Butler, Adams Jr. lead Lions to OT win over Stampeders
James Butler scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, including one in overtime, for the B.C. Lions in a 31-29 win over the host Calgary Stampeders on Saturday.
The Lions (9-3) held onto second place in the CFL's West Division, two points up on the Stampeders (8-5) in third and six points back of the front-running Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12-2).
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 25 of 32 passes for 294 yards in his first start as a Lion since he was acquired Aug. 31 in a trade with the Montreal Alouettes.
His backup Antonio Pipkin scored a rushing touchdown and added a two-point convert in overtime.
The Lions improved to 2-0 versus Calgary this season. The two clubs meet again in Vancouver on Saturday.
Jake Maier went 26 of 38 in passing for 301 yards and three touchdown throws, but Maier dropped to 2-2 in starts since supplanting Bo Levi Mitchell as Calgary's starting quarterback last month.
Maier threw touchdown passes to Malik Henry and Luther Hakunavanhu, and another to Jalen Philpot in OT.
Butler scored his second major of the game on B.C.'s first overtime drive with an eight-yard dash. Calgary's offside penalty gave B.C. a second attempt at a two-point convert, which Pipkin converted with a two-yard dash.
AN OT TD FOR BUTLER!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLGameDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFLGameDay</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/BCLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCLions</a> <a href="https://t.co/N06L4LfszO">pic.twitter.com/N06L4LfszO</a>
Calgary countered with Maier throwing a four-yard touchdown throw to Jalen Philpot in the end zone. The Stampeders challenged Maier's incomplete pass to Begelton for two points, but the officials ruling against it sealed the win for the Lions.
Rene Paredes kicked
