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The Calgary Stampeders fought back.

It wasn’t enough and they lost 31-29 to the Ottawa Redblacks on a last-second field goal.

This drops the Stamps’ record to 4-6 this season and was their first home loss.

This is of course disappointing.

However, some context is required here.

Those Redblacks beat the Stamps 33-6 less than a month ago. They are a very good football team. Losing to them is not the end of the world in and of itself, although it will make it more difficult for the Stamps to keep the teams behind them at bay in the race for the West Division playoffs in the future.

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However, the Stampeders did not simply go into the night.

They fought. They deserve recognition for that.

After a close first quarter with many points, it seemed as if the Redblacks had made the necessary adjustments and were taking on the Stamps.

In the second and third quarters, the offense dried up completely. Ottawa running back Ryquell Armstead – not a popular player at McMahon Stadium – stormed through gaps and moved the sticks.

The Stamps seemed dead and buried and looked like a team that was on a low note going into the off week.

And then, well, they woke up.

Quarterback Jake Maier seemed to remember Reggie Begelton’s existence, and anyone who has watched any Stampeders football this season knows that the team runs best when Begelton sees a lot of the ball.

We were down 28-19 in the fourth quarter, but Maier and his star receiver completed a spectacular 50-yard pass that set up a direct touchdown from Tommy Stevens. That moment was the turning point and seemingly came out of nowhere.

The Stamps defense did its job on the next drive and Rene Paredes even gave them a 29-28 lead.

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On the following attacks, the Stamps defense again did what was asked of them, but the offense failed to get a two-and-out, which gave the Redblacks a chance.

And that was all they needed. They got within field goal range and Lewis Ward did what he did as time ran out on the clock: he made a 51-yard throw to give the Redblacks the win.
This just hurts.

And the Stamps will look back on their second and third quarters and wonder what more they could have done.

After a solid start, the offensive dried up – as is often the case.

They went through one of those long periods where they seem to get a penalty every other game, rely too much on low-risk, low-yardage plays, and the offense can’t stay on the field.

It’s one of the most frustrating features of this Stamps team.

There are times when you see what they could be. When Jake Maier – who completed 24 of 32 passes for 269 yards – finds receivers further down the field and the defense pressures the opposing quarterback and the offense moves the ball enough for Tommy Stevens to do what he does and get the ball into the end zone. He had three touchdowns on Thursday.

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But there are far too many situations where we don’t see that.

Despite some really great plays in the fourth quarter, the defense again struggled to stop the opponent’s run. Ryquall Armstead ran the ball 11 times for 120 yards, while Jeremiah Masoli did a great job completing 27 of 36 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown.

When things are going well for the Stampeders, like they did in the first and fourth quarters, they look good. When things aren’t going well, like they did in the second and third quarters on Thursday, they really aren’t going well.

The defeat does not mean the end for the Stamps. They are still in the playoff fight.

But they have to find a way to put the four quarters together.

And that still seems a long way off.

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