High five: defensive scores power Calgary Stampeders past Ticats

Photo: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography / 3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Entering the game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Calgary Stampeders were on a tear offensively.

Leading the league in points scored by a substantial margin, they looked to keep it rolling against a Ticats team that ranked near the top in every defensive category. They did, except this time, it wasn’t just the offence chipping in on the scoreboard.

These are the five plays that powered the Stampeders to a 44-20 victory over Hamilton.

Ford Fumbles — 4:55 left in Q1

Throughout his career, Tre Ford has caused all kinds of Stampeders players fits when he takes off running.

As one of the league leaders in straightaway speed, combined with a sense of elusiveness that also ranks near the top of the pile in the CFL, Ford was doing damage with his legs again, picking up 17 yards on just two carries before taking off up the middle of the field, getting deeper into Stampeders territory.

Unfortunately for the Hamilton QB, that’s when he decided to attempt to jump over  Stampeders’ defender Damon Webb. Linebacker Kyle Wilson caught him as he came down and stripped the ball.

Anthony Johnson scooped up the loose pigskin and returned it nearly 20 yards, taking points off the board for Hamilton, and adding three to the Stamps side as they would get a field goal on the ensuing drive.

Ford would eventually be replaced at QB by Harrison Frost, after completing just four-of-10 passes in the first half.

Saved by the flag — 1:39 left in Q2

If you didn’t know about Vernon Adams Jr.’s streak of interception-free football before the game, you certainly must by now.

The ceaseless mentions throughout the broadcast, as if trying to draw out an announcer jinx, told you multiple times that Adams has now thrown nearly 300 passes without a pick, and 24 touchdowns in that span, 21 of which have come in 2026.

Adams threw just 21 touchdowns in all of 2025, his first season with the Stampeders.

So, when the ball finally came down in the arms of Hamilton defensive back Jamal Peters, I almost breathed a sigh of relief that at least that talking point could be put to rest.

Instead, a roughing-the-passer call was assessed to Miles Fox, which was challenged and upheld due to helmet-to-helmet contact. Calgary was given 15 yards, and the interception didn’t count after all.

The Stamps scored on a 15-yard run from Tyriek McAllister on the next play to extend their lead to 11 points.

Adams had several passes that likely should have been intercepted, but as the expression goes, when you are hot, you’re hot.

Double it up — 0:57 left in Q2

Shortly after avoiding a turnover and coming away with a touchdown, the defence got in on the act.

Marquel Lee played a bit of peek-a-boo, hiding behind defensive lineman Charles Wiley, before bursting into the backfield for the strip sack on new Ticats QB Harrison Frost.

Kyle Wilson picked the ball up off the turf and was off to the races, scoring a touchdown after causing a fumble earlier in the game.

The pair of touchdowns, separated by just a few plays, broke the game open for Calgary, who took a 24-10 lead into the dressing room at halftime.

Mills breaks through — 3:54 left in Q4

Dedrick Mills had his least productive day at the ballpark in 2026 in this game, but a pair of runs late stick out as essential.

With just 44 yards on 10 carries, it is safe to say the Ticats largely bottled up the league’s leading rusher. But when the game was on the line, Mills showed why he is a sizeable portion of the conversation when discussing the league’s best ball carriers.

Mills would break off two nine-yard carries, killing the clock and eventually saw Quincy Vaughn take the ball into the end zone from four yards out.

The Stampeders are at their absolute best when Mills is running well, especially late in games when Calgary needs to exhibit that killer instinct.

Moncrief closes it out — 2:41 left in Q4

Derrick Moncrief followed in his teammates’ footsteps with a game-sealing moment late in the contest.

Moncrief picked off a Frost offering and seemingly jogged into the Ticats’ end zone for the Stamps’ second defensive touchdown of the game.

Frost had to get the ball out quickly because of incoming pressure from Folarin Orimolade, who had one of the four Stampeder sacks in the game. Moncrief seemingly had the ball thrown right into his hands and scored what might be the easiest touchdown of his career.

In the background of the highlight, you can see Orimolade celebrating, sitting on the ground with both hands in the air.

What this means

With the win to get the team back to .500, the Stampeders have passed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for third place in the West Division, and are staring up at the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Elks, who sit two and four points ahead of Calgary at this time.

Calgary still has the Riders once and the Elks twice on the schedule, so hosting the West Final is not yet an impossibility. Those three games will be key must-haves in order to do so.

Winners of four of their last six, with those two losses coming against the first-place Montreal Alouettes, there is a real sense of hope in the Stampeders fandom that they could finally get back to the Grey Cup as hosts after going without a playoff win since 2018.

Next up for the team is an extended stay in southern Ontario, as they await the Argos on Thursday night in Toronto. The Double Blue will be coming off a bye week, while the Stampeders will likely only have one practice to get ready for the game.

Gut out a win here and you send a clear message that the Stampeders are for real.

Ryan Ballantine is a lifelong Stamps fan and host of the Go Stamps Go Show Podcast. He has been covering the team since 2008.