David Menard is one of the few remaining B.C. Lions who knows what itB次元官网网址檚 like to suit up for a playoff game in Vancouver.
ItB次元官网网址檚 been six years since the Lions faced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division semifinal at B.C. Place, but the matchup has stayed with the veteran defensive lineman.
B次元官网网址淚 remember it was a really, really tough game,B次元官网网址� Menard said. B次元官网网址淚t was a physical game and it took everything that we had at the moment.
B次元官网网址淏ut the feeling after, though, it was amazing, winning that game at home. It was just an amazing feeling and I canB次元官网网址檛 wait for Sunday to have the same feeling again, but even better.B次元官网网址�
B.C. will make its first post-season appearance since 2018 on Sunday, hosting the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division semifinal.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a long time coming,B次元官网网址� said Lions wide receiver Bryan Burnham. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been a part of some good teams that just werenB次元官网网址檛 able to get it done. And to be a part of this team and to be in the position that weB次元官网网址檙e in to be hosting a playoff game, itB次元官网网址檚 awesome.B次元官网网址�
The winner of SundayB次元官网网址檚 game will take on the defending Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers in the West final in Winnipeg on Nov. 13. This yearB次元官网网址檚 CFL championship game will be played Nov. 20 in Regina.
With big games looming, Lions head coach Rick Campbell has kept the focus tight this week.
B次元官网网址淚 tell (the players) the recipe for winning doesnB次元官网网址檛 change,B次元官网网址� he said Friday after his team capped practice by gathering on the sidelines to watch regular-season highlights on the Jumbotron.
B次元官网网址淭he stage gets bigger but as far as how you win football games, that doesnB次元官网网址檛 change. And we just want to get ready to go this whole week and then when the ball is kicked off, play as good of football as we can play.B次元官网网址�
B.C. and Calgary posted identical 12-6 records across the regular season but the Lions had a 2-1 edge in the head-to-head series.
The Lions know chalking up another victory on Sunday wonB次元官网网址檛 be easy.
The Stampeders come in with back-to-back wins against the Saskatchewan Roughriders and are in the playoffs for a club-record 17th straight season.
Calgary topped the league in scoring during regular-season play with 562 points. Running back KaB次元官网网址橠eem Carey powered a potent ground game, amassing a CFL-best 1,088 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 really something else,B次元官网网址� Menard said of the 30-year-old Arizona product. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 great, he can break tackles, heB次元官网网址檚 fast. When he hits the spot, when he hits the hole, heB次元官网网址檚 really fast. So weB次元官网网址檝e just got to stop him and make our tackles.B次元官网网址�
B.C. has weapons of its own, including quarterback Nathan Rourke, who is expected to start in his first CFL playoff game Sunday.
The 24-year-old Canadian wowed onlookers in his first season as starter, completing 248 of 313 passes (79.2 per cent) for 3,281 yards with 25 TDs and 10 interceptions before suffering a foot injury that required surgery.
Rourke missed eight games before returning in the LionsB次元官网网址� loss to the Blue Bombers last week. HeB次元官网网址檚 confident heB次元官网网址檚 the best option for B.C. this weekend.
B次元官网网址淚 think IB次元官网网址檒l be able to do what I need to do to be able to give the team the best shot to win,B次元官网网址� Rourke said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 the simplest way to say it. Obviously, I think that at this point in the season, everyoneB次元官网网址檚 dealing with something different. No oneB次元官网网址檚 really feeling 100 per cent and IB次元官网网址檓 no exception.B次元官网网址�
Burnham will also slot back into the lineup after missing five games with a fractured wrist.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a tough road this season for me personally,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut to be honest with you, as crazy as it may sound, I donB次元官网网址檛 want to take anything back. I donB次元官网网址檛 have any regrets.
B次元官网网址淭he injuries have made me stronger, and IB次元官网网址檝e been able to be around this group of guys. So itB次元官网网址檚 been a privilege. IB次元官网网址檝e loved every moment of it.B次元官网网址�
CALGARY STAMPEDERS (12-6) AT B.C. LIONS (12-6)
West Division semifinal, Sunday, B.C. Place
INS AND OUTS: The Lions will be without speedy receiver Lucky Whitehead (ankle) and veteran offensive lineman Joel Figueroa (shoulder). Stampeders defensive backs Marcelis Branch (hip), Parnell Motley (illness) and Tre Roberson (knee), and offensive lineman Joshua Coker (arm) did not practise on Thursday.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?: The road team won each matchup between the two squads during regular-season play. The last time Calgary or B.C. beat the other at home was June 29, 2019, when the Stampeders won 36-32 at McMahon Stadium.
HISTORY BOOKS: The Lions havenB次元官网网址檛 fared well against the Stamps in previous West Division semifinals. Calgary has a 6-0 record in first-round playoff meetings between the two sides.
B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
