Stamps handed first home loss
CALGARY — B.C. Lions coach Wally Buono dusted off a 33-yearold boxing match to inspire his players.
The Lions watched (Marvelous) Marvin Hagler beat Thomas (The Hitman) Hearns in a middleweight title fight from April 15, 1985, prior to outlasting the host Calgary Stampeders, 26-21, on Saturday at McMahon Stadium.
“Part of that was to show the players how two great champions come together and how they have to be able to deal with the good and the bad,” Buono said.
“There’s going to be a time when you’re going to want to quit. There’s going to be a time when you’re going to feel like you’re beaten. At the time when it’s most desperate, you can’t give up.
“Exactly as the fight was, the game was. The players can understand how brutal sports is, but you’ve got to be willing to take the hit.”
Calgary lost at home for the first time this season, but still tops the Canadian Football League’s West Division at 12-3 and has secured a playoff game at McMahon.
The Lions (8-7) have won five of their past six games and improved to 2-6 on the road.
A Saskatchewan Roughriders loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers earlier Saturday had opened the door for the Stampeders to lock down first in the division with a win or a tie versus the Lions.
But the three playoff spots in the West and the cross-over berth in the East Division are still in play heading into Week 19.
Behind Calgary were Saskatchewan (10-6), Winnipeg (9-7), Edmonton (8-8) and B.C. tightly bunched.
Saturday’s game was the final regular-season appearance at McMahon for Buono, who has declared his 25th season as a CFL head coach will be his last.
The 68-year-old won three Grey Cups with the Stampeders when he was their head coach from
1990 to 2002. A video tribute to the winningest coach in CFL history preceded Saturday’s game.
“I thought that was very touching,” Buono said. “We’re the enemy, I know that, but it was nice to be acknowledged and appreciated.”
Lions quarterback Travis Lulay, making his first start since Sept. 14 because of a shoulder injury, completed 14-of-26 passes for 193 yards. He was intercepted once.
Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell completed 17-of-38 passes for 215 yards and was picked off once.