By Canadian Press

Stampeders roll over Lions 41-6 in CFL pre-season opener

May 28, 2022 | 5:24 PM

CALGARY — Five different players scored touchdowns to lead the Calgary Stampeders to a convincing 41-6 exhibition win over the B.C. Lions on Saturday at McMahon Stadium.

Shawn Bane Jr. started things by running a punt back into B.C.’s end zone late in the second quarter. Dedrick Mills, Tommy Stevens and Rasheed Tucker had rushing scores in the second half, while Josiah Schakel had an interception return for a TD late in the contest.

After entering the game late in the third quarter as Calgary’s third quarterback, Stevens made the most of his opportunity by completing his lone pass for four yards before scoring his rushing TD.

Calgary kicker Keiran Burham finished with a pair of field goals and made all five of his converts.

Starting Lions quarterback Michael O’Connor went 17 for 23 for 151 yards and tossed a touchdown pass to Jamarius Way for B.C.’s lone points of the game.

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B.C. kicker Mark Milan had a rough afternoon as he missed a pair of field goals and convert.

Neither team could get anything going offensively in the first quarter with its starting quarterbacks in the game.

Bo Levi Mitchell got the start under centre for Calgary and completed just three of 10 passes for 37 yards. Although he guided the Stamps into scoring territory twice, both drives ended when he was picked off – first by Tyniel Cooper at the five-yard line and then by Quincey Mauger in the end zone.

O’Connor didn’t have much success in the opening quarter either as he was unable to convert on a pair of third-down conversions that resulted in a pair of turnovers for the Lions.

In at QB for Calgary in the second quarter, Jake Maier completed seven of 13 passes for 90 yards, but he did get the home team into scoring position on two occasions and Burnham kicked a pair of field goals from 33 and 34 yards to give the Stamps a 6-0 lead.

Late in the first half, Bane ran back a punt 74 yards into the end zone to extend Calgary’s lead to 13-0. Bane broke an early tackle before receiving a great block from Tre Odoms-Dukes that helped him run in for the score untouched.

The Lions capitalized on a turnover early in the third quarter to get on the scoreboard. After Mauger forced punt returner Peyton Logan to fumble the ball, Victor Gamboa picked it up at Calgary’s 39-yard line.

O’Connor then threw a 39-yard strike to Way in the end zone. Milan’s struggles continued as he missed the extra point.

Maier then engineered a seven-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard TD run by Mills to put the Stamps up 20-6.

The Stamps extended that lead early in the fourth quarter as Stevens ran for a two-yard score before Schakel ran an interception back for a 20-yard TD.

B.C.’s second-string quarterback Kevin Thomson was injured on the latter play when he was hit hard by Calgary’s Titus Wall while releasing the ball. Thomson, who had to be helped off the field, went nine for 20 for 129 yards before his day ended early.

Chase Fourcade entered the game in the fourth quarter as Calgary’s fourth QB of the game. He guided the Stamps on a late scoring drive of six plays and 35 yards that was capped off by a five-yard rushing TD by Tucker. Fourcade completed two of four passes for 17 yards.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2022

Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press