5 Things To Know | BC @ CGY
The BC Lions have punched their tickets for the Grey Cup Playoffs and are now assured of being at home for the Western Semi-Final on Halloween afternoon. But don’t expect them to take their foot off the gas before they get there.
Heading into Saturday’s big test at the Calgary Stampeders, there remains plenty at stake for this resurgent squad. The big priority is to continue playing their best football heading into the real season. Facing an opponent whose playoff hopes are dangling by a thread, this Week 20 contest should have the feel of a do-or-die battle between two West Division rivals. With more, we present our 5 Things To Know preview.
Game 17: BC Lions (10-6) at Calgary Stampeders (8-9). Saturday, October 17. 4:00 pm PT, McMahon Stadium. TV: Canada: TSN. Stream: CFL+ (U.S. & International). Radio: 730 CKNW, Lions Audio Network, Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 & SiriusXM 167 Canada Talks.
Second Place Lions Know Their Fate
Following Edmonton's 35-27 victory over Winnipeg on Friday night, the Lions are locked into second in the West and will host the Division Semi-Final on October 31. It remains possible for the Lions to play against Saskatchewan, Calgary or Winnipeg for the right to go to Edmonton and the West Final on November 7. As for the Stampeders, they simply need to win their final game to give themselves their best shot at the playoffs. A Roughriders win over Montreal on Saturday afternoon and a Lions win tonight eliminates Calgary from the post-season. The Stamps can still get in with a loss and two more defeats by the Riders.
Don't expect much in the way of lineup changes, as the Lions travelled to Calgary with the idea they were still potentially pushing Edmonton for top spot. Read the Extra Points section below for a couple of possible tweaks on the horizon on Saturday.
Bully Ball Is Key
It’s always easy to point to the line of scrimmage as a key point of emphasis. Now that we’re well into October and preparing for the playoff grind, it becomes extra important. The Stampeders still boast one of the top defensive fronts in the league, with the likes of Clarence Hicks, Jaylen Hutchings and Miles Brown causing havoc up front. Hicks entered this week as the CFL leader with 12 sacks and a remarkable 91 quarterback pressures. The Lions offensive line has been a big bright spot during this stretch of nine wins in ten games. Opening up holes for Zander Horvath and James Butler, while allowing Nathan Rourke more time in the pocket, will be where this game is won and lost. In a 30-26 win at Calgary back in Week 11, they rushed for 152 yards. 102 of those came on the back of Horvath. Bully ball will win the day.
Who Will Lead The Charge?
We’re talking specifically about the Lions’ embarrassingly rich receiving core. Last week, Stanley Berryhill III led the way with 105 yards. The game before it was Jermaine Jackson with 94; behind him, the always-dependable Jevon Cottoy. Point being? Any one of these playmakers is capable of being the go-to guy for Rourke. Keon Hatcher and Justin McInnis have had their share of accolades. But the depth speaks to just how well-constructed this roster is. A big play on offence by any one of these difference makers will be a great way to set the tone early.
Containing The Stamps' X-Factor
Speaking of playmakers, Calgary’s Tyriek McAllister has a share of the CFL lead with three return touchdowns. One of those came way back in the Stamps’ win over the Lions at Touchdown Kelowna in week four. A big area of importance lies in the hands of the Lions’ kickoff and punt units. Not allowing those big returns that would set up Vernon Adams Jr. and their offence with a shorter field will go a long way in setting the tone in this big rubber match between the two rivals.
What They’re Saying
“It’s tough to win games in this league. We’ve got a tough one on our hands this weekend. Calgary is a team that desperately needs a win and we need a win as well. Every win against a West team at this point is critical, right? To go into their house is going to be a tough one; we’re going to have to play better than the last time we were there and put some points on the board.”- Rourke on the test in Calgary.
“The mindset is just to be 1-0 every week. We’re not worried about what’s going on with the playoffs, or how it’s going to go. I don’t even know. We’re just here to play football games and win. That’s my job.”- Deontai Williams on the stakes each week.
Extra Points
The Lions make one starting lineup change this week. Rookie T.J. Burke makes his CFL debut at defensive tackle, replacing Jonah Tavai (Thigh). The only other change sees Nathan Cherry back in a reserve role after Chase Henning was moved back to the practice squad. Despite missing practice time to monitor a shoulder problem, Butler is expected to dress behind Horvath. Fullback Riley Pickett (hip) and veteran defensive back T.J. Lee (knee) are listed as Game Time Decisions.
The Lions have won six of their last seven meetings at McMahon Stadium. It's a stretch that began in week two of the 2021 campaign and has seen three different quarterbacks prevail there: Rourke, Adams Jr. and Michael Reilly.
Rourke holds a record of 32-18 as Lions starting quarterback, matching the same record Travis Lulay had after 50 games. That's good for a second-place tie amongst Lions starters after 50 games, trailing Roy Dewalt's mark of 35-13-2.
Sean Whyte enters this game six points shy of 1,000 as a Lion. The White Rock native will be only the third in franchise history after fellow legends Lui Passaglia and Paul McCallum to reach that mark with the franchise. Whyte is also three field goals shy of 600 for his CFL career.
Jackson is currently 122 yards shy of 1,000 for the season. He would join McInnis and Hatcher in the 1K club for 2026. Not bad for a guy who was deemed expendable at the end of training camp before the rash of injuries paved the way for his return.
The Stampeders’ 8-9 record might be a mystery to some, based on the weekly stats. Despite their season hanging by a thread, they entered this week with a CFL-best 600 points scored and Adams Jr. is tied with Davis Alexander for the league lead with 35 touchdowns. As they say, it’s a team sport.