Maier throws three touchdowns to lead Stampeders to 25-24 win over Lions

CALGARY — A five-yard touchdown catch by Clark Barnes at 6:14 of the fourth quarter proved to be the deciding score for the Calgary Stampeders.

On the previous play, Barnes caught a screen pass from quarterback Jake Maier and ran for a gain of 40 yards to set up the play that led the Stampeders (3-3) to a narrow 25-24 victory over the BC Lions (5-2) before 20,057 fans at McMahon Stadium on Sunday.

“I think the screen where he (Barnes) made two guys miss and took us to the five-yard line was really the separation,” Maier said. “It’s hard to score touchdowns in this league. It’s hard to score touchdowns against BC, so if he just catches the ball a yard down the field and makes two guys miss and takes it to the five-yard line, that’s your ball game.

“That makes seven. I thought it was the play of the night for him.”

Maier, who also threw touchdown passes to Reggie Begelton and Jalen Philpot earlier in the game, completed 25 of 32 passes for 307 yards.

Barnes, who finished the game with three catches for 63 yards, was just happy to hear his number called at such a crucial moment in a close game.

“They made me a little script,” Barnes said. “I just tried to catch the ball, have fun and make a play, so it felt great to make a play at the end of the game.”

Barnes’ touchdown put the Stamps ahead 25-20, with the Lions still having plenty of time to come back.

BC’s Sean Whyte extended his club record by connecting on his 42nd consecutive field goal, from 52 yards out, before Stefan Flintoft connected on an 84-yard punt single with 1:53 left to pull the Lions within a point. The visitors, however, could get as close as they could.

“It was a battle,” Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said. “I have to say, I never felt like we were in the pocket. I never felt like we were out. Back and forth — good football game, glad we won at home.”

Rene Paredes also kicked a field goal for the Stamps, who ended a two-game losing streak. Calgary also scored two points on a safety.

Stanley Berryhill III and Justin McInnis caught touchdown passes from BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., while Whyte kicked three field goals for the Lions, ending their five-game winning streak.

“We’ve been there before, when we were the team that made the decisions to win the game and we didn’t,” BC coach Rick Campbell said.

“I give them credit. They have good coaches, good players and they made the plays they needed to win the game, but man, we had multiple opportunities to get the ball back and try to score a game-winning field goal and it didn’t happen.”

Adams completed 17 of 32 passes for 192 yards, adding two touchdown throws and two interceptions.

“It was a tough battle,” Adams said. “Ultimately, I thought the defense did enough to get us the win. I’ve got to watch the ball. I had a couple overthrows. It was a tough one. I’ve just got to get better.”

After the Lions failed to get anything going on their first two drives of the game, Adams orchestrated a seven-play, 83-yard drive that he capped with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Berryhill.

During the drive, Lions running back William Stanback had three carries for 33 yards, while Stampeders defensive back Tyler Richardson was assessed a costly pass interference penalty, bringing BC to the Calgary 20-yard line.

Calgary’s Peyton Logan returned a punt 50 yards to the BC 30-yard line to start the second quarter. Three plays later, Maier threw a nine-yard TD pass to Begelton.

Later in the second quarter, Logan has another great runback of 31 yards to give the Stamps great field position, this time at the BC 34-yard line. Once again, Calgary needed only three plays to score, as Philpot did a great job hauling in a 23-yard TD pass from Maier.

Whyte then slotted an 18-yard field goal with 1:25 left in the first half to put the Lions behind by just four points.

Richardson made up for his earlier penalty by intercepting an errant pass from Adams to end a BC scoring threat with 24 seconds left before halftime.

After Paredes kicked a 43-yard field goal early in the third quarter, Adams responded with an impressive eight-play, 70-yard drive that McInnis capped with a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Maier responded by leading the Stamps on an impressive drive, but it was derailed when BC’s TJ Lee tackled Calgary receiver Marken Michel just short of the goal line for a turnover on downs with time running out in the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth inning, Adams went back into his own end zone and attempted a pass to McInnis, but offensive lineman Tyler Packer was called for a holding penalty, resulting in a safety for Calgary, giving the Stamps a 19-17 lead.

After a 23-yard field goal by Whyte to give the Lions their first lead of the game at 20-19, Barnes scored his clutch TD. Calgary attempted a two-point convert, but Maier’s pass to Philpot in the end zone was incomplete.

Near the end of the game, Calgary’s Kobe Williams intercepted a pass from Adams, stopping another BC scoring drive.

NEXT ONE

Lions: Take a week off and then visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-5) on Thursday, August 1.

Stampeders: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks (4-2) on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2024.

Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press