The B.C. Lions (1-1) hosted the Calgary Stampeders (1-1) on Saturday night from B.C. Place in front of a sold-out crowd in which rapper 50 Cent performed before the game took place. When the game started, the home crowd watched their team battle against their divisional rival in a good back-and-forth game.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter, B.C.’s offense had problems getting going with three two-and-out sessions. Calgary played smart football in the first quarter. On their second possession, Calgary mixed it up with several running and passing plays leading to quarterback Jake Maier setting up a trick formation play where Markim Michel cut across the field to catch Maier’s pass for a 10-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 5:19 left. The drive went eight plays for 65 yards.
In the last two minutes of the first quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 10-yard pass to Jevon Cottoy and on the next play ran for 11 yards before sliding down to the Calgary’s 49-yard line. Running back William Stanback finished the first quarter with three carries for 17 yards. The Stampeders led the Lions 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Calgary quarterback Jake Maier completed 5 of 5 passes for 64 yards, and one touchdown, while B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 3 of 6 passes for 12 yards, and one carry for 11 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, the momentum shifted toward B.C. On the third play from scrimmage, Calgary’s defense blitzed Adams Jr. He scrambled around the field before throwing the ball to a wide-open Justin McInnis for an eight-yard touchdown. However, kicker Sean Whyte missed the extra point and Calgary led 7-6 with 13:25 left.
On the second play for Calgary, quarterback Jake Maier threw a high pass to Dedrick Mills, who tried the make the catch but the ball bounced off his hands and Ben Hladik made a diving interception at Calgary’s 46-yard line. B.C. quickly went two-and-out and punter Sean Flintoft punted the ball 53 yards where the ball bounced into the endzone and Erik Brooks took a knee giving up the single point. The game was now tied 7-7 with 11:36 left.
Calgary quarterback Jake Maier went to work completing six straight passes for 67 yards to the B.C.’s three-yard line. After Dedrick Mills was unable to get the first down, Calgary kicker Rene Parades made a 13-yard field goal putting the Stampeders back in the lead 10-7 with 5:49 left before halftime.
Late in the second quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 28-yard pass to Justin McInnis to Calgary’s 19-yard line. Two players, Adams Jr. knew Calgary was blitzing. Adam’s avoided the pressure before throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Alexander Hollins for a 14-10 lead with 1:52 left. B.C. led 14-10 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
B.C. had 160 yards on offense (112 yards passing, 48 yards rushing). Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 9 of 16 passes (56.3%) for 112 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for 11 yards. Running back William Stanback had seven carries for 37 yards.
Wide receiver Justin McInnis made three catches for 55 yards, and one touchdown while Alexander Hollins made five catches for 47 yards and one touchdown. B.C. was penalized three times for 40 yards. The defense made two sacks, three tackles for loss, and one interception.
Calgary had 161 yards on offense (151 yards passing, 21 yards rushing). Quarterback Jake Maier completed 12 of 15 passes (80%) for 151 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running Dedrick Mills had six carries for 12 yards.
Wide receiver Markim Michel made three catches for 40 yards, and one touchdown. Calgary’s defense made two tackles for loss and one blocked kick.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Begelton for a 17-14 lead with nine minutes left. Begelton fought Patrice Rene before making a diving touchdown catch.
On the fifth play from scrimmage by B.C., quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was looking to throw the football. He threw the ball but it was batted up by Calgary defensive lineman Kwadwo Boahen. Adams Jr. stayed with the play catching his own pass for a gain of four yards. It was an exciting play. B.C.’s offense could not move the ball after that play and kicker Sean Whyte made a 30-yard field goal. The game was tied 17-17 with 5:31 left.
For the rest of the third quarter, both defenses did a good job shutting one another down. On the last play of the third quarter, Calgary running back B.J. Emmons was taken down for a one-yard loss at the B.C.’s 42-yard line. The game remained tied 17-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Calgary punted the ball back to B.C. On the seventh play for B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. scored a one-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak. There was a botch on the extra point attempt and the score was now 23-17 with 10:02 left in the game.
Later in the fourth quarter, Calgary’s offense was marching down to B.C.’s territory. On second down from the B.C.’s 28-yard line, quarterback Jake Maier threw a completed pass to running back Dedrick Mills. Mills avoided one tackle but he lost the ball in the process and Josh Woods recovered it on their 37-yard line.
With 3:22 left in the game. B.C.’s offense forced Calgary to use their timeouts. They took their time killing the clock before kicker Sean Whyte put the game out of reach with a 47-yard field goal for a 26-17 lead with 36 seconds left. Calgary’s offense went back out for the final time. They ran three plays before time expired and the B.C. Lions beat the Calgary Stampeders 26-17.
Final Stats:
B.C. had 362 yards on offense (277 yards passing, 85 yards rushing). Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 17 of 29 passes (58.6%) for 277 yards, two touchdowns, four carries for 16 yards, and one touchdown. Running back William Stanback had 15 carries for 69 yards.
Wide receiver Alexander Hollins made eight catches for 97 yards, and one touchdown, while Justin McInnis made four catches for 91 yards and one touchdown. B.C. was penalized eight times for 103 yards.
Kicker Sean Whyte made two field goals with a long of 47 yards. B.C.’s defense made 46 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine tackles on special teams, four sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Calgary had 378 yards on offense (339 yards passing, 61 yards rushing). Quarterback Jake Maier completed 26 of 33 passes (79%) for 339 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Dedrick Mills had 11 carries for 46 yards and made six catches for 99 yards.
Wide receiver Jalen Philpot made five catches for 45 yards. Wide receiver Markim Michel made four catches for 45 yards, and one touchdown, while Reggie Begelton made two catches for 22 yards and one touchdown. Calgary was penalized eight times for 71 yards. Kicker Rene Parades made one field goal for 13 yards. Calgary’s defense made 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, and seven tackles on special teams.
Final Thoughts:
I thought this game was competitive. B.C. took advantage of Calgary’s mistakes and made them pay for it. Vernon Adams Jr. did a good job avoiding Calgary’s blitzes and making plays out of them. The highlight of this game involved him catching his own pass. As for the rest of the team, kudos to B.C.’s defense for getting to Maier four times, and the wide receivers were finding ways to get open and Adams Jr. took advantage of Calgary’s secondary missing their assignments.
For Calgary, Jake Maier did not play a bad game. Yes, he did overthrow players several times with one of them leading to an interception. Calgary had control of this game playing simple football mixing passing and running plays and kept B.C. guessing on what play was coming next.
However, their mistakes allowed B.C. to get back into the game and the team did not recover from it. Calgary’s offensive line needs to do a better job protecting Maier. They were getting bullied by B.C.’s front four and they will have time to make adjustments heading into the bye week.
Next Friday, the B.C. Lions visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 8:30 pm on TSN and CFL+ while the Calgary Stampeders are on a bye week. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
