A first-play first down followed by a first-drive touchdown. Read More
A first-play first down followed by a first-drive touchdown. That’s the way to get the home fans feeling good about the Calgary Stampeders for the 2025 Canadian Football League campaign. Even better was parlaying that early success into a convincing win over the rival Edmonton Elks in the CFL pre-season final for the Stampeders —
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A first-play first down followed by a first-drive touchdown.
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That’s the way to get the home fans feeling good about the Calgary Stampeders for the 2025 Canadian Football League campaign.
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Even better was parlaying that early success into a convincing win over the rival Edmonton Elks in the CFL pre-season final for the Stampeders — a 31-4 decision Saturday night in front of 15,531 fans at McMahon Stadium.
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Strong performances? Check.
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A desired result? Double check.
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The Elks didn’t offer much in the way of starters — 40 rookies peppered the visiting team’s roster — but it still makes for a feel-good start for a franchise in need of it this season.
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And with that the Stampeders are off to the regular season — with a monster break between now and their first game Saturday, June 7 against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon (5 p.m., CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge, TSN).
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Here are five takeaways from the Stamps win in Langford, B.C. …
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1) BIG-START V.A.
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Fans at McMahon got their first look at Vernon Adams Jr., and the much-heralded quarterback acquired in the off-season strutted his wares.
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The prized QB — nicknamed ‘Big-Play V.A.’ — was gunning right from the start and moving the ball with authority, instantly wiping away the stumbles seen at the position of previous years which have maligned the offence.
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Points were scored on all three drives Adams engineered — a couple of touchdowns on QB sneaks by fellow pivot Logan Bonner and a 52-yard field-goal bombed by veteran kicker René Paredes.
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After that, it was P.J. Walker’s chance to show his wares at quarterback for the Stampeders. And he marched the club downfield on a handful of drives, hooking up with receiver Daylen Baldwin on a 13-yard TD on a third-and-long gamble in the fourth quarter.
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Josh Love mopped up at QB for the Stamps.
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2) RUN, JESHRUN, RUN!
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Running back Jeshrun Antwi looked right at home in his return to McMahon a few years after starring for the U SPORTS’ Calgary Dinos.
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The local product, who’s put together some early-career success in his first few CFL seasons, signed with the Stamps over the winter in hopes of catching on in the backfield.
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After Saturday’s showcase, it looks like he’s got a gig with the Red and White.