Laura Bates | Stampeders.com

They went down.

But not without a fight.

The Stampeders were handed their first loss of the season in Regina, falling 40-27 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Sunday night CFL action at Mosaic Stadium.

“We got outplayed, and outcoached,” said head coach Dave Dickenson. “I just have to look in the mirror on that one, everyone does.

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“They seemed to play faster, have a little bit more edge, more physical, and they executed a little better. When you put all those things together when you’re playing a good team, you’re going to get beat.

“We did fight, I’m not going to say we laid down. We fought hard and kept coming after it, I’m proud of my guys for that.”

Bo Levi Mitchell went 22-for-36 and threw for 275 yards and four touchdowns in the game, impressive stats given the amount of pressure he faced from the Riders all night.

“You pressure the quarterback you’ll win in this league,” said Dickenson. “Even though Bo did get harassed, and had a lot of pressure, he just kept fighting and I thought he made a lot of great throws.”

DaVaris Daniels topped Stamps receivers with 83 yards, and Brandon Smith led defenders in tackles at eight.

The Riders took an early lead to start the game, as Brett Lauther tallied two field goals in as many drives.

Nick Marshall would then run 43-yards for a touchdown following an interception with seconds remaining in the first quarter. A successful two-point conversion would give the home side a 14-0 lead after the first.

But, the Stamps came out of the gates hot in the second quarter after a 45-yard pass from Mitchell connected with Daniels, who ran to the house for a major on the opening drive of the frame.

Samuel Eguavoen answered back for the Riders shortly after, running for a touchdown after blocking a punt from Rob Maver.

“Ultimately we couldn’t stop them,” said Dickenson. “We gave up a punt block for a touchdown, and it’s pretty tough to win games when that happens.

“If you do get a punt returned on you, or a kick-block for a touchdown, you’re going to lose – it’ll certainly turn the tides (in a game).”

Lauther then notched another field-goal for the Riders with 5:19 left in the half.

“I felt like we were playing from behind the whole game, couldn’t stop them, they had the aggression on us,” said Dickenson.

“Excuses to why (we lost), there is none,” added Mitchell. “They just came out and played better than us the entire first half.

“Our guys started responding and coming back in the second half, but ultimately not enough to get the job done.”

Marshall ran three-yards for another Riders touchdown to open the third quarter.

The Red and White scored their second major of the evening on the following drive, after a 32-yard end zone completion to Kamar Jorden.

Juwan Brescacin would help chip away at the Stamps’ deficit late in third with another touchdown, followed by a great catch by Jorden for a two-point conversion to make it 31-20.

Two more field-goals from Lauther would add to the Riders lead in the final frame.

A late 17-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to Daniels would close the gap, but another field-goal from Lauther would seal the win for the home side.

“This is a positive thing,” Mitchell said. “I understand a loss is the biggest way to learn.

“Winning hides things sometimes, and that happened these last couple of weeks. (Winning) hid some things, and they got exposed tonight. It’s good for guys to wake up and realize that, watch the film and get better.

“We just have to come out prepared for a tough game against Winnipeg.”

The Stamps return home to battle the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium on Aug. 25.

Originally posted to Stampeders.com