Stampeders edge Bombers thanks to Paredes, Mitchell's final 20-second drive

For most of Saturday's hotly-anticipated clash featuring the largest combined winning streak in CFL history, the Calgary Stampeders looked in great shape against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. With 20 seconds left, though, they looked all but sure to lose thanks to a go-ahead touchdown and extra point from Winnipeg. Then Bo Levi Mitchell took over, making two incredible quick throws to set up Rene Paredes, who fought through injury to kick a season-long 52-yard field goal at the buzzer, giving the Stampeders a 36-34 home victory and their 10th-straight win.

This was a game that Calgary looked thoroughly in control of for much of the contest, as they led 10-0 after the first quarter, 27-7 at the break and 30-14 after three quarters. The Bombers woke up in the final frame, though, and Mitchell's opposite number and good friend, Matt Nichols (who actually helped recruit Mitchell to Eastern Washington), orchestrated a remarkable late drive of his own to get them that go-ahead touchdown. Nichols started that final drive on the Winnipeg 44 (following a good 32-yard return from T.J. Heath, who the Bombers only acquired a couple of weeks ago in the Drew Willy trade) with just 1:44 left, but he led a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive with seven completions to four different receivers (including the five-yard TD pass to Julian Feoli-Gudino) on eight attempts, plus a run.

Nichols looked great under pressure there against a stout Calgary defence, and he further confirmed how important Winnipeg's decision to switch to him as starter (which led to seven straight wins for them heading into this game) was. While his overall stats weren't mind-blowing (27 completions on 44 attempts, 61.4 per cent, for 287 yards with two touchdowns and an interception), and while he struggled early, his performance in the clutch was remarkable. Overall, he further proved he can be good enough to give Winnipeg an excellent chance in any game. Most of the time, if you go up by one with 20 seconds left, you've earned a win.

That speaks to the stunning showing that Mitchell produced on the final drive, though. Will Finch returned the kickoff 18 yards to the Calgary 29, but that left just 15 seconds on the clock and one timeout for the offence. The Stampeders' execution was picture-perfect, though. Mitchell first hit Kamar Jorden for 14 yards over the middle, leading to their timeout with 10 seconds left. Then, with really only time for one pre-field goal play and Winnipeg's defence guarding against the long pass, Mitchell still found a way to hit Lemar Durant for 22 yards and set up the field goal attempt. It was a terrific sliding catch from Durant, but it was also a great throw from his quarterback, and Mitchell's coolness under pressure was critical to the Stampeders' win. He finished the day with a remarkable 29 completions on 43 attempts (67.4 per cent) for 361 yards and two touchdowns, but the final drive was his most impressive showing.

The special teams also deserve a ton of credit for this victory. Despite an apparent pulled muscle early on that had him wincing on the sidelines, Paredes made five of his six field-goal attempts on the day, including that season-long one from 52. Meanwhile, punter Rob Maver had some great pins, including one at the three-yard line, and Finch averaged 34.2 yards on six kick returns and 11.5 yards on eight punt returns, setting the Stampeders up in excellent field position for most of this one. It was a cohesive total team effort from Calgary, and even though that almost wasn't enough thanks to Winnipeg's late comeback, it proved sufficient on this day. Both of these teams can be very happy with thier performances Saturday, but it's the Stampeders' winning streak that goes on.