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It only took one game for Ryan Thelwell to make up for a disappointing start to his career as a Calgary Stampeder.

Thelwell led all receivers with seven catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns Monday as the Stamps beat the Edmonton Eskimos 35-24 in the annual Labour Day Classic game at McMahon Stadium.

"It's my first Classic and it's so exciting," said Thelwell, who had just 14 catches for 172 yards and no touchdowns heading into the game. "I'm just happy that we won."

Calgary coach Tom Higgins commended Thelwell for having his best game of the season.

"He was saving it for Labour Day," Higgins said. "His number was called and it was really nice to see him get some receptions and some numbers and some touchdowns."

Signed as a free agent in the off-season, the veteran of six seasons with the B.C. Lions had high hopes heading into the season.

"It's been tough," said the six-foot-one, 195-pound receiver. "I know it hasn't been the best of starts, but it's a long season. It just takes one game to break out of a slump."

Calgary quarterback Henry Burris, who had another strong game by completing 23 of 33 passes for 382 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, told Thelwell that the Labour Day game would be his "coming-out party" in front of a sellout crowd of 35,650 fans.

"We knew what he was capable of," Burris said. "It was all about just getting the confidence, just getting the ball to him, get him a couple touches early. "Ryan showed why we brought him here and that's why we're all excited about having him on the team."

In turn, Thelwell commended Burris for getting him the ball when he was open.

"Hank did an amazing job," said Thelwell, who broke Allen Pitts' 12-year-old former record of 165 yards receiving in a Labour Day game. "He got the ball out there and I just made the plays."

Ken-Yon Rambo also caught his first two touchdown passes of the season, Sandro DeAngelis kicked a pair of field goals, while punter Duncan O'Mahony had a 65-yard single.

The Eskimos scored 17 points after three first half turnovers by the Stampeders but couldn't hold on as Calgary rallied for 20 points in the second half to emerge victorious for the second straight year in the annual clash between Alberta's CFL rivals.

"We could not get anything going in the second half," said Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown. "We have to keep finding a way to be more consistent. Three points in the second half is not going to get done."

Tyler Ebell ran for a 21-yard touchdown, Trevor Gaylor had one touchdown reception, while Sean Fleming kicked three field goals and a single for the Eskimos.

With the win the Stamps improved to 4-4-1, while the Esks fell to 3-5-1. The same two teams will meet for a rematch at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night.

"We had a rough time defending the pass and could not get anything going on offence in the second half," said Edmonton coach Danny Maciocia. "We have to regroup and go out and play."

The Eskimos opened the scoring at 4:38 of the first quarter when Ebell's touchdown run capped off a six-play, 59-yard drive. On the drive, Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray ran for 12 yards and completed consecutive passes of 12 and 13 yards to Kamau Peterson to get the Esks deep into Calgary territory.

After a 60-yard single by Fleming, the Stamps responded with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped off by a seven-yard touchdown reception by Thelwell, his first of the season.

Edmonton defensive back Lenny Williams then made a spectacular diving catch to pick off an errant throw by Burris in the second quarter. Two plays later, Ray tossed a quick pass to Gaylor who rambled into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Siddeq Shabazz stripped the ball from Calgary punt returner Marcus Howell, his second fumble of the game, and J.R. Larose picked up the loose ball to set up a 42-yard field goal by Fleming.

After O'Mahony's single, Burris led the Stamps on a seven-play, 77-yard scoring drive culminating in a nine-yard TD strike to Rambo in the end zone.

With time winding down in the first half, Fleming kicked a 22-yard field goal to put Edmonton up 21-15.

In the third quarter, the Stamps took command of the game as Burris tossed a 14-yard TD strike to Rambo and a 57-yard bomb to Thelwell.

"We were able to come out the first few drives in the third quarter and really take advantage of their mishaps," Burris said.

Following a 32-yard field goal by DeAngelis in the fourth quarter, Ray tossed a long bomb downfield to a wide open T.J. Acree, but Calgary defensive back Brandon Browner ran down the receiver, knocked the ball loose and into the end zone where teammate Dwaine Carpenter recovered the fumble to end the scoring threat.

"I just put my head down and started pumping as hard as I could," Browner said. "I happened to get there faster than I thought I would."

Edmonton did manage a 48-yard field goal by Fleming in the final quarter, before DeAngelis kicked a 30-yarder of his own to round out the scoring.

Notes: The capacity crowd of 35,650 fans at McMahon Stadium marked the 15th time in 16th year that the annual Labour Day Classic game has been sold out. a Since 1959, the Eskimos hold a 24-18-1 edge in the Classic. a Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds ran for 68 yards on 15 carries to pass the 4,000 yard rushing mark in his four-year CFL career.