Adams throws four touchdowns as Stampeders beat Roughriders 37-31 in Regina

REGINA — Vernon Adams Jr. threw four touchdown passes, René Paredes was perfect on three field-goal attempts, and the Calgary Stampeders beat the defending Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders 37-31 on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium.

The win was Calgary's third straight. The Stampeders (8-8) are back at .500 for the first time since Week 9 and sit even with Saskatchewan (8-7) on 16 points in the West Division standings. Because Calgary won by six, it also took the season series between the clubs — and the head-to-head tiebreaker that comes with it — after the Roughriders' 40-37 overtime win in Calgary on June 20 left the aggregate margin at three points.

Adams finished 22-of-29 for 242 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He spread the scoring around: Clark Barnes, Damien Alford, Tevin Jones and Jalen Philpot each caught one touchdown pass.

Trevor Harris threw for 453 yards and four touchdowns for Saskatchewan, completing 36 of 50 passes, but he was intercepted once and sacked twice. Kian Schaffer-Baker caught nine passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Calgary struck first. With 11:41 remaining in the first quarter, Adams found Barnes from 13 yards out for the opening touchdown, and Paredes added the convert for a 7-0 lead. Saskatchewan answered with 8:36 left in the quarter when Harris hit Schaffer-Baker from 23 yards, with Dawson Hodge's convert tying the game.

The Stampeders went back in front with 6:03 left in the opening quarter. Adams connected with Alford on a 48-yard touchdown strike, and Paredes' convert made it 14-7. Hodge's 38-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the quarter cut Calgary's lead to 14-10.

Paredes extended the lead to 17-10 with a 51-yard field goal at 12:17 of the second quarter, and that stood as the halftime score after a scoreless remainder of the half.

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter. Hodge connected from 44 yards at 10:03, and Paredes answered from 45 yards at 4:58, sending Calgary to the fourth quarter up 20-13.

Calgary broke the game open early in the final frame. Jones caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Adams at 9:19, and Philpot added a short touchdown catch at 5:20 — the fourth scoring strike of the night for Adams. Both converts were good, and the Stampeders led 34-13.

Saskatchewan made the final score closer than the game felt. Harris found Daniel Wiebe for a 13-yard touchdown with 2:42 remaining, but the two-point attempt failed and Calgary led 34-19. Paredes then hit a 43-yard field goal with 2:08 left to make it 37-19.

The Roughriders added two more touchdowns in the final 64 seconds — a five-yard catch by Dhel Duncan-Busby with 1:04 remaining and an eight-yard catch by Johnny Johnson III on the final play of the game. Both two-point attempts failed, leaving the final at 37-31.

The box score told a strange story. Saskatchewan outgained Calgary 470-326 in total yards and 453-242 through the air, and the Roughriders held a 30-21 edge in first downs. But Calgary won the details that decided it: the Stampeders committed no turnovers to Saskatchewan's two, took only four penalties for 30 yards to the Roughriders' eight for 68, and held the ball for 31:03.

Neither team ran the ball effectively. Ludovick Choquette led Calgary with 30 yards on five carries as the Stampeders totaled 84 rushing yards; A.J. Ouellette led Saskatchewan with 28 yards on eight carries as the Roughriders managed just 30.

Philpot finished with eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on a game-high 13 targets.

Paredes finished 3-for-3 on field goals (51, 45 and 43 yards) and 4-for-4 on converts for 13 points. Hodge was 2-for-2 on field goals (38 and 44 yards) for Saskatchewan.

It was Saskatchewan's third straight loss. The Roughriders had entered the night tied for second in the West with B.C. and now face a home-and-home with the CFL-leading Montreal Alouettes.

Calgary's win streak has reached three after back-to-back wins over Ottawa, and the Stampeders now hold the tiebreaker over a team they are chasing in the standings — with the season series in hand.

This recap is brought to you in part by Animas Painting — interior and exterior painting in Calgary. Reach Rafael at 403-604-5529.