Stampeders come from behind for last-second win, but need more from Mitchell

Friday night's Grey Cup rematch saw the Calgary Stampeders once again edge the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, this time on a last-second field goal from Rene Paredes, but the Grey Cup's Most Outstanding Player was far from a star in this one. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell dazzled last year and was named TSN's top player league-wide heading into this season, but he struggled Friday, tossing three interceptions. Mitchell's teammates, particularly linebacker Keon Raymond with a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown and kicker Rene Paredes with a 50-yard field goal at the buzzer, helped Calgary emerge with a 24-23 win over a very good Hamilton team, but the Stampeders are still going to need more from Mitchell. Every team that's pulled off the rare repeat championship has had a stellar quarterback, and Calgary will need Mitchell to play at that level if they want to win the Grey Cup again.

Of course, Mitchell's performance Friday wasn't all bad. He did throw for a respectable 263 yards and a touchdown, and while his 62.9 per cent completion mark wasn't great, it wasn't terrible. He also displayed great chemistry with receiver Jeff Fuller, who had nine catches for a game-high 148 yards. Mitchell was cool under pressure as well, leading a great drive at the death to get Calgary in field goal range (and they were in better range before an objectionable conduct penalty on defensive back Buddy Jackson added 10 yards to the distance). It's one bad game, it came against a good team, and it wasn't even that terrible of a game, so there's no reason at all to write off Mitchell yet. Still, the Stampeders will need fewer turnovers and more production from him if they're going to win regularly.

On the day, though, it was others who stepped up. Raymond had six defensive tackles and two special-teams tackles in addition to the interception, while Jackson had eight defensive tackles and Charleston Hughes had two sacks. The special teams had stars as well, with Paredes nailing both of his field goal attempts and adding a single, punter Rob Maver averaging 56.4 yards on five punts and recently-acquired returner Tim Brown averaging 12.3 yards on punt returns and 26.5 yards on kick returns. (The coverage team allowed Hamilton's Brandon Banks to bust a 67-yard punt return similar to the disallowed one that could have won the Tiger-Cats last year's Grey Cup, so they still need some work, but it was a good overall night for Calgary's special teams.) Running back Jon Cornish also had a solid night, collecting 70 yards on 13 carries (including a crucial two-point conversion), and beyond Fuller, receiver Eric Rogers looked good, making five grabs for 62 yards and a touchdown. That proved to be enough to give the Stampeders victory, and that's a good start to their attempt to defend the Grey Cup. They'll need Mitchell to play more like the MOP if they want to lift it again, though.