonton Elks at 10:30 pm on ESPN+. Then, the Calgary Stampeders will return home for their regular-season finale against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, November 20th, at 7 pm on ESPN+.
