The Calgary Stampeders run of 18 straight playoff seasons is in jeopardy.
That after being run over by Ryquell ‘Rock’ Armstead and the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night at McMahon Stadium.
The 37-29 decision in front of 24,240 fans puts the Stampeders between a Rock and a hard place where the 2024 post-season is concerned.
It’s not that the hosts weren’t in this one.
They were right to the end, mostly due to early and late success — a 69-yard Tommy Stevens sneak for a wowzer touchdown and two second-half Jake Maier strikes of eight yards each to Clark Barnes and Jalen Philpot.
But in the end, it was a major penalty — when Tyler Richardson contacted the Riders punter — that led to an insurance field goal and a strange decision by Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson to leave short-yardage specialist Tommy Stevens on the sideline for a third-and-one gamble with 1:17 remaining — that ended in a Jameer Thurman interception — that sealed the contest.
In between, it was the rushes of Armstead that torched them.
Yup … Rock was rolling, alright.
Picked up after the Ottawa Redblacks cut him a few weeks back, Armstead dashed for 207 yards on 25 carries.
It’s the second time he’s been a Stamps killer on the season. Just last month, while still with the Redblacks, Armstead romped for 120 yards on 11 hauls in a 31-29 winning result over the Horsemen.
And when Rock and his teammates weren’t running the ball down the throat of the Stampeders, veteran QB Trevor Harris was a passing machine. In helping the Riders to victory, the longtime leaguer threw for 16-of-18 for 248 yards.
Effective as heck, to be sure.
Strangely enough, the Redblacks released Armstead a few weeks back — despite being the CFL’s fourth-leading rusher at the time — for committing too many disciplinary fouls. Armstead was ejected from a Week 8 tilt after being flagged for two objectionable conduct penalties and has also been fined two times by the CFL for verbal abuse.
And the Stamps were forced to face him again — this time with the Riders.
The loss drops them four points back of the Riders, owners of the third and final post-season placement in the CFL West Division.
And with just four games remaining on the regular schedule, the Red and White are running out of runway.
SHORT YARDAGE
Friday’s decision marked the first post-Labour Day victory for the Riders since 2021, going 1-14 since then … DL Josiah Coatney (knee) started for the Stamps after being labelled a game-time decision … Next up for the Stamps after next week’s bye week is a visit to Vancouver to challenge the BC Lions (7-7) on Friday, Oct. 4 (8 p.m. MT, TSN, QR Calgary).