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The Calgary Stampeders defeated the Edmonton Elks 28-7 at McMahon Stadium
Published Sep 01, 2025 • 5 minute read
Calgary Stampeders Dedrick Mills TD against the Edmonton Elks defence in second half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary
Calgary Stampeders Dedrick Mills TD against the Edmonton Elks defence in second half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary on Monday, September 1, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Photo by Darren Makowichuk /DARREN MAKOWICHUK/Postmedia
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When football players go to work on the first Monday in September, they want to have some fun.
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After all, what’s that they say?
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‘All work and no play …’
Makes for losing a Labour Day Classic?
And so it was the Stamps enjoying the most playtime — and fun — in the traditional Labour Day affair, with a 28-7 victory over the visiting Edmonton Elks at McMahon Stadium.
Three touchdowns by the hosts — on a 22-yard TD strike to Dominique Rhymes thrown by QB Vernon Adams Jr. along sidelines of endzone helped put the home side up 7-0, a sensational third-quarter punt return for a TD by Erik Brooks and a quarterback dive by Quincy Vaughn — and zero allowed by the home-side defence was the difference.
The Stamps also got 33- and 49-yard field-goals from René Paredes in the Battle of Alberta clash in front of 27,764 fans.
The result ups the Stampeders record to 8-3 to sit second in the CFL’s West Division, while the Elks drop to 4-7.
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Here are 5 takeaways from the Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium …
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams battles the Edmonton Elks in first half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams battles the Edmonton Elks in first half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary on Monday, September 1, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Photo by Darren Makowichuk /DARREN MAKOWICHUK/Postmedia
1. WEST-BEST STAMPS
The CFL standings still show the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-2) on top of the league — that after a crazy win Sunday over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-5) in the other West Division Labour Day Classic.
But nobody has been better than the Stamps in 2025 meetings between West foes, which is now a wowzer 6-0 after Monday’s victory. Included have been season-sweeps of both the front-running Roughriders and the defending division champ Blue Bombers.
Another season-sweep is now in the offing Saturday, when they look to run their versus-West record to 7-0 when the Elks and the Stamps rematch for the Labour Day Replay in Edmonton (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
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Could they run that to a perfect 9-0 by the end of the regular-season? With next week’s game against the four-win rivals and then two remaining against the sub-par BC Lions (5-6), it sure seems possible.
2. BROOKS CAN FLY
Dickenson believed Brooks was close to springing a return for a TD last season before the fleet-a-foot runback artist broke his arm.
Fast-forward a year and Brooks finally has his first career shag-six.
The diminutive dynamo caught the third-quarter punt and ran to his left before cutting back to his right and turning on the after-burners to speed by would-be Elks’ tacklers.
It was an electric play — the highlight of the game — covering 86 yards and bumping the home-side lead up by a pivotal 13 points.
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And from there, the Stamps never looked back, with Adams leading the offence — featuring a nifty Brooks catch — for more insurance on a fourth-quarter TD drive capped by Vaughn’s one-yard dive.
Brooks’ righteous return — the first for a major by the Red and White on the campaign — certainly cements his value as a special-teams star and threat on the Stamps.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams battles the Edmonton Elks in first half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary on Monday, September 1, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia3. STAMPS ARE SUPER-TWEAKERS
The halftime adjustments made by the Stamps are simply a monster factor for the impressive season so far.
Make no mistake about it, the Elks were in the game for the first part of the LDC, marching the ball under QB Cody Fajardo with effectiveness and limiting Adams and the Stamps offence through much of the first two quarters.
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A fumbled snap that the Stamps jumped on and a wide-right miss by kicker Vincent Blanchard changed the visitors’ fortunes in the second quarter, though.
And the home side then took advantage by slotting in their usual tweaks at the intermission, especially on defence, to take over the game in the second half. It meant just 38 yards total for the Elks offence over the third quarter and into the fourth frame, underscored by a string of four-straight two-and-outs.
Game-long, the Stamps surrendered 387 yards, but the defence just didn’t break in keeping the Elks out of the endzone.
That’s some staunch D, which really proved to be the star with the Stamps offence having a sort-of off-day, totalling just 287 yards itself.
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For good measure, Clarence Hicks, Charles Wiley, Folarin Orimolade and Jaylon Hutchings and Charles Wiley all had sacks for the hosts in the LDC. And Hutchings, on a strip-sack of Fajardo from teammate Jacob Roberts, put the final nail in the coffin with a fumble recovery on the Elks’ last drive.
Calgary Stampeders defence sack Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo
Calgary Stampeders defence sack Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo in first half CFL action at McMahon stadium in Calgary on Monday, September 1, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Photo by Darren Makowichuk /DARREN MAKOWICHUK/Postmedia
4. DEFENSIVE DEPTH
What’s been so special about the Stampeders defence in this turnaround season is how the ’next-man-up’ mantra employed by them has paid off in spades.
The prime example the last few games has been the play of starting strong-side cornerback Godfrey Onyeka. He has stepped in for Adrian Greene, the starter at that spot for the early part of the season until injury knocked him out, and has performed admirably. Onyeka’s solid showing has been underscored by two turnovers in as many games, including an interception of Trevor Harris last week.
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In the LDC on Monday, the Canadian corner used his awareness and quickness to locate a loose ball off a fumbled snap by the Elks and jumped on it for a timely fumble recovery. The scoot and dive by Onyeka stopped the visitors, who were on the move in the second quarter.
It’s not just Onyeka stepping up.
It’s been Anthony Johnson at the other corner spot in place of season-starter Tyler Richardson, also hurt.
It’s been a mixed bag at middle linebacker with the early-season injury to leader Marquel Lee. And that’s meant some rotation at the weak-side linebacker. CFL veteran Adam Bighill finally made his Stamps debut in that corps Monday.
No matter what’s thrown at them — whether it’s injuries or QB hall-of-famers in waiting — the Red and White defence has remained rock steady on the year because of the unquestioned depth of its personnel.
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5. SPIRIT OF LABOUR DAY
The Labour Day Classic is Canada’s best football tradition outside of the Grey Cup and one of the top sporting spectacles of the nation annually.
That truly was on display again Monday.
From the massive fan fun during the tail-gating sessions through to the F18 fly-over and on through the gridiron battle, the day brings such major appeal at McMahon. You can’t get a much better afternoon in the country when you go from the food, drink and camaraderie of pre-game to the chills felt during the fly-over and back by again at kick-off and into a tilt that usually brings on the energy both in the stands and on the field.
This year, it was made even better by the beautiful weather and the fact the Stampeders won the home affair.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
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