Revenge might or is probably not on the B.C. Lions' minds. However advancing is

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“I don’t suppose it’s about getting revenge,” stated B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell, his face screwing up on the mere notion of such unsophisticated motivational ways.

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“(Revenge) positively hasn’t been the main focus.”

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However …

“It’s … a bit of little bit of redemption,” stated Lions receiver Justin McInnis, nodding sagely. “Bought to get them again for final time.”

Properly, OK then.

Whereas coach and gamers might have conflicting ideas over the B.C. Lions’ impending playoff matchup with the Calgary Stampeders, their objective is similar: handle enterprise Saturday.

When the Stamps got here into B.C. Place two weeks in the past, preventing for his or her playoff lives, the Lions appeared nearly detached as Calgary lifted their leg on the figurative hearth hydrant, staring B.C. within the face as they asserted themselves in a dominant 41-16 win.

NEXT GAME

Western Semifinal

Calgary Stampeders vs. B.C. Lions

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., B.C. Place

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TV: TSN. Radio: AM730

They didn’t realize it on the time, however it was a playoff preview, because the Saskatchewan Roughriders face-planted the subsequent day towards the Toronto Argonauts (29-26), capping off a shocking seven-game dive-bombing proper out of post-season competition.

The Stamps’ recreation towards B.C. meant every part to them; it meant nothing to the Lions, past a half-hearted token try to hold the stress on Winnipeg for first place within the West.

However every part is on the road Saturday within the Western Semifinal, a digital replay of final yr’s semi with the identical groups, similar place, similar stakes.

“It’s playoffs, man,” stated McInnis. “It’s only a totally different nature — totally different ball recreation. You do wish to put the common season to mattress and simply deal with the playoffs.

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“We’ve play them thrice (in 2023), so we’ve got an excellent really feel for what they’re going to do. Once more, it’s nearly us; we simply gotta go on the market and execute like we’ve executed twice this season.”

“It’s a playoff,” added Campbell. “Individuals are so targeted on the playoffs and eager to do effectively. Clearly we watched that (Oct. 20) recreation movie, however we don’t speak about after we beat them right here, we don’t speak about it after we misplaced right here. It’s simply playoff soccer and folks eager to advance.”

The Stamps might need a bit of revenge/redemption on their thoughts, although, having misplaced 30-16 to B.C. in final yr’s semi on the Dome. That recreation turned on two short-yardage performs within the third quarter — first on Dave Dickenson’s failed third-down gamble on the B.C. 19-yard line, along with his group trailing the slugfest 13-6; after which when the Lions broke open the sport with a pretend sneak on the following collection, with Antonio Pipkin hitting Keon Hatcher for a 45-yard landing.

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“I’ve watched that movie lots … ” stated Stamps quarterback Jake Maier, who was a rookie then, going 12-of-22 for 138 yards earlier than being changed by Bo Levi Mitchell within the fourth quarter. “I’m type of glad at this level that I went by means of one thing like that as a result of I really feel rather more assured and rather more ready going into this one.

“I realized quite a bit — the onerous means … ” he stated. “(I) realized the best way to handle conditions in high-pressure conditions … and making the performs after they’re introduced. We simply didn’t make sufficient of these final yr.”

Calgary needed to scratch and claw their option to the post-season, and headed into their Week 18 bye on a three-game slide, their playoff hopes solely alive due to the ‘Riders’ ineptitude. However they’re right here, they usually don’t care how they acquired right here.

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“It looks like nearly a reset,” Maier informed Stampeders.com. “All the things that we’ve executed up to now has been nothing greater than a studying expertise.

“One of many larger issues within the playoffs is the information get thrown out. All the things that you simply’ve executed main up up to now will get thrown out the window, and it’s simply who could be higher that night time. And if we’re higher that night time, then nice. And we like our probabilities.

“We really feel like we belong, in order that’s an important factor.”

Dickenson and his group reviewed what they did forward and throughout the playoff recreation final yr to see if there have been any extra classes to be realized.

“We checked out what we did, how we practised, what mindset we got here into the sport with, watched the sport,” he stated. “They’d per week off final yr as effectively, so it is best to anticipate some new stuff. We simply have to regulate on the sideline. When a group has per week off for the sport, it is best to anticipate trick performs, it is best to anticipate issues that perhaps they haven’t proven all yr and downside is you don’t know what they’re gonna be.”

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One switch-up would be the insertion of McInnis into the beginning lineup on the expense of Fortunate Whitehead, that means he has but to begin a playoff recreation in his time in B.C.

McInnis was one of many few blossoms to sprout from the final recreation towards Calgary, pulling in 108 yards as an Eleventh-hour starter instead of Hatcher, who was held out after aggravating an damage in warm-up.

The previous ‘Rider will imply the Stamps should cope with three receivers over six-foot-two, all with totally different profiles and strengths.

“I believe it’s gonna be powerful. We positively acquired the scale benefit,” stated McInnis. “To see the extent of athleticism that we’ve got as a gaggle, it’s a bit scary to opposing defences. And these guys play us fully totally different then they play anyone else. It’s at all times a bit of totally different problem to game-plan towards them, as a result of they at all times do one thing totally different towards us, however once more, the athleticism and the scale we acquired on the receiver group, it’s going to present them a problem for certain.”

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“He’s (McInnis) been superb, very constant, productive … he’s simply too productive of a participant to have standing on the sidelines,” added Campbell. “You watch our receiving crew … it’s a giant group. It helps whenever you’re attempting to suit balls and tight home windows or individuals are coated. DBs could be within the precise proper spot and nonetheless lose the battle. That’s positively a consolation degree for a quarterback.”

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