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Despite posting a much better Canadian Football League record overall in the last decade, the Stampeders have only swept the doubleheader four times
Published Sep 08, 2025 • 7 minute read
Calgary Stampeders vs. Edmonton Elks
Calgary Stampeders' Ludovick Choquette (28) is tackled by Edmonton Elks' Tanner Green (27) during first-half CFL action in Edmonton, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
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It’s never easy to win both games of the Labour Day set between the Calgary Stampeders and the team from up north.
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Despite posting a much better Canadian Football League record overall in the last decade, the Stampeders have only swept the doubleheader four times.
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And so even though the Stamps have been a frontrunner again in 2025, it was another split between them and the Edmonton Elks this season — with the latest result coming Saturday night in a 31-19 victory by the home side at Commonwealth Stadium.
“When you go into these games, a lot of times, the gas tank probably isn’t full,” Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told reporters, of the Labour Day Rematch.
“Sometimes it’s just about who can dig deeper.”
The Elks did just that, proving they wanted the second leg of the annual back-to-back Battle of Alberta more than his charges.
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Other issues — including key injuries and another sub-par day from QB Vernon Adams Jr. — factored into the score line, as well.
But the bottom line was a better effort put up by the home squad across the board, just as was the case six days earlier in the Labour Day Classic, which was then dominated by the Stampeders in 28-7 fashion at McMahon Stadium.
“I don’t know that we had let-downs,” said Dickenson, reflecting post-game with reporters on the rematch. “They just beat us. They were the better team. The line of scrimmage was theirs. They protected (their quarterback) better than us. They tackled better than us.
“They were the more aggressive, physical team.”
Here are five takeaways from the Labour Day Rematch at Commonwealth …
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1. Can’t win ’em all
A fourth loss on the campaign shouldn’t take the steam out of the Stampeders as frontrunners to win it all.
Just ask strong-side linebacker Derrick Moncrief, one of the leaders of a defensive unit that admittedly didn’t have its best effort Saturday.
“Championship swagger — we’re going to bring it,” Moncrief told reporters, when asked what the final six games of the season looks like for the Stampeders in the wake of the loss in Edmonton.
“I believe we’re gonna win the Grey Cup,” continued Moncrief. “I’m standing here right now declaring we’re going to win the Grey Cup this year, and we’re ready for the challenge.”
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They have been season-long, so don’t forget that.
Most fans — if not all — and the Stamps themselves would likely have taken eight wins through 12 games after missing the playoffs last year and coming off a winter of upheaval with many questions about what the team and the campaign would look like.
“We’re just gonna take it one game at a time,” added Moncrief. “As soon as we signed up in February and came into training camp, winning the Grey Cup was the number one goal.”
2. Run over by Rankin
The Stampeders have been slowing down elite rushing offences all year.
But you can’t stop ’em all.
Especially when talented Justin Rankin has got his moves on, which he truly did Saturday.
The veteran running back for the Elks was pretty much unstoppable, rushing for a whopping 204 yards on the day for the best ground game of the year in the CFL.
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Touchdown rushes of 90 and 31 yards in the second quarter by Rankin highlighted his eye-popping performance.
“Great running back,” Dickenson said. “He made us miss, and he was gone, so he had a great game, and I’m sure they were trying to lean on him.”
Rankin was clearly the difference on the night, in helping the Elks roll up 377 yards on offence versus the 308 put up by the Red and White.
“We just didn’t tackle well as a defence — all 12 guys,” Moncrief said. “We didn’t get to the ball like we needed to. Hats off to them. Rankin had a great game — hit some great perimeter runs. But at the end of the day, we just gotta stop them. That’s all we gotta do.
“They just outperformed us.”
Calgary Stampeders vs. Edmonton Elks
Calgary Stampeders’ Damon Webb (9) and Shaun Peterson Jr. (58) tackle Edmonton Elks’ Justin Rankin (5) during second-half CFL action in Edmonton, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
Indeed, it’s rare for the Stamps defence to get torched like that.
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And it’s not often to see Red and White running back Dedrick Mills getting outrun.
But with the visitors chasing on the scoreboard for most of the game, he wasn’t a workhorse — with just eight carries for 38 yards — in the tilt.
“They won the line of scrimmage,” added Dickenson. “They protected the quarterback better than us, and they ran the ball better than us. That’s kind of our keys went in. We weren’t able to do that.”
3. Not enough offence
Adams is trying to shake the label of being ‘wildly inconsistent’ throughout his CFL career.
His performances in the Labour Day double didn’t help his cause, although there’s certainly more to what was a listless offence Saturday than Adams’ own numbers.
On Saturday, the talented QB went 15-of-29 for 229 yards.
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Pedestrian stats, at best. But the offensive line — which has been amazing on the season but without a few key pieces by game’s end at Commonwealth— can take much of the blame for that.
The coach sure felt that way, with Dickenson electing to remove Adams from the game late and to turn to back-up P.J. Walker for any shot — unlikely, really — at a comeback.
“I just felt like we weren’t protecting him well enough,” said Dickenson, of Adams. “At that point, you’re still trying to win, but you’ve got to understand the CFL season is a war. It’s not just an individual battle. I felt like we were going to keep battling, but I didn’t feel comfortable putting him back there and potentially putting ourselves at a bigger risk (by injuring Adams).
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“P.J. acquitted himself well. He did throw that interception, but we told him he had to start taking some shots, so it is what it is.”
Calgary Stampeders vs. Edmonton Elks
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) is sacked by Edmonton Elks’ Noah Taylor (42) during first-half CFL action in Edmonton, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
What it was, truly, was the Elks were simply just stronger on the evening.
“It was one of those games we got beat — they were the better team,” continued Dickenson, who got only two TDs from his offence on the night — both on Quincy Vaughn QB dives. “We closed the gap to 21-19 (with 11:51 remaining). I thought if we could’ve stopped them and had our chances, maybe we get lucky and get one there. But we didn’t. They took it to us at the end, and they deserved to win.”
“We didn’t bring our ‘A’ game,” agreed Adams, who did connect with receiver Erik Brooks on six passes for 115 yards — both game-highs. “We could put it on the short week or on missing players or whatever … you know. But we just didn’t bring our ‘A’ game against a good team.”
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4. Perfect time for bye week
Yes … the Stamps were missing players, for sure.
In fact, the injuries got ugly for the Stamps, especially along the lines.
On the offensive line, they came in without left tackle D’Antne Demery (hamstring) and then lost right tackle Josh Coker when Adams was knocked into his leg. The in-game injury shifted left guard Zach Williams to tackle, a position he’d never played before in the CFL, and pushed Tomas Jack-Kurdyla into duty at guard.
“It didn’t go well for us,” Dickenson said. “(Williams) practises that (position), but he hasn’t really played tackle. But that’s the reality of small rosters.”
On the defensive line, the Stamps went in without Jaylon Hutchings, a game-time decision due to a groin injury.
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Then, leader Folarin Orimolade was knocked out of the contest and seen on the sidelines on crutches and with a bag of ice on his foot.
Stay tuned on ‘Flo’s status moving forward, but it would be a massive hit to the d-line to lose the formidable pass-rusher.
“These are tough games anyway,” said Dickenson of the Labour Day double. “And it was a physical game, and then they beat us. So they were the ones that were the more aggressive team.
“I’m sure they had their injuries, as well, but certainly we finished that game beat up.”
Perhaps the bye week can help with that, given it’s 12 days between games for the Stamps.
Next up, it’s the BC Lions on Friday, Sept. 19, at McMahon (7:30 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
5. West is best
The decision certainly tightens up the CFL’s West Division standings and lends continued credence to the idea the West is best in Canadian football.
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With the victory, the Elks match the Lions at 5-7 to sit just a game back of the third-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who are on 6-6. Then it’s the Stamps not too far up the ladder at 8-4 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 10-2 in top spot.
That means only one East Division squad — that being the Hamilton Tiger Cats at a meagre 7-5 — has a better record than any of the five West sides. If that continues, then the West will get the crossover spot for playoffs, giving the division four teams in the post-season compared to just two from the East.
But with the Elks earning Saturday’s victory, nobody — including the Stamps — is free and clear yet for a playoff spot in the West.
“I love splitting the season kind of into sixes — I do,” added Dickenson. “It’s kind of like three quarters, and then, to me, that fourth quarter is hopefully playoffs. And … you know … we’re right where we need to be. There’s a lot of season left, and we do need to generate momentum — got to be better. And hopefully the bye gives us a chance to recover and get back at it versus BC.”
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
X: @ToddSaelhofPM
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