New coaches test mettle as Elks visit BC Lions

Edmonton's Mark Kilam and BC's Buck Pierce will both make their CFL head-coaching debuts when the Elks visit the Lions for Saturday's season opener in Vancouver.

It also will be the CFL's first opening-week game since 1968 featuring two Canadian starting quarterbacks: Edmonton's Tre Ford and BC's Nathan Rourke.

If that weren't enough to get BC Place rocking, fans also will be treated to a pregame concert by legendary rapper Snoop Dogg.

"It's absolutely electric," Lions team president Duane Vienneau told the CBC. "We like kicking off the season with a big punch."

Both CFL West teams are hoping to show more fight than last season. The Lions went 9-9 and lost in the opening round of the playoffs, while the Elks finished 7-11 and haven't reached the postseason since 2019.

Kilam, 46, was named the 25th coach in Edmonton history last November. He won three Grey Cup championships as an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders from 2005-24.

Pierce, 43, became the 28th coach in Lions history in December. He was an assistant with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2014-24 (offensive coordinator since 2020), winning two Grey Cups in that span.

Ford, 27, followed his Most Outstanding Canadian season in 2023 by passing for 1,137 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 16 games in 2024. He added 206 yards on the ground.

"Super, super excited," Ford said during training camp. "I think it's going to be a great year for us."

Rourke, 27, rejoined BC last season after some time on NFL practice squads and passed for 1,781 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions in nine games. He also rushed for 213 yards and five scores.

"Great leader, great man, great friend," Lions wide receiver Keon Hatcher said of Rourke. "He comes to work every day with his hard hat on. And I'm so excited to see what he gets to do this year, stepping back into that role and being fully confident in what he's doing out here."

--Field Level Media