The B.C. Lions were fired up to win their third straight game. Unfortunately for them, they ran into a Calgary Stampeder squad hungry for revenge.
``They played better than we did, they played harder than we did, they had more at stake than we did,'' said B.C. coach Wally Buono after his squad dropped a 32-25 decision to the Stampeders on Sunday.
After downing the Stamps 39-13 on Oct. 6 at BC Place, the Lions ventured to Calgary in search of back-to-back wins against their West Division rivals.
``They obviously were emotionally charged, as well they should be,'' said Buono, whose club already clinched a spot and home-field advantage for the West championship on Nov. 12. ``The were embarrassed last week. They have a lot to play for because they do want to get home field.''
With the victory, the Stamps clinched a home date against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Nov. 5 West semifinal.
``You've got to play hard and you've got to play with intensity,'' Buono said. ``Our job is to beat them. Their job is to beat us. It's not a friendly match of chess. It's a pivotal game with emotion. Today, they were better than we were.''
B.C. quarterback Buck Pierce, who started his third straight game in place of injured pivot Dave Dickenson, said the Lions will be prepared if they have to face the Stamps in the post-season.
``We probably will have to play them again,'' predicted Pierce, who was replaced in the fourth quarter by third stringer Jarious Jackson. ``We have to be sharp from now to the end.''
Linebacker Otis Floyd said the Lions gave it their all to beat the Stamps in front of 33,546 fans at McMahon Stadium.
``We were playing with pride,'' Floyd said. ``This is a good rivalry for us and the league. Perhaps we will see them down the road.''
Receiver Geroy Simon, who finished the game with 62 yards on five catches, said that the Lions want to finish the season strongly despite having already clinched a bye into the West final.
``Our goal is to win every game,'' Simon said. ``We want to be ready for the West Final and must stay sharp.''
The Lions will remember Sunday's setback to the Stamps, especially if the two teams meet up again in the playoffs, said defensive lineman Aaron Hunt.
``Nobody wants to go out there and lose,'' Hunt said. ``We wanted to win in their house but it didn't work out that way. We just didn't match their intensity. If we get them again, it's going to be in our house, so they better be ready.''
© The Canadian Press, 2007
