EDMONTON — The Calgary Stampeders have done their part to claim second place, and now the wait begins.
Rene Paredes made four field goals as the Stampeders won their third straight game and took a big step toward securing a home game in the West Division semifinals by defeating the rival Edmonton Elks 20-10 on Friday in the final game of the regular season for both teams.
“It was a good win for the team, for the good guys,” said Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “Offensively, we want to be a little better in the red zone. We need to score seven (points) instead of those threes. Because we're going to need them in the playoffs.”
“In the playoffs, it’s anyone’s game, and if we can turn them into sevens instead of threes, that will help us a little more.”
The playoff possibilities are still a little confusing.
Calgary (11-7) will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers if Winnipeg beats Montreal and the BC Lions lose to Saskatchewan on Saturday. The Stamps will host the BC Lions if Winnipeg beats Montreal and the Lions tie Saskatchewan, or if Montreal wins and the Lions lose or tie.
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If the Lions win their game, they will take it by winning both games against Calgary this season.
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“We gave ourselves a chance, we felt like we needed a win to give ourselves the best chance to get to a home playoff game,” Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson said. “We're looking forward to the playoffs. Was that our best game? No.”
“We weren't good at all in the top five. Usually you lose these games if you lose and get six points from three trips to the top five, but we kept fighting. It was a little sloppy, but we'll make the playoffs.”
The Elks (7-11) snapped a four-game home winning streak and have had some positive results this season, even though they missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
“I felt like there was growth among the staff and the football team,” Elks head coach Mark Killam said. “I think we've laid the foundation for who we want to be, especially in everyday life.
“But now I'm disappointed. I wanted to do better in this game.”
Calgary opened the scoring with a long opening drive that took up five minutes of the clock and ended with a one-yard keeper from backup prop Quincy Vaughn.
Edmonton had a chance to get on the board late in the first, but Vincent Blanchard's field goal attempt was blocked by Miles Brown.
The Stampeders took a 10-0 lead three minutes into the second frame when Paredes kicked a 12-yard field goal.
Paredes added a 44-yard field goal just past the middle of the second.
With five minutes left in the second quarter, the Elks finally seemed to be getting going when Justin Rankin made a pair of nice fakes en route to a 35-yard rushing touchdown. However, replay showed that Calgary's Bailey Devine-Scott knocked the ball out of his hands just before it crossed the line, and Rankin and his teammates were too busy celebrating to pick it up, allowing Stampeder Jacob Roberts to fall on him and negate the TD.
Calgary took a 16-0 lead into the locker room at the half on Paredes' 41-yard field goal.
Edmonton finally got on the scoreboard thanks to Blanchard's 51-yard field goal early in the third quarter.
Paredes returned the kick with a 10-yard field goal.
The Elks managed to get into the end zone just midway through the third when QB Cody Fajardo completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jalon Calhoun.
After scoring on a solo punt, Calgary's Brady Breeze blocked the Elks' punt, giving Stamps the Edmonton possession for six, but they were unable to score, capitalizing on the opportunity by turning the ball over on downs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
