For the seventh time in 10 games, the Calgary Stampeders played a football game decided by a touchdown or less.
The latest nail-biter was a 38-33 decision over the Edmonton Eskimos Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium. As usual, the game came down to the final minute and the Stamps secured victory by foiling an Eskimos onside kick attempt.
The Stamps improved to 6-4 and are tied with the Esks for second place in the Canadian Football League’s West Division. However, Edmonton holds an advantage because they won two of the three head-to-head games this season.
The night began ominously for Calgary when the first offensive play was a fumbled shotgun snap that was recovered by Edmonton linebacker Shannon Garrett and returned 25 yards for a touchdown.
But the Stamps, who lost 37-16 on Labour Day, showed great character and marched 81 yards for a touchdown on their next possession.
Both offences sputtered for much of the first half, as Sandro DeAngelis kicked a couple of field goals for Calgary and Burke Dales punted a rouge, while Noel Prefontaine answered with two field goals and a rouge.
The teams were tied 14-14 at the break and the first offensive play of the second half also resulted in a defensive touchdown. This time, Stamps linebacker Shannon James intercepted Ricky Ray and raced 27 yards for a touchdown. Prefontaine then kicked two more field goals in the third quarter.
The final quarter featured 30 points and Jeremiane Copeland started the fireworks with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Henry Burris. Ray then replied with a nine-yard touchdown run, but the Stamps answered right back when Ken-Yon Rambo made a fantastic 27-yard touchdown catch to give Calgary a 38-26 lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Edmonton made the Stamps sweat again when Mathieu Bertrand scored a two-yard touchdown run, but the threat was ended when Calgary recovered the onside kick.
Burris completed 19 of 36 passes for 323 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The strike to Thelwell was Burris’ 100th touchdown pass as a member of the Stampeders.
Copeland had his best game of the season with four catches for 92 yards. James had a brilliant night with seven defensive tackles, a special-teams tackle, a sack, a forced fumble, a pick and a touchdown.
The Stamps defence had a season-high five sacks with defensive end Mike Labinjo responsible for three.
DeAngelis was good on all three of his field goal attempts and has now hit 14 straight.
The Stamps improved their road record to 4-2 before a crowd of 46,014.