Article content

It’s one for the road for the Calgary Stampeders…

An away win – for their first of the CFL campaign – and one that sends them off into the sunset, feeling at least a little better after the debacle that was the 2024 season.

“For the guys, I think it was excellent,” Stampeders general manager and head coach Dave Dickenson told Stamps TV moments after Saturday’s 27-12 victory over the hosts. Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Article content

“They played hard and they played good football.”

The truth is the Roughriders didn’t have much to play for going into the game.

In fact, the air went out for them just before their matchup against the Stampeders, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers secured first place in the CFL West Division. The Bombers’ last-second 28-27 advantage over the host Montreal Alouettes knocked the Riders out of the race for first place and solidified them into second place in the West for the upcoming playoffs, the leaving without much motivation for the regular match. -season finale.

But the Stamps would take the win to end a nine-game winless streak, ending their ugly 5-12-1 year with some joy.

Pass receivers Clark Barnes, Cam Echols and Marken Michel each caught touchdowns from quarterback Jake Maier. The first two — 33 and nine yards respectively — came in the second quarter to give the Stamps a 14-3 halftime lead, and Maier’s 67-yard strike to Michel, still holding, was a insurance at the start of the fourth engagement.

The loss drops the Riders to 9-8-1, but they will host the West Semifinal against the 9-9 BC Lions next Sunday.

Article content

Article content

Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s Stampede win in Regina in Week 21:

A WIN IS A WIN

Dickenson wanted victory to end the long winless skid that looked like a free fall for centuries.

“It’s amazing,” Maier told Stamps TV. “It hasn’t been the best year for us, obviously.

“Winning that game, whether it meant anything to the league or not, it meant everything to us, just because it’s been so long. Now we can go to bed at night knowing that we didn’t give up and that we played well in our last game.

The Stamps’ last victory came on August 4 in a 27-23 win over the visiting Toronto Argonauts at McMahon Stadium. And at that point, they were still in the playoff race with a 4-4 record.

But nine straight games with just one tie – in a bizarre 19-19 affair against the heavyweight Alouettes – to help them in the standings created a losing campaign for the Red and White.

“At least you ended on the right note,” Dickenson said. “Definitely, the guys responded.”

Article content

This five-win year is the worst since 2004, the last time the Stamps – then 4-14 – missed the CFL playoffs.

SOLID MAIER

OK, so he ran into a Roughriders defense – with many of its starters rested – that might not have provided much motivation in the contest.

Nonetheless, the veteran Maier was solid in the season finale.

“I’m very grateful that (Dickenson) gave me this opportunity,” Maier said. “As the match went on, I really felt the adrenaline build…And as the game went on, I felt more and more comfortable.”

The QB, placed on the bench twice this season, had three touchdown throws in only one other game on the schedule. And in that one, he racked up 307 yards with no interceptions for – more importantly – a victory in a 25-24 advantage over the visiting BC Lions.

The stats were similar on Saturday, with Maier finishing 19 of 26 for 293 yards with that trio of TDs and zero INTs.

Make no mistake…this is a winning stat line in most games.

But such performances are too rare from Maier, whose untimely turnovers have hurt the team.

“I called him earlier in the week when I thought Matt (Shiltz) wasn’t going to play, and I said, ‘Jake, I think you give us the best chance to win. Are you ready to step in again?’ ” Dickenson said. “And he said, ‘Damn… yeah… I want to play, I want to win.’ And he had an excellent match.

Article content

Even if he did so on Saturday, it probably wasn’t enough for the ever-optimistic Maier to keep his job for 2025.

CH-CH-CHANGES

So who else is in danger?

With just five wins in 2024 and just 11 in the last two seasons, big changes must be on the horizon.

Whether that means Dickenson is part of those changes remains to be seen, but experts say it’s been too much for him to work as both general manager and head coach.

It is certain that the coaching staff cannot continue as it currently exists, given the lack of recent success and the franchise’s reversal of fortune since its Gray Cup triumph in 2018.

And some are calling for better leadership among the players in the locker room.

“They know change is coming,” Dickenson added. “This is the last time this group gets together.”

Stay tuned for all of this as the off-season is now underway for the Stampeders.

[email protected]

http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM

Article content