The Labour Day Replay was just that for the Calgary Stampeders …
A replay of Labour Day — domination by their arch-rival — but with one wrinkle in the traditional CFL tilt.
The Stampeders turned to Logan Bonner to start at quarterback in trying to find a spark against the host Edmonton Elks.
However, there was only a flicker seen at the scene.
“Well … we’re searching for answers, and there’s none right now,” Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told reporters following the 37-16 loss at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
“There’s a lot of teams that losing teams do, and we did a lot of them.”
Indeed, for Dickenson & Co., Saturday was just like Labour Day, with the Elks enjoying all the joy in the contest.
The hosts started out slow but soon found their new-found running game to rip off big chunks of real estate, leading to a whopping 213 game-long.
Then QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson found his rhythm in the pocket and chipped in with a nice passing effort to provide quite the balanced attack — again just as they did six days earlier in Calgary.
“We’re not improving, so we’ve got to find a way,” continued Dickenson. “Whether that’s different schemes or whatever that is, we’ve got to find a chance. And we tried some different things. Some guys stepped up and had some good games. But others certainly weren’t at their best, and same with coaches.”
MBT finished with 215 passing yards and two touchdowns — against one interception — on a 15-of-25 effort.
Meanwhile, counterpart Bonner went 21-of-36 for 284 yards and no TDs.
Unfortunately, Bonner’s five interceptions — especially his first three — stuck out as a major difference in the affair.
“He’s competing hard,” said Dickenson of his young QB. “But he gave the ball away too much. It’s very difficult once you’re behind a lot. But guess what? That’s sports.
“So … yeah … I would say you could never win a game with that many turnovers — and it certainly came true (Saturday).”
An impressive early drive manufactured by Bonner ended in an end-zone interception, with Loucheiz Purifoy picking off the QB’s hurried pass with ease.
After that, it was a tough day for the second-year Stamps pivot, who was named the starter after Jake Maier threw four INTs in the 35-20 Labour Day loss to the Elks.
That said, Bonner did show promise — of sorts — in his debut start, and the American pivot is still learning the three-down game. And he certainly found a connection with veteran pass-catcher Reggie Begelton, who hauled in 12 balls for 123 yards.
Bonner was better under less pressure in the fourth quarter, as well, but the Stamps need quarterback strength when the game is on the line.
However, QB issues aren’t the only reasons they have sunk in a slump.
“Right now, we’re not a good football team — we’re not doing a lot of things well,” Dickenson said. “We’re doing very little well. And so the key for me is just point it out and try to make sure we’re at least working towards something. Small victories, unfortunately, is all we can look at right now.”
The night also saw Dedrick Mills return to his Red and White starting role for 65 rushing yards, and he was strong early on with 51 on 10 first-half carries.
But just as it was six days earlier in the Labour Day Classic, the only first-half points for the Stampeders came off the foot of reliable kicker René Paredes — field-goals of 32 and 42 yards.
Parades also knocked home the only points for the Stamps in the third quarter, on a 46-yarder.
And the only visitors’ scoring in the fourth came on a Mike Rose interception return for a TD that covered 84 yards.
The loss is the fourth straight for the Stamps — now 4-8 — and their fifth in six games and knocks them into last place in the CFL’s West Division. That’s where the surging Elks — now 5-8 — used to live until winning this two-game set over their rivals as part of their own five-in-six streak to the positive.
And so the Stampeders’ playoff hopes are fading unless they can find a way to turn the season around.
“We’re coming to work tomorrow,” added Dickenson. “That’s all I can ask of the guys. But there’s no answers right now, and we’ve got to find some answers. That’s where I’m at.
“I need to step back and figure out what’s going to potentially resonate and who’s going to listen and who’s willing to put in the hard work.
“But it’s not going to change overnight, though.”
SHORT YARDAGE
Paredes played in his 223rd consecutive CFL game Saturday and surpassed Edmonton legend Dave Cutler to move into eighth place on the league’s all-time point-scoring list. The Stamps veteran has 2,243 and counting … It didn’t help the Stamps that neither OL Bryce Bell (calf) and WR Ishmael Hyman (hamstring) — both game-time decisions — didn’t dress … The Stamps return home to play the CFL powerhouse Montreal Alouettes (10-2) next Saturday at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).
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