Stampeders beat Eskimos for second straight week, 33-17

Sep 7, 2019 | 7:41 PM

EDMONTON — Bo Levi Mitchell completed a pair of touchdown passes as the Calgary Stampeders beat the rival Edmonton Eskimos for the second week in a row, 33-17 on Saturday.

The Stampeders improved to 7-4, and moved into a second place tie for points with Saskatchewan in the West Division.

Edmonton (6-6) has lost three straight games and also played without quarterback Trevor Harris for the bulk of the game due to an upper-body injury in the second quarter.

Edmonton’s defence came up big early with a Don Unamba interception of Mitchell to the Stampeders 29-yard-line, setting up an eight-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Tevaun Smith.

Calgary responded with an 18-yard Rene Paredes field goal.

The Stampeders took the lead early in the second quarter on a 25-yard passing major from Mitchell to Reggie Begelton.

The Eskimos suffered a blow when Harris came down with an injury on what appeared to be his throwing hand on a non-contact play.

Backup Logan Kilgore came in for Harris, taking his first snaps of the entire season.

His first drive led to a 10-yard Sean Whyte field goal. Harris remained on the sidelines throughout the remainder of the game, looking like he could return if needed.

Calgary took a 17-10 lead in to the half on an 11-yard TD pass to Eric Rogers.

Paredes kicked 46-yard and 27-yard field goals for the only scoring in the third quarter and then started the fourth with a 43-yarder.

The Stampeders pretty much put the game away five minutes into the final frame when DaShaun Amos picked off Kilgore and took the interception return back 79 yards into the end zone.

Kilgore atoned with a one-yard TD plunge on his team’s next possession.

The Stampeders will play host to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Saturday, while the Eskimos will have a bye week.

Notes: Calgary won the first game of the back-to-back Labour Day tilts 25-9 and the other previous encounter between the Alberta-based rivals 24-18 on Aug. 3 at McMahon Stadium… Esks head coach Jason Maas came into the game with just a 2-7 record against Calgary, while QB Harris was winless at 0-8-2. Edmonton was just 14 for 32 in the red zone entering the game…

The Canadian Press