Paredes, Carey lead Stampeders to season opening win over Alouettes

A Rene Paredes field goal with 30 seconds remaining in the game and a pair of Ka'Deem Carey touchdowns led the Calgary Stampeders to a 30-27 win over the Montreal Alouettes to open the CFL season Thursday.

Calgary's Malik Henry had a touchdown catch. Paredes was good on all three of his field-goal attempts in front of an announced crowd of 21,139 at McMahon Stadium.

Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 21 of 34 passing attempts for 199 yards. Calgary's starter threw a touchdown pass and was intercepted.

Mitchell limping slightly as he headed to the sidelines in the fourth quarter, backup Jake Maier drew for Calgary's final two drives.

Maier navigated the Stampeders to field-goal range for Paredes to finish the job from 38 yards out.

Montreal running back William Stanback, the CFL's leading rusher last season, was carted off the field in the second quarter after his touchdown catch in the first.

WATCH | Stanback leaves game with injury:

Alouettes starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. scored a touchdown as did third-string pivot Dominique Davis on a short-yardage plunge. David Cote added a pair of field goals.

Adams Jr., completed 18 of 31 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown throw. He was intercepted twice in his first start since Oct. 11, 2021, when he sustained a season-ending arm injury in a game against Ottawa.

The Stampeders (8-6-0) finished third in the West Division last season and lost the division semifinal in overtime to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Alouettes (7-7) were similarly third in the East Division and dispatched in the semifinal by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Carey ranked second in the league in rushing yards behind Stanback in 2021. His second touchdown on a five-yard carry and a