David Menard is one of the few remaining B.C. Lions who knows what it害羞草研究所檚 like to suit up for a playoff game in Vancouver.
It害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚 remember it was a really, really tough game,害羞草研究所� Menard said. 害羞草研究所淚t was a physical game and it took everything that we had at the moment.
害羞草研究所淏ut the feeling after, though, it was amazing, winning that game at home. It was just an amazing feeling and I can害羞草研究所檛 wait for Sunday to have the same feeling again, but even better.害羞草研究所�
B.C. will make its first post-season appearance since 2018 on Sunday, hosting the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division semifinal.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a long time coming,害羞草研究所� said Lions wide receiver Bryan Burnham. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been a part of some good teams that just weren害羞草研究所檛 able to get it done. And to be a part of this team and to be in the position that we害羞草研究所檙e in to be hosting a playoff game, it害羞草研究所檚 awesome.害羞草研究所�
The winner of Sunday害羞草研究所檚 game will take on the defending Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers in the West final in Winnipeg on Nov. 13. This year害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚 tell (the players) the recipe for winning doesn害羞草研究所檛 change,害羞草研究所� he said Friday after his team capped practice by gathering on the sidelines to watch regular-season highlights on the Jumbotron.
害羞草研究所淭he stage gets bigger but as far as how you win football games, that doesn害羞草研究所檛 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.害羞草研究所�
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 won害羞草研究所檛 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 Ka害羞草研究所橠eem Carey powered a potent ground game, amassing a CFL-best 1,088 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 really something else,害羞草研究所� Menard said of the 30-year-old Arizona product. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 great, he can break tackles, he害羞草研究所檚 fast. When he hits the spot, when he hits the hole, he害羞草研究所檚 really fast. So we害羞草研究所檝e just got to stop him and make our tackles.害羞草研究所�
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 Lions害羞草研究所� loss to the Blue Bombers last week. He害羞草研究所檚 confident he害羞草研究所檚 the best option for B.C. this weekend.
害羞草研究所淚 think I害羞草研究所檒l be able to do what I need to do to be able to give the team the best shot to win,害羞草研究所� Rourke said. 害羞草研究所淚 think that害羞草研究所檚 the simplest way to say it. Obviously, I think that at this point in the season, everyone害羞草研究所檚 dealing with something different. No one害羞草研究所檚 really feeling 100 per cent and I害羞草研究所檓 no exception.害羞草研究所�
Burnham will also slot back into the lineup after missing five games with a fractured wrist.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a tough road this season for me personally,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淏ut to be honest with you, as crazy as it may sound, I don害羞草研究所檛 want to take anything back. I don害羞草研究所檛 have any regrets.
害羞草研究所淭he injuries have made me stronger, and I害羞草研究所檝e been able to be around this group of guys. So it害羞草研究所檚 been a privilege. I害羞草研究所檝e loved every moment of it.害羞草研究所�
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 haven害羞草研究所檛 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.
害羞草研究所擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
