Bo Levi, Ticats Rout Stampeders
Bo Levi Mitchell finally has his first win over the Calgary Stampeders.
Mitchell threw for 450 yards and five touchdowns to lead Hamilton past Calgary 42-20 on Friday night. Mitchell, 34, spent his first 10 CFL seasons with the Stampeders before joining the Tiger-Cats in 2023.
“It feels good, it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I left there,” Mitchell said. “It’s not something that I have a vengeance against those guys but it’s your old team.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I wanted to go out there and just beat the brakes off of them because I did … it felt good to go out there and do it and just put that to bed.”
Mitchell wasn’t alone. Cornerback Jonathan Moxey, defensive back Richard Leonard and running back Ante Litre are also former Stampeders.
Moxey’s first-quarter interception ended Calgary’s impressive opening drive. It also set up Mitchell’s eight-yard TD pass to Tim White at 9:30 as Hamilton quickly surged into a 30-0 first-half advantage.
“I didn’t expect to be able to jump on them that quickly,” said Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich. “Obviously the interception was, I thought, critical because they had some momentum, they were moving on the first drive.”
Mitchell leads the CFL in passing yards (5,026), touchdowns (31) and interceptions (17). He registered his third 5,000-yard passing campaign but the first since 2018.
Despite its early deficit, Calgary pulled to within 33-20 to start the fourth. Marc Liegghio’s 35-yard field goal at 4:43 put Hamilton ahead 36-20 before an announced Tim Hortons Field gathering of 22,410.
Mitchell cemented the win with a 14-yard TD pass to Steven Dunbar Jr. at 8:20. Mitchell completed 24-of-37 passes with an interception.
“We got behind early and obviously they ran away with it,” said Dave Dickenson, Calgary’s head coach/GM. “We did fight back and he (Shiltz) was part of the reason why we got back into the game … we never really threatened them though.
“They had it under control the whole time. We kept fighting but it certainly wasn’t enough.”
Hamilton also announced in the first half it will retire Hall of Famer Garney Henley’s No. 26 at next year’s home opener. He’ll join Angelo Mosca (No. 68) and Bernie Faloney (No. 10) as the only players in franchise history to have their jerseys retired.
UP NEXT
Hamilton: At Ottawa (8-7-1) on Friday night.
Calgary: At Saskatchewan (9-7-1) on Oct. 26.
(Canadian Press)
