Latest news with #VernonAdams
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roughriders ready for showdown with Stampeders
It's a battle for top spot in the West Division as the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night. Following their first bye week of the CFL season, the Roughriders enter the Week 6 contest at 4-0 while the Stampeders are 3-1 after beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 37-16 last week. And while it's a long season, the winner of Friday's game — which is set to get underway at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium — will hold down top spot in the division through six weeks. While Friday's game features the top two running backs in the CFL this year in A.J. Ouellette and Dedrick Mills — who rank No. 1 and 2 in rushing yards respectively — there's also a couple veteran quarterbacks set to go head-to-head. Trevor Harris will return to the starting role for the Roughriders after sitting out Saskatchewan's Week 4 game over the B.C. Lions as he was in concussion protocol. While Jake Maier picked up the win in relief of Harris, the 39-year-old pivot wants to keep Saskatchewan's strong start to the season going, although he says what happened last week or the week prior doesn't matter at this point. 'Always resets at zero,' said Harris. 'Assess where we were last week, find ways to sharpen our axe and cut down the next tree. 'One of my favourite quotes is, 'If you gave me four hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend three hours sharpening my axe.' And so it's about just making sure that we're sharp going into the game.' On the other side, Vernon Adams Jr. has been at the helm for all four of Calgary's games to start the season and remarkably enough, the 32-year-old veteran threw his first touchdown pass of the season last week against the Bombers. So far this season, Adams has averaged 256 yards passing and 29 yards rushing per game, making him a dual threat the Roughriders need to be aware of. 'He could beat you in a couple different ways,' said Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. 'Over the history coaching against him, he's had games where he's ruined it with his legs and he's had games where he sat in the pocket and delivered. 'Certainly we're going to stick to kind of our game plan, what we see this week, and not putting too much emphasis on trying to eliminate one guy. We're 12 (players), they're 12, we've just got to make sure we do our part.' Calgary's defence has been a big reason for their strong start to the season and that was on display last week as Derrick Moncrief and Damon Webb — two former Roughriders — each had an interception returned for a touchdown in Calgary's win. And while they've been able to score on defence, the group has given up a league-low 81 points this season while holding their opponents out of the end zone for a large portion of their first four games, as noted by Harris this week. 'I don't think anybody scored a touchdown in the first three quarters on this defence,' said Harris, whose offence is averaging a league-high 29.3 points per game. 'They make things very difficult on you. 'They don't do 65 different coverages. They play what they play, and they get really, really good at it, and they make things difficult for you. 'And so to some degree, you know what you're going to get. But we also know that they're going to give us looks that we haven't seen before. They're going to keep us guessing and show us a few things that they haven't shown yet this year. 'We're excited about the challenge. They bring a great challenge to us, but we think we bring great challenge to them as well.' Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell (groin) has been ruled out this week after suffering an injury in Saskatchewan's Week 4 game against the Lions, meaning Antoine Brooks Jr. will likely draw the start this week. Meanwhile, running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (thigh) has also been ruled out which means Ka'Deem Carey will find himself back on the roster backing up Ouellette. And along the offensive line, with Trevon Tate (shoulder) out, Zack Fry will slot in at left guard for the Green and White, who will still be without receiver Samuel Emilus (foot) for a second consecutive game. tshire@ Shire: Roughriders' Mike Rose not about to trash talk former team Roughriders lose another offensive lineman to injury The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
CBC
04-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Winnipeg Blue Bombers get 1st loss of season after falling 37-16 to Calgary Stampeders
Social Sharing Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stampeders had a sense of occasion in Calgary's first "Stampede Bowl" with a 37-16 win over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday. The hosts were dominant in the first CFL game named in honour of the Calgary Stampede that starts Friday and has been a city fixture for over a century. After three straight games without a touchdown pass for the first time in his career, Adams threw his first two as a Stampeder while Damon Webb and Derrick Moncrief returned interceptions for a pair of touchdowns. "It was a great team win, complementary football, defence two pick sixes. Finally got a passing touchdown, so that felt good as well," said Adams. There were cowboy hats all around as the Stampeders hoisted a bespoke trophy designed for the game attended by an announced 22,485 at McMahon Stadium. "Certain games bring a little extra emotion. Tonight the whole stadium had emotion," Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said. "We had some spark. I knew our guys were ready to play." Clark Barnes and Damien Alford caught Adams' touchdown passes and Dedrick Mills scored a rushing touchdown for Calgary (3-1). Rene Paredes contributed five kicking points and punter Mark Vassett a punt single for the hosts, who handed the Blue Bombers (3-1) their first loss of the season. Winnipeg's Jerreth Sterns caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter and kicker Sergio Castillo was good from 19, 21 and 29 yards. Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira, the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2024, totalled 61 yards on 13 carries after sitting out two games with a shoulder injury. Thursday's game was a matchup of the CFL's two stingiest defences, but the Stampeders raced to a 29-6 lead by halftime, while Winnipeg's offence was hampered by miscues, interceptions and a smothering Calgary secondary. "We got our asses beat," Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea said. "They came out and put it on us pretty good." 'Not a winning recipe': Collaros Adams, acquired in a trade from the B.C. Lions last November, also completed 13 of 18 pass attempts for 222 yards and went interception-free. His Winnipeg counterpart Zach Collaros went 34-for-48 in passing for 288 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted twice for Calgary touchdowns. "I can speak for the offence and myself, when you turn over the football, especially when it goes for touchdowns the other way, that's not a winning recipe," Collaros said. Collaros and his favourite downfield target Dalton Schoen connected on just four of 10 attempts. Moncrief picked off Collaros for a 70-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. "I watched film all week. No sleep this week," Moncrief said. "Last night, I was watching film a long time and just trusting myself and trusting my preparation." Webb nabbed a Collaros throw intended for Nic Demski and ran back a 30-yard touchdown to give Calgary a 15-3 lead heading into the second quarter. "We called it early this week man, me and Webb, we said we had to make some big plays for our defence and that's what we did, but we credit our defensive line for putting the pressure on them too," Moncrief said. After Jalen Philpot's 68-yard catch and run put the Stampeders on Winnipeg's doorstep with two and a half minutes left in the first half, Mills punched the ball into the end zone. Collaros pushed the Blue Bombers downfield with the clock ticking down but Winnipeg settled for a Castillo field goal and a 23-point deficit at halftime. Adams threw his first touchdown pass as a Stampeder on Calgary's opening drive when he aired the ball out to Barnes for a 43-yard major. His second was an 11-yard yard catch and run by Alford for the latter's first CFL touchdown. The Stampeders visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 11. The Blue Bombers have a bye week before a rematch with Calgary at home July 18.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Dedrick Mills, Vernon Adams Jr., spur Stampeders to 38-26 win over Tiger-Cats
Dedrick Mills scored one touchdown in the 2024 CFL season. He started 2025 with three in a single game for the Calgary Stampeders. The Stampeders downed the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-26 in the season-opener for both clubs Saturday. Mills rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries, while quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 19 of 28 pass attempts for 284 yards, and rushed for 33 yards on three carries, in his highly-anticipated Stampeder debut. Mills handed off the white cowboy hat as his team's offensive player of the game to his offensive linemen. 'They did their thing and they got me in the end zone three times, so of course, man, I had to give it to them,' Mills said. 'They deserved it.' Adams' backup P.J. Walker contributed a short-yardage touchdown and Rene Paredes kicked field goals from 42, 29 and 38 yards in front of an announced 18,682 on a breezy, hazy evening at McMahon Stadium. Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kenny Lawler scored his first touchdown as a Tiger-Cat. Isiah Wooden returned a kickoff to score, while Marc Liegghio booted field goals from 47, 37 and 25 yards. The Stampeders acquired Adams in a trade with the B.C. Lions a month after their 5-12-1 season ended in 2024. He was intercepted twice in Saturday's second quarter, but distributed the ball efficiently for 428 yards of net offence. Adams scrambled out of the pocket to connect with Clark Barnes on a 65-yard passing play that Mills finished for a 34-11 lead to start the fourth quarter. The Stampeders scored on their first drive of the game when Adams marched the offence 85 yards on nine plays. 'It's always important to get some points on the first drive if you can,' Adams said. 'I like receiving the ball because if we can go down and do that, that puts pressure on their offence to do it. 'Defence did a good job. Rene was Rene. And that was awesome operation on the special teams. 'It wasn't pretty by any means, but it's a win and it's so hard to get wins in this league. We have a really good team and once we get it together, get it clicking, I think we're going to be special.' It was too little, too late when Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell found rhythm in his offence as the Stampeders had built a 15-point lead by the first play of the second half. Mitchell completed 31 of 50 pass attempts for 304 yards and a touchdown throw in an interception-free start, but Hamilton also turned the ball over on downs three times. 'We have to do better jobs on offence, me put the ball in a catchable spot every time and let's put two hands on it, locking it up, getting vertical,' Mitchell said. 'We just want to reward the defence when they're playing that well in the first half. When you're making Vernon throw two picks … in the first half, you've got to take advantage of them and I just think we didn't do a good enough job of instantly kind of turning those into points.' The Tiger-Cats haven't won their first game of the season since 2019, while the Stampeders improved to 3-3 in their last six openers. The game turned on Calgary's kickoff to start the second half when Paredes' kick hung in the wind, which gave Calgary's Jeshrun Antwi time to get a hand on the football. Teammate Kelon Thomas recovered at Hamilton's 13-yard line. After Mills ran the ball to the one, Walker scored and Paredes' convert gave Calgary a 25-10 lead. Stopping the run was among Calgary's priorities this season as the Stampeders were the worst in the CFL at it in 2024. They held the Ticats to 47 rushing yards Saturday. 'Definitely if you can make a team a little more one-dimensional, we had the lead though, which was nice too,' said Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. 'I did feel like they tried to run early and we were there and thought we spiked our ends and did some good things. They tried some deep throws on us, really weren't able to do it. We've got some things we can get better at, but a good start for the defence.' As for his new quarterback, Dickenson liked what he saw from Adams in the face of Hamilton's pressure. 'What he does so well though is he escapes. He used his legs. The things we wanted from him, he did,' Dickenson said. 'He got first downs with his legs. He got out of the pocket.' Up next Stampeders: Visit the Toronto Argonauts next Saturday. Tiger-Cats: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders next Saturday. -- Donna Spencer This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
National Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Dedrick Mills, Vernon Adams Jr. power Stampeders to season-opening win over Tiger-Cats
Dedrick Mills scored one touchdown in the 2024 CFL season. He started 2025 with three in a single game for the Calgary Stampeders. Article content The Stampeders downed the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-26 in the season-opener for both clubs Saturday. Article content Article content Mills rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries, while quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 19-of-28 pass attempts for 284 yards, and rushed for 33 yards on three carries, in his highly anticipated Stampeder debut. Article content Mills handed off the white cowboy hat as his team's offensive player of the game to his offensive linemen. Article content 'They did their thing and they got me in the end zone three times, so of course, man, I had to give it to them,' Mills said. 'They deserved it.' Article content Adams' backup P.J. Walker contributed a short-yardage touchdown and Rene Paredes kicked field goals from 42, 29 and 38 yards in front of an announced 18,682 on a breezy, hazy evening at McMahon Stadium. Article content Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kenny Lawler scored his first touchdown as a Tiger-Cat. Isiah Wooden returned a kickoff to score, while Marc Liegghio booted field goals from 47, 37 and 25 yards. Article content Article content The Stampeders acquired Adams in a trade with the BC Lions a month after their 5-12-1 season ended in 2024. Article content He was intercepted twice in Saturday's second quarter, but distributed the ball efficiently for 428 yards of net offence. Article content Adams scrambled out of the pocket to connect with Clark Barnes on a 65-yard passing play that Mills finished for a 34-11 lead to start the fourth quarter. Article content Article content The Stampeders scored on their first drive of the game when Adams marched the offence 85 yards on nine plays. Article content 'It's always important to get some points on the first drive if you can,' Adams said. 'I like receiving the ball because if we can go down and do that, that puts pressure on their offence to do it. Article content 'Defence did a good job. Rene was Rene. And that was awesome operation on the special teams. Article content 'It wasn't pretty by any means, but it's a win and it's so hard to get wins in this league. We have a really good team and once we get it together, get it clicking, I think we're going to be special.' Article content Article content It was too little, too late when Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell found rhythm in his offence as the Stampeders had built a 15-point lead by the first play of the second half. Article content Mitchell completed 31-of-50 pass attempts for 304 yards and a touchdown throw in an interception-free start, but Hamilton also turned the ball over on downs three times.
CTV News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Calgary Stampeders hitch quarterback wagon to 'Big-play VA' Vernon Adams Jr.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., right, hands the ball off to Jeshrun Antwi during first half CFL preseason football action against the Edmonton Elks in Calgary, Saturday, May 24, 2025. The Stampeders look to Adams to help turn the team around in 2025 after missing the playoffs last season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh The road back to the CFL playoffs goes through Vernon Adams Jr. in Calgary. The Stampeders acquired the quarterback from the B.C. Lions a month after their worst season in two decades concluded in 2024. Calgary finished last in the CFL with a 5-12-1 record. The Lions choosing Nathan Rourke their No. 1 pivot, and Calgary looking for an upgrade after two and a half seasons of Jake Maier brought the 32-year-old Adams to a team looking for a turnaround in 2025 after missing the post-season for the first time in 19 years. 'He's Vernon Adams, he's Big-Play VA, so he's going to bring Calgary back to where it used to be,' predicted receiver Dominique Rhymes. 'He's used to being a winner, so he is going to be bringing that winning culture, and I think it's going happen immediately.' Adams denies B.C.'s preference for Rourke injects extra motivation into him as a Stampeder. 'No, not at all. I'm blessed, I'm grateful,' the Californian declared. 'I'm happy a team wants me and I'm here. It's the start of a new journey and it's great.' The five-foot-11, 195-pound pivot led the CFL in passing yards in 2023 (4,769) and ranked second in touchdowns (31). He was in the conversation for Most Outstanding Player in 2024 with B.C. before he was sidelined with injury in August. CFL quarterbacks often get disproportionate credit for wins and blame for losses in a team game, but there's no denying the position's importance in a three-down league. 'One twelfth, but quarterback play is vital,' said Stampeders coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, a former CFL quarterback himself. 'I don't need fancy plays. Make plays, sure, but do what is required to win. He's done that in his career. He is definitely a guy that is a winner and finds ways to win ball games even sometimes when he maybe he's not having his best stuff. 'I really believe halfway through the year, he was odds-on favourite to win the MOP last year and injuries kind of derailed it. Careers are weird that way. They definitely take you from one city to the other. I think he's happy to be here and we just got to provide him the support so he can be Vernon.' New Stampeder quarterbacks coach Dakota Prukop has had a close view of Adams' career since Prukop played for Montana State and Adams for Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Conference. Both men eventually transferred to Oregon, with Prukop a Duck a year after Adams. The two men continued to circle each other in the CFL before crossing paths at Lions training camp last year. 'Vernon's a veteran in the CFL, but this is his first year in this playbook,' Prukop said. 'His ability to pick up this playbook in the way he has and have the details in this play book has been something really impressive. That has not surprised me. I saw his professional habits when we were together in B.C. 'I don't want to say he's a gamer in the sense that he does not do well outside of a game, but he has an extra gear on game day. When you couple that with his professionalism and being a true pro, and then he has that extra gear in game day, if the pressure is on, if the score is tight, he's the guy you want in your huddle.' Since throwing his first CFL pass for the Montreal Alouettes in 2016, Adams has amassed 16,190 career passing yards with a 64-per-cent completion rate. He's thrown 86 touchdown passes, as well as 54 interceptions, while rushing for 24 touchdowns. 'My thing was I threw too many interceptions,' Adams said. 'Just want to make sure I'm protecting the ball and getting my playmakers the ball. Let them do the rest.' -- Donna Spencer This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.
