Lions offence on collision course with Stampeders defence in season’s first meeting

“There’s a lot on the line. They’re playing excellent,” Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said. “We’re coming off the bye. We really just want to try to get back in our groove and make sure we play Stampeder football.”

Calgary’s quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. faces the Lions for the first time since the latter traded him in the off-season, while cornerback Adrian Greene has green light after injury to also square off against his former club.

Adams threw for 9,202 yards and 53 touchdowns in 44 games for the Lions from 2022 to 2024.

But B.C. choosing Nathan Rourke as its No. 1 pivot and the Stampeders looking for a quarterback upgrade after two and a half seasons of Jake Maier brought the 32-year-old Adams to Calgary looking for a rebound after missing the playoffs for the first time in 19 years.

Rourke ranks third in the CFL in passing yards (3,604) and touchdown throws (20) ahead of No. 5 Adams with 2,826 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Adams was more interested in a win Friday than making a statement to the Lions.

“Not that it’s the Lions, but it’s just an important conference game to keep getting to where we want to go,” Adams said. “Chasing first place. We have an opportunity to come out here and get a little bit closer to Sask, so that’s it. No other reason. It’s going to be fun just playing against those guys and former coaches.

“I feel like when I’m prepared, I’m having fun out there because good things are happening.”

B.C.’s offence led by Rourke, CFL rushing leader James Butler (989 yards) and receptions leader Keon Hatcher (1,170) boasts a league-leading 38 touchdowns and 364 offensive points under head coach and offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce.

Butler’s been scratched from Friday’s lineup with a thigh injury, however. Wide receiver Jevon Cottoy, with five touchdowns this season, is also out with an injured ankle.

B.C.’s strength with the ball is getting to the red zone and turning their chances within 20 yards into a league-leading 31 majors on 48 chances.

The Lions defence has been tame lately in giving up 34.1 points per game in its last seven.

Calgary’s defence, considered No. 2 in the CFL, suffered a major loss when defensive end Folarin Orimolade sustained a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the game versus the Elks.

He ranked third on the team with four sacks behind Clarence Hicks and Jaylon Hutchings with seven apiece.

But Greene, who has a team-leading four interceptions included one returned for a touchdown this season, is back after sitting out four games with a leg injury.

The 26-year-old from Toronto, who was a free-agent signing by the Stampeders, spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Lions.

“They’ve got a lot of playmakers and ultimately we’ve got to step up to the challenge and force their hand and make our plays when we get the chance to do it,” said the Saint Mary’s alumnus.

After Friday’s clash at McMahon, the Stampeders have just one home game remaining in the regular season Oct. 18 against the Toronto Argonauts.

“You take the schedule as it is. It is unusual. I didn’t hate it when it came out,” Dickenson said. “I figured like lots of other coaches, how are we going to make sure that we’re at our peak performance?

“We know there’s some challenges ahead. We want to take care of our house, win at our place. It starts in this game against B.C.”

B.C. will play three of its last four games of the regular season at home.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2025.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press