Adams Jr. leads Stampeders past Tiger-Cats 44-20

Vernon Adams Jr. led the Calgary Stampeders to a commanding 44-20 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton. The win marked the Stampeders' second consecutive road triumph, following their 52-30 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the previous week. Adams, who has thrown for 252 yards and a touchdown while maintaining his league-leading interception-free streak, completed 18 of 25 passes in the contest. Defensive standout Folarin Orimolade and the Stampeders' defense played pivotal roles in securing the win. Linebacker Kyle Wilson, a former Hamilton player, returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown in the first half, while defensive back Derrick Moncrief recorded a 25-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter. These efforts helped Calgary limit the Tiger-Cats to just 20 points, marking a season-low for the team. Calgary entered the game ranked eighth in offensive points allowed and last in net offensive yards given up, but their defense held firm despite a sluggish offensive performance. Calgary's offense, which ranks first in the league in scoring and touchdown production, struggled to maintain consistency during the match. However, the team managed to outscore Hamilton 20-1 in the fourth quarter, further solidifying their dominance. A key moment came when Quincy Vaughn scored a four-yard touchdown run at 12:04, putting the Stampeders ahead 37-20. Moncrief’s interception return at 12:35 sealed the game’s outcome. Calgary kicker Jude McAtamney contributed significantly, kicking a 48-yard field goal at 2:04 to extend the lead to 27-19. He later added a 29-yard boot after a long punt from Mitch McCarthy. The Stampeders’ ability to control the clock and capitalize on key moments proved crucial in the victory. For the Tiger-Cats, the loss extended their losing streak to four games in five contests. Since the departure of starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell due to a serious ankle injury, the team has struggled to find stability at the position. Backup quarterbacks Jake Dolegala and Canadian Tre Ford have shared time under center, with Ford making his third start on Saturday. However, Ford was replaced by rookie Harrison Frost in the second half. Frost completed nine of 20 passes for 165 yards, including a touchdown, but also threw an interception and lost a fumble. Ford, meanwhile, passed for 58 yards and rushed for 52 yards but also fumbled. Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich acknowledged the challenges facing his team, particularly the uncertainty around the quarterback position. “We’re trying to figure out who our quarterback is going to be so that’s always a concerning thing,” Milanovich said. He admitted responsibility for a critical error involving Frost, stating, “The sack-fumble on Frosty, I called the play wrong, that’s on me.” Despite these issues, Milanovich noted that the team played reasonably well early in the game but failed to finish drives effectively. Other contributors to the game included Tyreik McAllister and Dejon Brissett, who both scored touchdowns for Calgary. Kenny Lawler accounted for Hamilton’s sole touchdown, while Marc Liegghio kicked four field goals and a conversion. The result leaves the Tiger-Cats with a 3-5 record heading into their next matchup.