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Adrian Greene snags two interceptions, Jalen Philpot big on the receiving end for victorious visitors over Toronto Argonauts
Published Jun 16, 2025 • 7 minute read
Folarin Orimolade sacks Nick Arbuckle
Toronto Argos quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) is sacked by Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade (7) during second-half CFL action in Toronto on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press
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Another game, another win for the Calgary Stampeders?
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Yes … it happened for the Red and White, with a solid road decision — a 29-19 defeat of the defending Grey Cup champions Saturday afternoon.
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“Good team win,” Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told Stamps TV after the triumph over the host Argonauts (0-2). “I thought it was important.
“You know … just keep stacking good quality performances early in the year. Try to get your wins in early and see where it takes you.”
If that road victory doesn’t have anybody thinking the Stampeders (2-0) have at least halted the free-fall of the last few Canadian Football League campaigns, then perhaps nothing will leave an impression.
But it is true it’s still early in what’s hoped to be a turnaround season for the Stamps.
It is a keeper, though, and one the Stamps can hang their hat on.
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“Great crowd, loud crowd … best crowd I’ve seen in Toronto in a long, long time,” said Dickenson, of the 17,902 fans on hand at BMO Field to take in the battle and the pre-game ceremony to honour the 2024 Grey Cup champ Argos. “It was an environment you enjoy playing in, but the defence, I think, fed on that emotion and that intensity. And in the first half, both defences really did take it to the offences.
“I think we just had a second half that had a little bit more rhythm.”
Here are five takeaways from the Stamps’ win over the Argonauts …
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[Calgary Stampeders QB Vernon Adams Jr. celebrates the Stamps' second TD against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in first-half action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Stamps looking to make it two straight wins when they travel to Toronto](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/stamps-looking-to-make-it-two-straight-wins-when-they-travel-to-toronto)
2. [Calgary Stampeders defensive coordinator Bob Slowik watches players during practice at McMahon Stadium on Tuesday June 3, 2025.
Gavin Young/Postmedia
Stamps’ new defensive boss Bob Slowik brings NFL pedigree from Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh coaching trees](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/bob-slowik-brings-nfl-experience-to-stamps-defense)
1. Cue the defence
If the Week 1 win at home in a 38-26 result over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was a credit to the offence, let’s say this one was on the backs of the defence.
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But just like the season-opener wasn’t all due to Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stamps attack, this win wasn’t all on the defenders.
Bob Slowik’s crew, however, was full marks for the decision, especially early with the Red and White offence slow to start the contest.
Bob Slowik
Calgary Stampeders defensive coordinator Bob Slowik watches players during practice at McMahon Stadium on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Gavin Young/Postmedia
The defence allowed just four first-half points and just four more in the third quarter, stuffing the Argos assault behind former Stamps QB Nick Arbuckle time and again. It wasn’t until the final frame when the home side finally found some stride, but the 11 points didn’t compare to the 17 put up in the fourth quarter by the Stampeders.
“The defence really held it down for the majority of the game,” Stamps QB Vernon Adams Jr. told Stamps TV. “It kept Toronto out of scoring position.
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“And we tried to flip the field, as well, but we need to be better for them, so they’re not playing so many plays each game.
“But we’ll watch the film, and we’ll learn from it.”
For the second straight game, the Stamps ‘D’ proved staunch against the run, allowing just 67 yards as part of a 361 total yards put up by the Argonauts.
Linebacker Jacob Roberts and defensive back Tyler Richardson each put up six defensive tackles to pace the Stamps. Canadian linebacker Micah Teitz had five, as did middle-man Marquel Lee before leaving with injury. And linemen Jaylon Hutchings and Folarin Orimolade, a former Argos star, bagged one sack apiece for the victors.
2. Greene-eyed monster
The big defensive star for the Stamps was field-side cornerback Adrian Greene, who had two interceptions in the game, including a second-quarter pick-six that set the visitors off and running on the scoreboard.
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Greene stepped in front of Arbuckle’s long pass to the far side of the field and took the football 40 yards to the house for the first defensive TD scored by the Red and White on the season.
“They ran that play a couple times on film and then a couple times (in the game), too,” Greene, a Toronto native in his fourth CFL campaign, told Stamps TV. “So trust your instincts and go get it.
“Honestly, any time the ball is up in the air and I get a chance to make a play on the ball and help the team win, I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
The Stamps were grateful to Greene for the timely thefts, because it was just reward for the early defensive effort and a massive lift for the offence in its push to find its feet.
“We protected the ball, and we were one getting the interceptions,” said Dickenson, of team toughness — mentally — in the face of a slow offensive start. “Then we found our rhythm. And I think we were able to get some looks that we wanted and some calls that we wanted against our looks and did a better job offensively in the second half.”
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3. Phil-ling his boots
The Stamps got their most key offensive plays from promising receiver Jalen Philpot.
On a pass-catching crew that’s tall and rangy, the smaller Philpot proved physical Saturday, playing big to haul in balls in tight coverage and run over would-be defenders.
“The contested catches by Philpot, I thought, were excellent,” said Dickenson, of the six-foot, 190-lb. talent. “He’s looking for more opportunity, and I do feel like he’s highly motivated. The thing is he played super physical, just catching on screens and getting up-field.”
The fourth-year receiver finished with six catches for a career-best 117 yards — both game-highs — and had 42 YAC yards.
“I trust my quarterback, and he trusts me,” a smiling Philpot told Stamps TV. “He’s just going to put the ball in the area — like he always says — and just go and make the play.”
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Vernon Adams Jr. touchdown
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) scrambles to score a touchdown, getting around Toronto Argos linebacker Isaac Darkangelo (35) during second-half CFL action in Toronto on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press
Fellow Red and White hands-man Dominique Rhymes came two yards shy of 100 with 98 on four catches, while rookie Damian Alford and Erik Brooks — sliding into the offence after Reggie Begelton was sidelined by injury — had 31 yards apiece.
“I have the utmost confidence in all my receivers,” said Adams, who earned his first victory in Toronto in his CFL career of 10 years. “I’ll tell them in the huddle before we start the game, ‘Hey, I’m gonna put in the area. You guys just make me look good.’ And that’s what they do.
“Jalen made some big-time catches. D-Rhymes made some catches. Tevin (Jones) made a great catch on the second-and-short there to keep the drive on (late in the game). And even ‘Moose’ Damian Alford made a good catch for us, man. So super proud of my guys.”
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4. Tricky stuff
The Stamps also executed a trick play down-field as part of the attack — nice to see since it always helps to keep the defence off-balance.
It was one from the back of the playbook that covered 37 yards to Rhymes down to the Argos one-yard line and kept a drive alive to kick-start the flurry of fourth-quarter points.
“We had that flea-flicker with Dom that worked well,” said Dickenson of the play that saw Adams hand off to running back Dedrick Mills, who then pitched it back to the QB for a toss downfield to the receiver Rhymes. “Toronto was focused in on taking away the run. And because they were down, we kind of felt like we could get that dialled up in that situation.
“It’s a gamble, but I was happy that we got ’er dialled up.”
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It helped Adams finish 17-of-25 for 301 yards. The Stamps QB also added 54 yards on the ground and a rushing major covering eight yards in the fourth quarter.
5. And now for the bad news
The only negative on the day was injuries — plenty of them to pivotal players.
Reggie Begelton — in the opening series — Bryce Bell and defensive leader Lee were all sidelined.
“It’s unfortunate players get hurt,” Greene said. “But guys kind of took that opportunity for everyone to rally around, kind of play together and bond together and kind of get that win out for them.
“When you lose key guys like Reggie and Bryce, those are key points of our offence,” Philpot said. “So we had to rally — just came together as a team. We just talked about one play after another, and we’re just going to keep the ball, keep it moving and score points — and I think that’s what we did.”
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Long-snapper Aaron Crawford shook off injury to stay in the game and help the special teams play an effective role in the game.
Veteran René Paredes finished 3-of-5 on field goals, hitting from 46, 23 and 22 yards away, and Dickenson pointed to punter Fraser Masin as being a key in the win, “doing a nice job, really pinning people in,” with his 45.6-yard per-punt average Saturday.
But having Crawford battle through injury helped make all that happen.
“We definitely feel like we lost some soldiers — some guys that are a big part of our success in our team,” added Dickenson. “I’m not sure where the injuries stand, though, so we’ll see how that plays out.
“But different guys stepped up this game, and that’s when you have a good team is when your number’s called and you get your opportunity and you’ve just got to rally and make sure that next guy is up to speed.”
Stay tuned on the injury front with the Stamps’ next game Saturday at home against the Ottawa Redblacks (0-2) at McMahon Stadium (2 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
X: @ToddSaelhofPM
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