Stamps defeat Eskimos in Labour Day Classic at McMahon Stadium

It was the last Labour Day Classic for Hufnagel as head coach as the Stamps defeated the Esks 16 - 7 to win the battle of Alberta.

The Calgary Stampeders faced the Edmonton Eskimos for the 50th time on Monday and tailgaters from both cities gathered early at McMahon Stadium to get the annual Labour Day Classic party started.

The Stamps and Esks have faced off against each other on Labour Day since 1982 and the Stamps record is 23-25-1 against their northern rivals in the annual Monday game.

Calgary is coming off a four game winning streak after defeating the Bombers 36-8 last week.

The Eskimos are 6 and 3 and the Stamps are 7 and 2 so the winner of the Labour Day matchup will determine the west division leader.

“It’s a big game because of the standings, number one. It’s a big game because they’re two very, very good football teams but in truthfulness it is only one of a number of big games that we’re going to have as we go forward into the season and it’ll be a great barometer of how our team competes in big game situations,” said Stamps Head Coach John Hufnagel.

“It’s the next team in line. We play them twice within a week and I’m hoping we pull both games off and separate ourselves from everybody else,” said Stamps Defensive Lineman Charleston Hughes.

“With Calgary we want to get a win. We want to be first in the division. We want to have that vibe during the playoffs and what not but this game right here, just cause it’s the Labour Day rival game, they’re what two hours, three hours away from each other, so cross-town rivalry so you want to win this game and play big and to hold that first place,” said Joe Brunett, Stampeders Defensive Back.

Calgary vs Edmonton stats

It was the last Labour Day Classic for Hufnagel as head coach as he plans to hand off the duties to Dave Dickson next year so he can devote his time to the GM role.

Tailgaters are invited to attend the Dodge Fan Zone, at the south practice field, for the pre-game party and admission is free with a game ticket. Activities include; face painting, player autographs, a live DJ, a photo booth, a video-game truck and interactive sponsor games and giveaways.

The Stamps payed tribute to Canada’s armed forces and two CF-18 Hornets performed a fly-over to get the game underway.

Kickoff at McMahon Stadium was at 2:30 p.m. and the game was scoreless for the first quarter.

A 13 yard field goal by the Stamps kicker Rene Paredes put the team ahead at 12:50 of the second quarter, 3 - 0 Stamps.

Sean Whyte punted for 57 yards to put the Eskimos on the board about five minutes later and it was 3-1.

Greg Wilson gets his first career touchdown for the Stampeders and a convert from Paredes put the team ahead near the end of the half, 10 - 1 Stamps.

Paredes put another through the uprights in the final seconds of the half and it was 13 - 1 Stamps as both teams headed to the locker room.

Whyte made a 23-yard field goal with just over a minute left in the third to bring the Eskimos within nine, 13-4 Stamps.

The Edmonton kicker cut into the Stamps' lead early in the fourth with another field goal, 13-7.

Paredes popped his third field goal in from 45-yards out with just a few minutes left in the game to put the Stamps ahead 16-7.

He is now eight for eight for field goals from 40 yards or more this season.

The Stamps will meet the Eskimos at Commonwealth on Saturday for the rubber match.

(With files from TSN.ca)