‘Starting the season off right’: Calgary Stampeders feeling good after victory over Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The Calgary Stampeders have started the season off on the right foot, opening up against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and coming away with a 38-26 victory.

After winning just five games and missing the playoffs, the Calgary Stampeders made major changes to the team in the off-season.

No one was sure what to expect from the Stamps because of all the new faces, but the first look was a good one.

The Stamps knocked off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-26 to open the season.

“You really get validation when you do it in a game,” said Dave Dickenson, Stamps head coach and GM.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but there were some people that weren’t sure what the Calgary Stampeders were all about, and for Week 1, we showed that we’re a physical team, we’re an aggressive team and a team that has playmakers.”

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. made his first start for the Stamps, and he was impressive, completing 19 of 28 passes for 284 yards.

He says there’s still room for improvement.

“That’s a good Hamilton team over there—they were bringing pressure, and they were heating us up and we just made adjustments,” said Adams.

“It was a little more inconsistent in the second half, but it’s our first time out there—we’re going to clean some things up, watch the film and get better from it.”

The star on offence for the Stamps was running back Dedrick Mills.

He rushed the ball 17 times for 94 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Mills also received the offensive game ball.

He has some lofty goals this season, wanting to reach that 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his CFL career.

“I feel good, starting the season off right, man. I wanted 100. We didn’t get that number, but every game, I’m aiming for 100 plus. … Let’s get it,” said Mills.

There were a lot of question marks about the defence as well, but they made several key plays and did their part in the Stamps’ victory.

Linebacker Derrick Moncrief has six defensive tackles.

“We’ve got great synergy. We’ve got great chemistry. We’ve just got to continue to build. … We’re just trying to stack the days and trying to prepare the best way we can,” said Moncrief.

The Stamps now travel to Toronto to take on the Argonauts on Saturday afternoon.