The statement was made, a new Stampeders team has entered the season. Lead by a strong outing from the QB, and surprising support from the revamped defence, Calgary turned in a commanding victory over the BC Lions at home. Henry Burris ran for one touchdown and threw for two more to lead the team to a 28-18 win.
Question marks were largely pegged around the quality of Stamps D with 10 new starters this season. Early on two linebackers went down including the middle LB Rasheed (shoulder injury that may be serious--possible call back to Trey Young?) Nonetheless, the ever changing defence managed to stuff the run and knock Lions QB Buck Pierce out of the game.
The game featured the usual opening season jitters and bugs, with some dropped passes, missed field goals, even the refs played short-handed. However, the Stamps took the early lead and never looked back. Despite the game being close 18-11 for most of the second and third quarter, Calgary broke the game open in the fourth.
Burris completed 22 of 33 passes for 274 yards and ran for 62 more. With just two starters back from last season, Calgary's revamped defence held the B.C. Lions to just 65 yards rushing in front of 30,159 appreciative fans at McMahon Stadium. Still not a sell out, but I guess wins will help that figure. Richard karikari started at safety but Lysack took over for most of the game after the first.
On the offensive side Ken-Yon Rambo and rookie Chris Jackson each caught TD passes, while Sandro DeAngelis kicked two field goals and a single. It seems the team has opted to use Jackson as 6th receiver instead of Thelwell (all Canadian two years ago with BC). Interesting move, I counted four catches Jackson could have made but didn't. Both Burris and notable RB Joffrey Reynolds put up huge numbers with the later earning 25 carriers and 126 yards.
The score didn't really do justice to the domination the Stamps put on. Yes there were still wrinkles, but a late TD in the forth gave the Lions 18 after the game was all but lost. The Lions didn't want to back down trying to score more points after recovering an on-side kick. The result was two Lion receivers getting their bells rung by huge Calgary DB hits.
Watch the game if you missed it online.
Notes: Miguel Robede and Juwan Simpson all sacked Pierce in the second quarter but three DL's left the game with injuries. Retired OL Jay McNeil, who spent his entire 14-year career with the Stampeders, was honoured at halftime.
Post-game fireworks to celebrate the win.
