Low Five: Calgary Stampeders baffled after late Labour Day collapse

Photo: Blair Takahashi/COACHTAK/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

For the first 45 minutes of this year’s Labour Day Classic between the Edmonton Elks and the Calgary Stampeders, everything seemed to be going the way of the hometown squad.

The Stamps had an eleven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, and the Elks were unable to move the ball against a suddenly staunch Calgary defence.

Then the wheels absolutely fell off, and the Elks scored 24 unanswered points to take home a 38-28 victory in front of the largest crowd of the Stampeders season to date.

Here are the five plays that made the difference:

Anderson lowers the boom — 2:41 left in Q1

There is no questioning the talent of Nick Anderson.

The former CFL Rookie of the Year has only played six games this season, but has already rocketed up the stats page to move into third place on the Elks in total tackles.

With that said, when Vernon Adams Jr. took off on a scramble late in the first quarter, Anderson was guilty of a hit that is likely to reduce his game cheque, and arguably should have drawn an ejection.

Adams had begun to slide, and Anderson took a step, lowered his head, and made helmet-to-helmet contact with the QB, who was returning from a concussion suffered a few weeks ago.

The CFL rulebook specifically addresses this type of hit as a grade-two 25-yard penalty.

“When a blow is delivered with the (crown) of the helmet to the head or neck of the passer, when the defender has a clear view to contact, and there are no mitigating circumstances such as the QB’s helmet level changing prior to contact.”

Instead of a 25-yard penalty or game misconduct, Anderson was assessed a standard 15-yard roughing the passer penalty.

Given the way he led with his helmet, I’m not sure this was the right call. Anderson went on to collect 12 tackles, a sack, and a crucial pass knockdown late in the game to snuff out a Calgary drive.

While one can only speculate what his backup may have been able to do in the game, it’s safe to say they wouldn’t have been as effective as Anderson.

Hicks keeps the drive alive — 8:10 left in Q3

As with Nick Anderson, there’s no questioning the efficacy of Clarence Hicks in 2026.

Leading the league in sacks with nine through 12 games, Hicks has been a dominant force on the defensive line for Calgary.

However, on this particular play, Hicks pushed the envelope too far and wound up not only costing the team 15 yards of real estate with an unnecessary roughness penalty, but also kept the drive alive for the Elks.

Instead of an incompletion to Joe Robustelli that would have forced a punt from Edmonton’s 26-yard line, the Green and Gold drove the ball for six minutes to eventually find the end zone, chewing up a good portion of time the Stampeders had the wind at their backs.

That momentum-changing drive gave the Elks offence a life they had not exhibited in the first half, and would carry them to the eventual victory.

Robustelli snags a deep one — 11:25 left in Q4

Joe Robustelli led the Elks with 53 yards, corralling three of his six targets.

With his team on the comeback trail, Robustelli caught his longest of the game — a 26-yarder to put the Elks into Calgary territory.

Fajardo found the receiver open in the middle of the field, settling into the zone coverage offered, and made no mistake putting the ball in his hands.

It was a spot that hadn’t been open to that point in the game, but Fajardo exploited it the rest of the way.

This drive also ended with a touchdown just a few plays later to bring the Elks within a touchdown of a tie game.

Barnes fumbles it away — 8:03 left in Q4

As a part of the nearly all-Canadian receiving corps the Stampeders have fielded the last few weeks, Clark Barnes has carved himself a starters role by being a reliable, if not often targeted option for Vernon Adams Jr.

Barnes made a nice catch over the middle in traffic for 25 yards to get the ball nearly to midfield before it was knocked out of his grasp by strong-side linebacker Kordell Jackson.

Nick Taylor fell on the ball and the Stamps were suddenly back on defence again, just one play after giving up a touchdown.

While Calgary would force a two-and-out, the Elks were able to keep chipping away, this time adding a field goal.

Justin Rankin does Justin Rankin things — 4:36 to go in Q4

The Stampeders had done the job they needed to against Justin Rankin in the first half.

They limited the dangerous Elks running back to negative yardage and saw him replaced by backup ShunDerrick Powell.

Powell was effective in a way that Rankin wasn’t, taking his seven carries and turning them into 38 yards and a touchdown during the comeback.

Rankin was brought back into the game and immediately reminded everyone that he is one of the most electric players in the CFL, turning the corner on a toss and going 50 yards for the score.

The veteran broke contain and cut back towards the field, breaking several tackles on his way to the end zone for the go-ahead score.

That Rankin finished the day with only 48 yards tells you how ineffective he was otherwise, but on the highlight package, it will be the touchdown that stands the test of time.

Next up

The Stamps will hope to return the favour next week as they face these same Elks in the Labour Day rematch on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.

A loss would make Calgary’s playoff picture a lot dimmer.