Stampeders’ winless skid hits eight games in heartbreaking loss to Elks

Make it eight straight without a win.

That’s how the Calgary Stampeders will be remembered by fans in the stands after Saturday’s wrap-up of the home schedule at McMahon Stadium.

A 23-18 CFL loss to the rival Edmonton Elks kept the winless skid in place, despite the Stampeders being five yards away from victory in the dying seconds of the matinee.

“The season is what it is,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We need a play — we have a chance to make one play to win, and we don’t make the play.”

Indeed, it was that dramatic, with the Stamps falling short on a last-play overthrow by quarterback Matt Shiltz — making his starting debut in Red and White — in trying to find sure-handed receiver Reggie Begelton deep in the Elks’ end zone.

The home side set up for the final attempt after a pass interference call on Elks defensive back Kai Gray put them within striking distance of the winning points.

It would’ve capped a 74-yard drive in 69 seconds for the Stamps.

And it would’ve sent them away from the home fans on a high note.

Instead, the difference winds up being QB Tre Ford’s shovel pass to star receiver Eugene Lewis covering 10 yards and marking the winning touchdown with just 69 seconds left in the contest.

“The entire objective is to win the game,” Begelton said. “So it’s kind of hard to have — how do you say it? — ‘moral victories.’ All year, we’ve won mini-games — like three-quarters of the game — but we have not finished. And that’s the concerning part about our team at the moment, and it has been for the entire season.”

The decision drops the Stamps to an ugly 4-11-1 record to push them three points back of the 6-11 Elks, who complete a three-game sweep in The Battle of Alberta for the first time since 2002.

Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s Week 19 loss at McMahon in front of an announced attendance of 21,185:

Shiltz’s first game in Red and White produced its moments.

While the American QB was only 18-of-33 for 215 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception, the seventh-year CFL pivot’s ability to escape trouble and run for 64 yards on five carries proved key for the Stamps in trying to snap their winless string.

He simply kept drives alive and proved that he deserves another look as the offensive leader.

“Matt is a baller,” Begelton said. “He is a different element that we bring into the game — he has some legs. But at the same time, football is about repetition, as well. And once Matt gets in there a lot more, I’m sure he’ll start being a little bit more solid.”

“I thought he played solid,” Dickenson said of Shiltz. “We had no rhythm in the second and third quarters.

“He did the things we wanted him to do. He did take off. He did some designed runs. He made some throws. He had a lot of balls batted down, as well. And he did manage the clock well and got us in position to have a chance.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for Shiltz to secure his first win with the Stamps.

“It was tough,” Shiltz said. “I think we started off hot as a team in the first quarter. We kind of had a lull there in the second and the third. I was proud of the way we fought back in the fourth, but too many ups and downs through the middle portion of the game.

“We’ve got to do a better job of staying on the football field — just a lot of detailed things that we need to hammer out and be on the same page with and still build that chemistry. We didn’t get the win, and that’s the most important thing.”

All year long at home, the Stamps have made it interesting in the fourth quarter.

That was the case again Saturday, as they found sudden momentum to create a comeback.

Down 17-5 and having not put up points since the second drive of the game, Shiltz engineered a strong march downfield — 80 yards on 12 plays — capped by a three-yard TD toss to receiver Jalen Philpot.

Shiltz was 7-of-8 on the drive to inject some spirit into an otherwise listless unit and game. It followed what was a third quarter that saw only an Elks single change the scoreboard.

The change of offensive fortune sparked the defence, as well, as two plays later, Stamps defensive lineman Clarence Hicks reached high to knock down a Tre Ford pass. Hicks then grabbed the falling ball before it hit the ground for the impressive interception, allowing the Red and White to take over on the Elks’ 29-yard line.

And so Shiltz and the Stamps wasted no time in capitalizing on the turnover, cashing in after two successful runs — by Shiltz and Kylin Hill — with ‘Touchdown’ Tommy Stevens sneaking the ball in from four yards out for the go-ahead major.

Too bad the hosts couldn’t hold on to the one-point lead. The defence allowed more Elks rumbles, as they used most of the rest of the clock — nearly three minutes of the remaining 4:15 — to get the winning points.

And too bad the Stamps couldn’t convert from the Elks’ five-yard line on the final play of the game.

“I just feel like that’s our whole year,” Dickenson said. “I don’t think the fight’s ever left us. We keep fighting, and we finally do feel like, ‘OK … we’re going to win the game.’ And we don’t win the game.

“We can’t stop them, and we can’t make the plays at the end and take dumb penalties.”

It didn’t take long Saturday for Stamps receiver Reggie Begelton to reach an impressive milestone.

His early catch covering 54 yards behind the Elks’ defence pushed him over the 1,000-yard receiving mark on the season. It’s the third time the polished veteran has accomplished that — all with the Stamps.

Trouble is the Stamps got stuffed in trying to convert from Elks’ 14-yard line, leading to just three points on the drive. René Paredes’ 21-yard field goal made it 5-0 — a letdown for the home side after jumping out to a 2-0 lead on Bailey Devine-Scott’s tackle of Ford for a safety.

Indeed, the Stamps had momentum but couldn’t build on it despite the safety and big throw to Begelton giving them early energy.

Ouch.

Begelton eclipsed the milestone back in 2019 with a whopping 1,444 yards.

And last year, he rolled up 1,119 in 15 games.

After hauling in five balls for 79 yards — both team-highs Saturday — the 31-year-old Texan now has 1,073 yards on 85 receptions in 16 tilts this year.