Paredes hits 62-yard walk-off field goal as Stampeders beat Redblacks 40-38

CALGARY — René Paredes delivered when the Calgary Stampeders needed him most.

Paredes connected from 62 yards on the final play Saturday night, lifting Calgary to a dramatic 40-38 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks at McMahon Stadium.

The win snapped Calgary's two-game losing streak and moved the Stampeders to 6-8 with four games remaining, keeping alive the possibility of a 10-8 finish. Ottawa fell to 0-13.

"We needed it," Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said. "It was a bit of desperation mode. … We really needed that win, and we got it."

Calgary appeared to have taken control late after Vernon Adams Jr. found Jalen Philpot in the back of the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown, giving the Stampeders a 34-31 lead with 3:28 remaining.

Zy Alexander then intercepted McLeod Bethel-Thompson and returned it 29 yards to the Ottawa 23. Paredes followed with a 19-yard field goal to make it 37-31.

But the Redblacks answered. Bethel-Thompson found Justin Hardy for a touchdown in the final minute, putting Ottawa back in front 38-37.

Calgary responded with one final drive. After a penalty left the Stampeders facing second-and-20 from their own 55-yard line, Paredes eventually came out for a 62-yard attempt with the game on the line.

He delivered.

"I knew if I hit it clean, it would get there for me," Paredes said. "We had a good operation. Vassett did a great job. Got it done."

Paredes had also connected from 57 yards earlier in the game and finished 4-for-4 on field goals. His 62-yard winner was the longest field goal of his CFL career.

Adams completed 28 of 41 passes for 357 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Philpot finished with 118 receiving yards, while Deonta McMahon rushed for 102 yards in his first start with Calgary.

"I thought he played really well, in fact," Dickenson said of Adams. "He made all the plays that he needed to when he had to."

Calgary took a 17-14 lead into halftime after Adams connected with Tevin Jones for a 60-yard touchdown with 29 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

McMahon helped Calgary extend its lead in the third, breaking a 34-yard run during a drive that ended with Quincy Vaughn's second short-yardage touchdown of the night.

Dickenson said McMahon brought "that extra juice, that little extra gear that made us look explosive."

The Redblacks continued to answer, tying the game 24-24 early in the fourth before the teams traded the lead down the stretch.

For a Calgary team that entered the night 0-4 in games decided by four points or fewer, this time the final play went its way.

"It's just nice for us finally to come out on the right end of it," Dickenson said.

Philpot said the Stampeders understand the urgency of their position.

"We know we're in playoff football," he said. "Just gotta try and keep stacking these Ws and … go on a run. Why not?"

Calgary and Ottawa meet again next week in the nation's capital.