The Calgary Stampeders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 45-31 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in Ottawa on Saturday. Calgary led throughout the CFL game, while Ottawa’s record fell to 0-14 and its losing streak reached 20 games, a modern-day CFL record dating back to last September.
Deonta McMahon scored twice for Calgary, once on a four-yard rush and once on a reception. Tyreik McAllister added a 28-yard rushing touchdown, while Clark Barnes and Tevin Jones caught scoring passes. Vernon Adams Jr. completed 24 of 30 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
For Ottawa, Justin Hardy and Ayden Eberhardt caught touchdown passes, and Mario Anderson Jr. scored on a rush. McLeod Bethel-Thompson, making his second consecutive start for the Redblacks this season, completed 30 of 47 attempts for 418 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception.
Calgary opened the scoring on its first drive. Adams connected with Barnes for 45 yards to reach Ottawa’s 12-yard line, then threw to McMahon for the touchdown. McAllister’s 28-yard run and McMahon’s second score put the Stampeders further ahead in the second quarter.
Anthony Johnson intercepted Bethel-Thompson on Ottawa’s next drive after McMahon scored. The Redblacks responded with a 75-yard drive over eight plays, ending with Bethel-Thompson’s 13-yard catch-and-run connection with Eberhardt for Ottawa’s first touchdown, with less than a minute left in the first half. Jones scored on a 15-yard reception in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Ottawa scored twice in the fourth quarter and Hardy added a two-point convert with less than five minutes remaining. The rally was not enough to erase Calgary’s lead or secure the Redblacks’ first win of the season.
Rene Paredes made field goals from 40, 49 and 43 yards and added five converts for Calgary. Last week, he had made a 62-yard field goal to beat the visiting Redblacks at McMahon Stadium. Ottawa kicker Brett Lauther converted field goals from 13, 56 and 28 yards and added two converts on Saturday.
The win left Calgary tied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for fourth in the West Division, with 14 points apiece. A crossover playoff place remained possible: the fourth-place West team can take a berth from the East’s third-place team if it finishes the regular season with more points. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 4-10 and third in the East heading into their game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday night, were in that position.
The Redblacks will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. Calgary will visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders that day. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2026.
Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton.