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Burris throws two touchdowns as Stampeders add to B.C. Lions misery

Aug 8, 2010 - 5:31 AM VANCOUVER (CP) - Henry Burris threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Calgary Stampeders heaped more misery on the B.C. Lions with a 27-22 victory Saturday night.

The Lions were very much in the game until safety Dwight Anderson picked off a Travis Lulay pass and returned it 48 yards to the Lions 10-yard line late in the third. Burris then found former Lion receiver Ryan Thelwell in the end-zone on the last play of the quarter to give Calgary an 11-point lead.

The win moved Calgary into first place in the West Division with a 5-1 record, while the Lions (1-5) dropped their fifth straight.

It's the first time Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono has ever started a season 1-5.

The Stampeders have also beaten the Lions eight consecutive times, a stretch dating back to when John Hufnagel took over as Calgary's head coach and general manager.

Anderson's interception helped make amends for a pass interference call he took in the first quarter that set up a B.C. touchdown.

It was another frustrating ending for Lulay, who was replaced by backup Jarious Jackson. A late Lulay interception resulted in a loss to Toronto and his fumble in the dying minutes cost the Lions a chance to beat Edmonton last week.

Lulay finished the night 15-of-28 for 159 yards.

The interception came just moments after B.C. defensive back Stanley Franks had picked off Burris.

Burris also threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Ken-Yon Rambo. Calgary backup quarterback Drew Tate tossed a one-yard touchdown to Rob Cote.

Calgary's Rob Maver hit on field goals of 17 and 19 yards.

Jamal Robertson had both Lions touchdowns. He scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter, then again from the one in the last minute of the fourth. A two-point convert failed.

Lions kicker Paul McCallum was good on field goals of 38, 15 and 27 yards.

A crowd of 24,876 watched the game, which was played in cool, damp conditions after a day of steady rain in Vancouver. It was the first taste of adverse weather at Empire Field, the $14.4-million temporary stadium the Lions are using this year.

The change in venue is necessary because of construction of a new $458-million retractable roof at B.C. Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver.

The Lions came into the game with the CFL's lowest scoring offence and faced a Calgary defence that had allowed the fewest points.

The Stampeders led 17-13 at half time.

The Calgary defence showed a new wrinkle on some second-and-long plays. The Stamps put one player at the line of scrimmage, with the rest of the defence standing several yards back. As the Lions prepared to snap the ball, the Stamps brought more rushers to the line.

The ploy seemed to confuse the Lions early, resulting in Lulay being sacked once and hurrying several other throws.

The young B.C. quarterback, making just his third start in place of the injured Casey Printers, regained his poise as the game progressed. He spread the ball around to his receivers and wasn't afraid to run.

The wily veteran Burris caught the Lions napping early in the first quarter. He launched a long ball to Rambo, who had gotten behind Franks. Rambo, who just returned to action last week after missing almost a year with a leg injury, made the catch before falling into the end zone.

The Lions battled back with a field goal, then took the lead on Robertson's touchdown scramble. That drive was aided by the pass interference call on Anderson, which gave B.C. a first down on the five-yard line.

There were some anxious moments for the Stamps late in the half when Burris was shaken up trying to score a touchdown. The Calgary quarterback dove head-first for the end-zone but was driven out of bounds. He stayed on the ground while the training staff attended, but then jogged off the field.

That allowed Tate to come in and threw the short touchdown pass to Cote.

Notes: The last time B.C. beat Calgary was Nov. 3, 2007, in a 25-24 game played at B.C. Place. ... Not dressed for the Lions were offensive tackle Jon Hamiester-Ries (ankle) and defensive tackle Aaron Hunt, who was put on the nine-game injured list after surgery Friday for a torn pectoral muscle. ... The injury to Hamiester-Ries resulted in B.C. starting three imports on the offensive line...The Lions wore their retro 1970s uniforms.