The Calgary Stampeders won their first game of the 2026 Canadian Football League regular season on Saturday night. They defeated the British Columbia Lions 41-33 at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, British Columbia. The game was moved from Vancouver, British Columbia to Kelowna, British Columbia because Vancouver is one of the host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup of Soccer.
Two Canadians recorded a touchdown for the Stampeders in the eight point win. They were wide receiver Jalen Philpot of Delta, British Columbia and quarterback Quincy Vaughn of Brantford, Ontario.
Philpot caught a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. with one minute and nine seconds left in the second quarter. At the time, the Stampeders went up 17-14. Then with three seconds left in the first half, Vaughn had a one-yard touchdown run. This major score put the Stampeders up 24-14.
In the game, Philpot had three catches for 13 receiving yards, and Vaughn had three rushes for six rushing yards. For the season, Philpot has 11 catches for 162 receiving yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Vaughn has 11 rushes for 19 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
With the win, the Stampeders are in a third place tie with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL’s West Division. Both teams are at one win and two losses.
