Game Summary

This game marked the first regular season CFL game for the expansion team from Memphis. Although the final outcome did not go in their favour, a message was sent to the rest of the CFL, “Beware of the Dogs”. Led by former Edmonton Eskimo QB Damon Allen, the Mad Dogs came up a TD short, dropping a 24-18 decision to the Stampeders in front of 25,071 faithful fans at McMahon Stadium. K Chris Gardner recorded Memphis’ first CFL point with a 40 yard single off a missed FG. The 1-point lead however was short-lived as Calgary QB Doug Flutie hooked up with SB Dave Sapunjis for a 3 yard TD strike at 8:27 of the opening frame. The Mark McLoughlin convert made it 7-1. Gardner redeemed himself, booting a 26 yard FG 3:00 minutes later to narrow the gap to just three at the end of a quarter of play. Allen then went to work connecting for a 50 yard pass and run play to WR Joe Horn. The Gardner convert gave the Mad Dogs their first lead of the game. A Tony Martino single narrowed the gap to 3 before McLoughlin would then tie it up with 8:36 gone in the second frame, this one from 33 yards out. He would then put the Stamps up with a 47 yarder, before Gardner and he traded FGs to bring the first half to a close with the Stamps clinging to a slim 3-point lead at 17-14. Calgary opened the second half scoring with another McLoughlin FG, this one from 49 yards out 2:29 into the third quarter. Gardner connected for his third FG of the night, a 25 yarder with 9:01 left in the third. Martino rounded out the third quarter scoring with a 40 yard punting single. McLoughlin booted his 5th FG of the night 4:26 into the fourth before Gardner added a single with 2:05 left to round out the scoring giving the Stamps a 24-18 victory.