Calgary Stampeders beat Ottawa 45-31 to keep playoff hopes alive

Calgary kept its playoff hopes alive Saturday with a 45-31 victory over Ottawa, improving to 7-8 and staying tied with Winnipeg at 14 points in the West Division.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 24 of 30 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, setting the tone early with a 45-yard pass to Clark Barnes that moved Calgary into Ottawa's end zone on the opening drive. Deonta McMahon scored on a short run to cap that drive, then caught a touchdown pass later in the second quarter.

McMahon added a rushing touchdown, while Tevin Jones and Tyreik McAllister also scored for Calgary. McAllister's touchdown came on a 28-yard rushing play. Kicker Rene Paredes contributed field goals from 40, 49 and 43 yards.

Ottawa (0-14) extended its winless stretch. McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 30 of 47 for 418 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for the Redblacks. Anthony Johnson intercepted Bethel-Thompson on a drive after McMahon's first touchdown.

The win matters because a fourth-place West team can cross over to claim a playoff berth from the third-place East team if it has more points at season's end. Hamilton, which ranked third in the East, was eliminated from playoff contention later Saturday after losing 37-35 in overtime to Edmonton.