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Late FG lifts Stampeders past Eskimos

Nov 3, 2012 - 5:03 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Rene Paredes booted the game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired and the Calgary Stampeders edged the Edmonton Eskimos, 30-27, at Commonwealth Stadium in the regular-season finale for both sides.

The Eskimos attempted a go-ahead field goal with 1:34 left, but a poor snap resulted in Calgary getting the ball back.

Calgary took over on its own 30-yard line. Bo Levi Mitchell was picked off on his first pass, but a roughing the passer penalty allowed the Stampeders to retain possession.

Joe West then caught a long pass, but the ball was punched out by a defender. A review determined West didn't fumble, but instead the play was ruled as an incomplete pass.

The Stampeders then moved into field goal range and Paredes lined up for the 44-yard boot, but pushed it wide left. The game appeared to be headed to overtime, but Edmonton burned a timeout just before the ball was snapped, giving Paredes another shot.

With a second chance at a potential game-winner, Paredes calmly banged it through the uprights, sending the Stampeders (12-6) to a West Division playoff matchup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders Nov. 11.

Drew Tate threw for 139 yards and a major on 11-of-15 passing while Jon Cornish picked up 69 yards on the ground with 14 carries. Cornish ended his season with 1,457 rushing yards, setting a new all-time record for rushing yards in a season by a Canadian player. He passed CFL legend Normie Kwong, who set the mark in 1956.

Matt Nichols threw for 341 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 18- of-30 passing, while Fred Stamps and Cary Koch caught touchdown passes for the Eskimos (7-11), who will cross over to the East Division and will travel to face the Toronto Argonauts in the playoffs next week.

Eskimos linebacker J.C. Sherritt finished with 11 tackles and one sack, setting a CFL record for most tackles in a single season with 130, passing Calvin Tiggle.

The Stampeders opened the scoring on the first possession of the game. Following an offside penalty to Edmonton, Calgary faced a 1st-and-5 from the Edmonton 26. Tate hit Jabari Arthur for 13 quick yards, then found West wide open on a crossing pattern for the 11-yard TD strike.

After the teams swapped punts on their next possessions, the Eskimos cut it to 7-3 with 5:31 left in the first quarter when Shaw booted a 42-yard field goal, capping a 6-play drive.

But, on the first play of the ensuing Calgary touch, Tate found Maurice Price down the middle for 40 yards. Three plays later, Tate finished a 4-play, 63- yard drive with a 9-yard scamper to the end zone, making it 14-3.

Paredes hit field goals of 35 and 46 yards on consecutive possessions for the Stampeders, extending the lead to 20-3 early in the second quarter.

Edmonton got back in the game late in the second stanza as Nichols led a 6- play, 57-yard drive to the Calgary 30 before hitting Stamps for a 30-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 20-10.

On their next possession, the Eskimos struck for a major again as Nichols connected on three passes during a 6-play, 86-yard march before capping the drive with a 48-yard touchdown bomb to Koch, making it 20-17 at halftime.

The Stampeders restored their two-possession lead late in the third quarter when Kevin Glenn capped a 4-play, 71-yard drive with a 57-touchdown pass to Price, widening the margin to 27-17.

But the Eskimos answered right back on their next drive as Cory Boyd finished off a short 4-play drive with a 21-yard sprint to the end zone, cutting the deficit to 27-24.

Shaw nailed a 40-yard field goal four minutes into the final quarter to tie the contest at 27.

Game Notes

Edmonton owns a 123-86-3 advantage in the all-time series between the teams, but the Stampeders swept the season series, 4-0 ... Stamps ended his season with a career-high nine touchdown catches ... Paredes has connected on his last 17 field goal tries.