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The Big Question: Was Calgary's victory over Roughriders a fluke?

The Big Question: Was Calgary's victory over Roughriders a fluke?

National Posta day ago
As the West's top two teams prepare to meet Saturday for the second and final time this CFL season, it's interesting to ponder this week's Big Question:
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Saskatchewan resides atop the West with an 8-1 record. Calgary sits second at 6-3.
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The Stampeders are coming off a bye week following their 28-27 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the reigning West champs who have lost three times to Calgary this season. The Roughriders just won their fourth straight game, beating the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-9 on Saturday. The Roughriders haven't allowed a touchdown in two straight games.
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Based on the standings, Calgary's lopsided victory July 12 was an upset.
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It certainly wasn't a fluke.
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That game was slated to be played one night earlier in Regina's Mosaic Stadium, but smoky conditions caused by wildfires in northern Saskatchewan forced a 3 3/4-hour delay before the game was postponed and rescheduled for the following afternoon. That should have been a tremendous advantage for the Roughriders, who could have simply gone home, slept and returned refreshed to play a game they were favoured to win.
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The visiting Stampeders had to scramble for hotel rooms, meals and transportation before returning to the stadium. They returned with unexpected vigour.
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There had been no signs that the Stampeders were a powerful team, especially after losing a rain-soaked home game against the middling Ottawa Redblacks that dropped their record to 3-1. Acquiring quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. certainly made Calgary's offence better — the Stampeders noticeably struggle when he's not playing because of injuries — but the most shocking improvement was on its rebuilt defence.
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While Adams was passing for 428 yards and three touchdowns (plus two interceptions), Calgary's defence surrendered 425 passing yards (and one touchdown) to Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris.
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But the Roughriders' running attack was completely stopped — A.J. Ouellette, who had 90-plus yards in each previous game, gained only nine yards on six carries, short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens had four yards on two carries and backup running back Ka'Deem Carey carried once for three yards. That's 16 rushing yards on nine attempts, thus making Saskatchewan's offence entirely one-dimensional.
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Linebacker Jacob Roberts was regularly in Saskatchewan's backfield while defensive linemen Clarence Hicks and Jaylon Hutchings were sacking Harris.
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Calgary's defence is now considered among the CFL's best, allowing a league-low 19.6 offensive points per game. But Saskatchewan is second at 21.3. This time there should be no surprises, even if the game gets delayed.
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