(Calgary) James Butler scored two majors, including one in overtime, as the BC Lions escaped with a 31-29 win over the Stampeders on Saturday.
Posted yesterday at 11:47 p.m.
The Lions (9-3) retained second place in the Western Conference and extended their lead to two points over the Stampeders (8-5). They also closed the gap on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12-2) to six points.
The Blue Bombers, two-time defending Gray Cup champions, lost their flag for the second time this season on Saturday, 48-31 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Former Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 25 of 32 passes for 294 yards in his first start with the Lions.
His replacement, Antonio Pipkin, scored a major through a run and managed a two-point conversion in overtime.
Sean Whyte had three field goals in the win. Lions receiver Dominique Rhymes had 91 yards and hit the 1,000-yard mark this season.
The Lions improved to 2-0 against the Stampeders this season. The two clubs will meet again on Saturday in Vancouver.
Jake Maier had 26 of 38 passes for 301 yards in the air. He completed three touchdowns but still saw his record fall to 2-2 since taking the starting quarterback job from Bo Levi Mitchell last month.
Malik Henry, Luther Hakunavanhu and Jalen Philpot were Maier’s touchdown accomplices.
Butler scored his second major of the game on the Lions’ first possession in overtime. Pipkin then nailed the two-point conversion with a run.
The Stampeders also scored a touchdown in overtime, but were unable to complete the conversion.
Rene Paredes had three field goals in the loss but missed a 48-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the game.