Burris throws three TDs as Stampeders avenge Labour Day loss against Eskimos
Published Saturday September 6th, 2008
EDMONTON - It didn't need to be pretty, it just needed to be a win.
The Calgary Stampeders got exactly that on Friday night as quarterback Henry Burris recorded three touchdown passes as to help his team avenge Monday's 37-16 loss in the Labour Day Classic, knocking off the Edmonton Eskimos 38-33 in the second game of the home-and-home series.
The victory moved the Stampeders (6-4) into a second place tie with Edmonton in the West Division and kept the team from going into a tailspin the other direction.
"It's huge," Burris said. "You look at how tight it is on the West. We lose tonight and B.C. wins we are tied for last. We have worked too hard to end up in that position. So it was good to come back and redeem ourselves after an embarrassing loss on Monday in front of our home crowd."
"It's hopefully another step in the direction we want to go to and that's to make the playoffs," said Calgary head coach John Hufnagel. "Edmonton and Calgary, any time those two teams play it's going to be a big game no matter what."
Edmonton (6-4) had a two-game winning streak snapped and suffered its first loss in five home games this season.
"We just didn't make enough plays," Eskimos head coach Danny Maciocia said. "They made a few more plays than we did and we have to give them credit for that. Clearly they were hungry to come in here and get themselves a win and they did so."
"We have some things we can work on. We'll go back to work and fix it up."
Calgary had a disastrous start to the game as Burris bobbled the snap on the Stampeders first play from scrimmage just 29 seconds in. Eskimos linebacker Shannon Garrett was there to scoop up the fumble and rumble 25 yards into the end zone for a very early 7-0 Edmonton lead.
But the Stamps were able to atone for that bad beginning on their next possession, putting together an 81-yard drive finished off by a three-yard touchdown reception by Ryan Thelwell to knot the game up five minutes in.
Calgary went up by three late in the first quarter on a long 49-yard field goal by Sandro DeAngelis.
Edmonton drew even again midway through the second frame on a 17-yard three pointer from kicker Noel Prefontaine but DeAngleis responded with a 40-yarder just two minutes later to put Calgary back in front. The two teams traded punts singles before Prefontaine ended the second quarter snooze-fest with another field goal to leave the game tied 14-14 at the half.
The Eskimos start to the second half was as bad as Calgary's start to the first as quarterback Ricky Ray was picked off by Shannon James, once again just 29 seconds in, and he took it back 27 yards for the major and a 21-14 Stampeders advantage.
Burris said having two defensive touchdowns to start the halves almost defied belief.
"That was just shocking," he said. "To have them both happen at the same time and both plays made by guys wearing No. 23. They both play the same position. I don't know if today was the 13th day at the 13th hour or what. It was a strange thing. I told (centre Rob Lazeo) to give me good snaps tonight because I couldn't run and get them. And what do you know, that happens on the first play."
Edmonton responded with another field goal midway through the third and then caught a break with four minutes left as Tristan Jackson stripped a ball out of the hands of Thelwell and Siddeeq Shabazz dropped down on the ball at the Calgary 35. That led to yet another Prefontaine field goal, cutting the Calgary lead to a single point going into the fourth.
Fortune flipped back Calgary's way early in the fourth as Esks receiver Kamau Peterson fumbled and Stampeders defensive back Brandon Smith recovered the ball on the Edmonton 48 yard line. Calgary made the most of the opportunity as Burris connected with Jeremaine Copeland on an eight-yard passing major to give the Stamps a 28-20 lead.
Edmonton finally got its offence going with six minutes remaining as Ray couldn't find a target in the end zone and took it nine yards across the goal-line himself before being slammed into the sideline advertising. The two-point convert failed, leaving Edmonton down 28-26.
DeAngelis made it a five-point edge with 2:22 left to play with a 29-yard field goal and any hopes of an Edmonton comeback looked to have disappeared soon after as Prefontaine couldn't handle a sailing snap on a punt attempt and was brought down at the Edmonton 17, eventually leading to a 27 yard passing major as Ken-Yon Rambo bounced off a pair of defenders for the TD to put Calgary ahead by 12.
However, Edmonton rallied late with a two-yard rushing major by Mathieu Bertrand and looked to have gotten the ball back with 46 seconds remaining, as it appeared Peterson was able to bat the ball out of bounds on the on-side kick attempt. The officiating crew called it a Calgary ball and determined that the video evidence was inconclusive, leaving the crowd of 46,014 howling in outrage.
Calgary was able to run out the clock from there.
The Stamps return home to play Montreal next Friday while Edmonton plays host to Hamilton next Saturday.
Notes: Both teams had crucial offensive components back in the lineup. Calgary pivot Henry Burris (turf toe), running back Joffrey Reynolds (back spasms) and receiver Nik Lewis (bruised ribs) were all able to suit up for the Stamps while running back AJ Harris (calf) and kick returner Tristan Jackson (ankle sprain) were back in action for Edmonton. However Jackson limped out of the game in the fourth quarter, apparently re-injured. ... Eskimos defensive back Bradley Robinson left the game with an injury to his right shoulder. ... Eskimos receiver Kamau Peterson was named the CFL Canadian player of the month for August. In three games Peterson had 19 catches for 240 yards and four touchdowns. ... With Dave Dickenson gone for the rest of the season with post-concussion syndrome, the Stampeders are bringing in former Florida State QB Xavier Lee. He is expected to arrive in the next few days and join the practice roster after clearing up passport issues.
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