Stampeders roll over Lions in CFL pre-season opener

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.

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