Former Titan Sets CFL Record for Receptions in Single Season

Allen Pitts, the former Cal State Fullerton standout twice cut by the Rams during training camp, set the Canadian Football League’s single-season receiving record Sunday by catching seven passes in the Calgary Stampeders’ 39-27 regular-season ending victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Calgary.

Pitts finished with 118 catches, bettering by two the record set by Winnipeg’s James Murphy in 1986. Pitts set the mark on his sixth reception of the afternoon, a four-yard pass from Danny Barrett with three minutes left in the half. The 18,488 fans at McMahon Stadium gave Pitts a standing ovation.

“I could never have foreseen it happening,” Pitts told reporters after the game. “It’s been a great year, and a great year for the team. I feel real good about being the all-time reception leader in the history of this league. That’s a great honor. I’m overwhelmed.”

Despite the record, Pitts was critical of his performance.

“There’s a lot to be improved on,” said Pitts, whose catches resulted in 104 yards and a touchdown, but whose fumble set up a Saskatchewan touchdown. “Next week is a bigger game, and we have to have a lot of big plays out of all of us. Personally, I’m going to need to play a better game overall.”

Pitts became only the fourth player since 1980 to lead the CFL in receptions, receiving yardage (1,767, the ninth-best total) and touchdown receptions (15, sharing ninth place on the all-time list with current Raider Mervyn Fernandez) in the same season.

The Stampeders completed the regular season 11-7, with Sunday’s victory giving them second place in the CFL’s Western Division and home field advantage in Sunday’s Western Division semifinal.

Gordon Vincent of the Calgary Sun contributed to this story.