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Burris, Stampeders finish season on a high note

Nov 2, 2008 - 6:32 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Calgary Stampeders already had the top seed in the CFL's West Division locked up before they took the field for the regular-season finale on Saturday - but they managed to impact the playoff race anyway.

Henry Burris threw for 165 yards and a touchdown in one half alone to led the Stampeders to a 41-30 victory over the West rival BC Lions. With the loss, the Lions missed out on a chance to host a home game during next weekend's divisional semifinals.

The idle Saskatchewan Roughriders (12-6), who won their season finale Thursday over the Toronto Argonauts, clinched home-field advantage in the first round and will host the Lions (11-7).

Calgary (13-5), which is looking for its first Grey Cup championship since 2001, came out with nothing to gain and played its starters in the first half before giving them a rest. Burris, who finished the season second in the league with 39 touchdown passes, led two second-quarter scoring drives to help the Stampeders take control.

"I'm so proud of our football team," head coach John Hufnagel said. "We've grown a lot over the course of this season and put ourselves in a good position. We played a very good team tonight and answered the challenge with a lot of intensity and emotion."

Jon Cornish's 21-yard touchdown scamper gave Calgary a 10-4 lead early in the quarter. Nearly eight minutes later, Burris connected with Nikolas Lewis for an 11-yard score as the Stampeders went up, 17-11, at the half.

Even with Burris on the bench for the duration of the second half, the Stampeders didn't miss a bit. Backup quarterback Barrick Nealy ran all over the Lions' defense, rushing for 72 yards and three touchdowns while attempting just two passes. His 1-yard score in the final frame helped put the game out of reach.

Stampeders wide receiver Ken-Yon Rambo wrapped up the league's receiving title with three catches for 81 yards, giving him 1,473 yards for the season.

"To win the receiving title was great," Rambo said. "But if the team was doing as well as it is, I couldn't care less about it. We just need to keep it going."

Calgary, which finished with the best record in the league, has a bye week and will then host the West final on November 15.

BC quarterback Buck Pierce completed 26-of-42 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted twice.