Stampeders, Lions descend on Kelowna in search of first win

The Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions will look to record their first win of the season on Saturday when they square off in the first CFL game played in Kelowna, B.C.

The Lions have relocated to Kelowna for two home games while World Cup matches take over BC Place in Vancouver.

Calgary (0-2) is bidding to prevent its first 0-3 start since 2002 while BC (0-2) last began a campaign with three straight losses in 2019.

Stampeders general manager/head coach Dave Dickenson knows the Lions are just as desperate as his team.

"Same thing as us," Dickenson said. "They're beat up a little bit, but they're just like anyone else with the injuries -- you don't use them as excuses ... just play ball.

"I do think they're also searching for that winning formula, as we are. So similarities there."

Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. has thrown for one touchdown in each game this season. He will look for better fortune against his former team, against whom he went 0-3 last season, including a loss in the playoff semifinals.

Running back Dedrick Mills has eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in each game this season for the Stampeders, which includes 103 yards in the Stampeders' 40-37 loss to Saskatchewan last Saturday. Mills led the CFL in rushing last season with 1,409 yards.

Reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Nathan Rourke has thrown for 621 yards in two games this season, and he discovered a connection with rookie Nick Cenacle in a 41-27 setback to Hamilton last week. Cenacle, a Montreal native who made 122 receptions in four years at the University of Hawaii, reeled in nine catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns in his CFL debut.

Statistics aside, the Lions know the only numbers that matter are the ones that comprise their record.

"We are what we put on tape and right now we're a 0-2 football team," Lions defensive end Mathieu Betts said in an interview on the team's YouTube channel. "It's on us. It's on the players, it's on the coaching staff, to look at ourselves in the mirror, turn this thing around and be 1-0 next week.

"It's one game at a time. It's always been that way. As of right now, we've lost two games. It's not the end of the world, but if we keep playing that way it's going to be hard for us to go where we want to be."

--Field Level Media