The Calgary Stampeders won an eighth-straight Labour Day Classic on Sunday, defeating the Edmonton Eskimos by a score of 25-9.
Bo Levi Mitchell played well in his return to the line-up, completing 19-of-28 pass attempts for 263 yards and one touchdown. The league’s reigning Most Outstanding Player had missed Calgary’s seven previous games with a pectoral injury.
Reggie Begelton comes up with the touchdown to extend the @calstampeders' lead!#LDWeekend pic.twitter.com/opSqF81grm
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 2, 2019
Reggie Begelton was Mitchell’s favorite target on the day, making 10 receptions for 138 yards and a score. The performance launched the 26-year-old to second place on the CFL’s receiving list behind only Hamilton’s Brandon Banks.
The Stampeders opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal on the club’s first offensive drive. The clubs traded three-point scores again before the end of the first quarter, giving Calgary a 6-3 lead.
The first major of the game didn’t come until 47 seconds before halftime when Nick Arbuckle scored on a one-yard plunge.
Mitchell’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Begelton on the first play of the fourth quarter made the score 25-9, icing the game for the home team.
Calgary gathers the first turnover of the game as Royce Metchie hauls in the tipped ball.#LDWeekend pic.twitter.com/84RvkgDUGi
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) September 2, 2019
Trevor Harris struggled to get going against Calgary’s vaunted defence, completing 27-of-35 pass attempts for 216 yards and one interception. The pick was the first of Royce Metchie’s career and came off a tipped pass by Ricky Collins Jr.
Edmonton’s dominant front-seven was unable to generate much pressure on Mitchell, finishing the game with zero sacks. The Eskimos entered the game with a league-leading 33 quarterback take downs.
Calgary finished the game with two sacks, courtesy of veteran nationals Derek Wiggan and Cory Greenwood.
Edmonton’s red zone struggles continued on Labour Day with the club managing just three points on two attempts. The first trip to the red zone resulted in a 19-yard field goal from Sean Whyte, while the second ended in a turnover on downs.
Calgary (6-4) has secured the season series against Edmonton (6-5) by virtue of two head-to-head victories this year. The final meeting of the season will take place next week at Commonwealth Stadium.
