Lions face difficult path to Grey Cup

The B.C. Lions will have to blaze a new trail to earn head coach Wally Buono a record sixth Grey Cup in the final season of his illustrious CFL career.

B.C. will open the CFL playoffs on the road in Hamilton next Sunday. The Lions (9-9) finished the regular season fourth in the West Division but clinched a post-season berth as a crossover team having posted a better record than the East Division’s third-place finisher.

As a result, B.C. became the No. 3 playoff seed in the East.

On paper, it would appear to be an easier trip to a Grey Cup berth. The Tiger-Cats (8-10) finished second in the East Division behind the first-place Ottawa Redblacks (11-7). What’s more, Hamilton heads into the playoffs riding a three-game losing streak.

Compare that to the ultracompetitive West Division, where Calgary (13-5) was first ahead of Saskatchewan (12-6), Winnipeg (10-8) and B.C. The Stampeders cemented top spot with a 26-9 road win over the Lions on Saturday night, their first victory in four games.

However, no West Division crossover team has ever represented the East Division in the Grey Cup since the crossover was implemented in 1996. Western teams have won the conference semifinals four times but never the final to advance to the CFL title game.

Also on Sunday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division semifinal. The winner will visit Calgary in the conference final Nov. 18.

Hamilton is hosting a home playoff game for the fifth time in six years and has a 27-17 (.614) home playoff record. By comparison, B.C. has an 11-23 (.324) post-season road mark.

The Lions are an East Division crossover team for the fifth time (2014, 2009, 2003 and 1997).

B.C. was a solid 7-2 at home this season but just 2-7 on the road. The Lions did split their season series with Hamilton, with each team winning at its home venue.

B.C. beat Hamilton 35-32 at B.C. Place Stadium on Sept. 22 but the Ticats prevailed 40-10 the following week at Tim Hortons Field.

The winner will visit the Redblacks in the East Division final on Nov. 18 at T.D. Place.

Buono will make his final playoff run on B.C.’s sidelines. The 68-year-old head coach will retire at season’s end.

It’s been quite a 25-year run for Buono, who began his CFL head-coaching career with Calgary in 1990. He has an overall record of 282-165-3, having amassed more wins than any other coach in league history.

And Buono has enjoyed plenty of success against Hamilton, having compiled a 33-15 overall record.

Buono’s teams are a solid 119103-3 (.536 winning percentage) on the road.