Stampeders squeak out 11th straight win on last-second FG vs. Ticats
Hamilton loss guarantees rival Argos will host 1st playoff game since 2013
Rene Paredes booted a 17-yard field goal on the final play of the game to earn the Calgary Stampeders an exciting 28-25 win over a spirited Hamilton Tiger-Cats squad Friday night.
Paredes' field goal was set up by a pass interference call on Hamilton's Courtney Stephen. The 62-yard penalty put Calgary at the Ticats' 10-yard line.
Paredes' field goal came after Hamilton's Alex Green scored on a one-yard run with 36 seconds remaining that Kenny Allen converted. It was set up by a pass interference call on Calgary's Jamar Wall that put the Ticats at the Stampeders' one-yard line.
Green's TD came after Calgary' Bo Levi Mitchell hit Kamar Jorden with a 25-yard scoring strike, then on a two-point convert at 10:01 to put the Stampeders ahead 25-18.
Mitchell capped a 75-yard, four-play march with the toss to Jorden, who returned to the Calgary lineup for this game, to quiet a Tim Hortons Field gathering of 23,672. He then found a wide-open Jorden for the two-point convert to put the Stampeders ahead 23-18 at 10:01.
Calgary (13-1-1) improved to 16-0 coming off the bye and earned its 11th straight victory. The Stampeders will cement top spot in the West Division — and host the conference final — if the B.C. Lions beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday night.
Argos clinch home playoff date
The Ticats' loss gives the Toronto Argonauts their first-ever home playoff game at BMO Field.
The Argos will either host the East Division semifinal on Nov. 12 or the division final on Nov. 19.
Toronto is still in contention for first place in the East Division despite trailing the Ottawa Redblacks by one point in the standings. The Argos, who have a game in hand on Ottawa and play Saturday night in Edmonton, would have a first-round bye and an East final matchup should they win the division.
The Argonauts have two more games remaining in the regular season after Saturday's game including at home to Winnipeg on Oct. 21 and on the road against B.C. on Nov. 4. They also have a bye week on Week 19.