Stampeders rally in final minute as Dedrick Mills’ 49-yard TD lifts Calgary over Hamilton 28-23
Calgary Stampeders rally in final minute as Dedrick Mills’ 49-yard TD lifts Calgary over Hamilton 28-23; Josh Love starts, Rene Paredes boots five field goals.
The Calgary Stampeders erased a late deficit and secured a 28-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, capped by Dedrick Mills’ 49-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds remaining. The dramatic finish followed a tight game in which Calgary relied on steady kicking from Rene Paredes and a starting debut by quarterback Josh Love after Vernon Adams Jr. was sidelined with a head injury. A final interception by linebacker Kyle Wilson on Hamilton’s next series preserved the comeback and handed the Stampeders a critical win.
Calgary improved to 5-6 with the victory while Hamilton fell to 4-8, extending a two-game skid. The late touchdown provided the decisive swing after a see-saw fourth quarter, and it underscored the Stampeders’ ability to manufacture a clutch play without their regular starter. Special teams and turnovers played outsized roles across four quarters, and the win offered Calgary a resume-building moment as the season approaches its mid-point.
Mills’ late run ends tight contest
Dedrick Mills burst through the Hamilton defense on Calgary’s final possession, finding a seam and sprinting 49 yards to the end zone with under 30 seconds remaining. That run erased a one-point deficit and produced the game’s final scoring play, though the Stampeders elected to go for two and did not convert. The touchdown shifted momentum instantly and left the Tiger-Cats with no time to mount a response.
Mills’ touchdown was the culmination of a composed final drive in which Calgary mixed short passes and timely runs to work into position. The play itself was a product of persistent blocking at the point of attack and a burst of open-field speed that Hamilton could not contain. After the score, Calgary’s defense closed the door, forcing Hamilton into a hurried possession that ended with an interception.
Josh Love’s first CFL start in relief of Vernon Adams Jr.
With Vernon Adams Jr. absent from the lineup because of a reported head injury, Josh Love was thrust into his first CFL start and delivered a balanced performance. Love completed 24 of 35 attempts for 263 yards and tossed his first career CFL touchdown, finding receiver Ajou Ajou for a short scoring strike that helped build a halftime lead. He also threw one interception, a turnover that contributed to Hamilton’s midgame advantage.
Love’s debut start showed moments of poise and areas for refinement, particularly on a few high-pressure throws late in the third quarter. He moved the offense effectively between the 20s, relied on quick reads and connection with multiple targets, and engineered the possession that ultimately set up Mills’ game-winner. Calgary’s coaching staff will likely take confidence from Love’s ability to manage the offense while the team monitors Adams’ recovery.
Rene Paredes delivers steady leg, with five field goals
Veteran kicker Rene Paredes was a constant for the Stampeders, converting five field goals and accounting for the majority of Calgary’s points through the first three quarters. Paredes opened the scoring with a 42-yard kick and later drilled attempts from 32, 45 and 51 yards, showcasing both range and consistency under pressure. He did miss a 42-yard attempt that went wide right, but his overall reliability kept Calgary in contention throughout the night.
Paredes’ performance was particularly valuable given the Stampeders’ offensive fluctuations and Hamilton’s ability to score touchdowns on their bigger plays. The veteran’s long field goal early in the fourth quarter narrowed the gap and set up the late touchdown run that finished the game. Calgary’s reliance on its kicking game spoke to how special teams can swing momentum in close CFL contests.
Tre Ford leads Hamilton with dual-threat attack
Hamilton’s offense was paced by Tre Ford, who produced two touchdown passes and added significant yardage on the ground. Ford completed 15 of 24 passes for 212 yards while contributing 80 rushing yards on six carries, providing a consistent dual-threat that kept the Tiger-Cats in the contest. His scoring connections came on big plays to Myron Mitchell and Kenny Lawler, both of which energized Hamilton’s sideline and crowd at key moments.
Ford’s long pass to Mitchell covered 51 yards and capped a quick three-play, 70-yard sequence that produced Hamilton’s opening touchdown. Later, his 14-yard strike to Lawler gave the visitors a temporary lead in the third quarter. While Hamilton’s offense generated explosive plays, the team was unable to protect the ball in the final minute, leaving the scoring opportunity that sealed their defeat.
Turnovers and special-teams plays tilt the game
The contest featured several momentum-shifting plays on defense and special teams that had direct scoring consequences. Calgary’s Dejon Brissett produced a momentum swing late in the first half with a spectacular 55-yard reception that included a forward somersault as he crossed the turf. That play led to Ajou Ajou’s first touchdown with the Stampeders and gave Calgary a halftime advantage.
Hamilton’s Charbel Dabire also created a turning point when he intercepted a deflected pass at Calgary’s 14-yard line early in the third quarter, immediately setting up a touchdown that put the Tiger-Cats ahead. In the final minute, though, it was linebacker Kyle Wilson who made the game-clinching interception, snatching a pass from Hamilton backup Jake Dolegala to end the rally. Those takeaways underscored how turnovers and high-effort special-teams plays dictated field position and scoring opportunities for both clubs.
Calgary’s scoring diversity highlights offensive depth
The Stampeders scored touchdowns from multiple contributors, extending a team trend this season of spreading the ball to different playmakers. Ajou Ajou’s short touchdown reception made him the 13th different Calgary player to reach the end zone this year, a mark that leads the league in the category of unique scorers. That distribution has allowed Calgary to attack defenses in a variety of ways and has made it more difficult for opponents to key on a single playmaker.
Calgary’s variety of scorers reflected both planned game design and opportunistic play-calling when matchups favored the Stampeders. Wide receivers and running backs alike were involved in the late drive, and the coaching staff’s willingness to trust multiple hands in crucial moments paid dividends. The depth was on display during several long gains that set up Paredes’ field goals or extended drives into scoring range.
Standings implications and next steps for both teams
The win moves the Calgary Stampeders to 5-6 on the season and gives them a momentum lift as they approach consecutive matchups that will shape their path toward the postseason. For a club dealing with injury questions at quarterback and ongoing roster adjustments, finishing close games has tangible value in the standings and in confidence. Calgary’s coaching staff will now evaluate Vernon Adams Jr.’s status as they balance competitive urgency with player health protocols.
For the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the loss drops their record to 4-8 and deepens the challenge as the team seeks to climb the standings. Tre Ford’s performance provided encouraging evidence of offensive potential, but missed opportunities and the late turnover will be key areas of focus in the coaching review. Hamilton must tighten ball security in critical moments and refine its red-zone efficiency if it is to reverse the current two-game skid.
The outcome also figures to influence short-term personnel decisions and special-teams planning for both clubs. Calgary will be buoyed by Paredes’ kicking and the late-game execution, while Hamilton will weigh how best to protect leads and sustain pressure on opposing defenses in the fourth quarter. The Tiger-Cats’ next games present opportunities to regroup and reassert strengths on both sides of the ball.
Final play and atmosphere at McMahon Stadium echoed the stakes of late-season CFL football, with fans responding to the wild finish and both locker rooms acknowledging the narrow margin between triumph and disappointment. Calgary’s victory hinged on a mixture of veteran poise, opportunistic defense and a timely big play from a running back who answered when his team needed him most.
The Stampeders now turn their attention to upcoming opponents and the medical status of key starters, while Hamilton will regroup and address the miscues that cost them a chance to close out the game. Both clubs leave McMahon with clear takeaways from a contest that illustrated how quickly momentum can shift in Canadian football and how late-game execution often decides the outcome.
