Stampeders Win Opener
Calgary Stampeders Secure 41-33 Victory Over B.C. Lions in CFL Season Opener
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The Calgary Stampeders spoiled the B.C. Lions' historic Kelowna debut, beating them 41-33 on Saturday at the Apple Bowl. The game drew a crowd of 19,254 fans — topping the stadium's projected capacity of 17,500 — making it the first CFL contest ever played in the Okanagan, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw three touchdown passes against the team that traded him away in 2024. The win was his 50th career CFL victory. The Lions, meanwhile, dropped to 0-3 despite a 462-yard passing performance from Nathan Rourke — one of the most prolific stat lines by a losing quarterback this season, The Star reported.
Adams Jr. Turns Revenge Game into Rout
Vernon Adams Jr. was traded from B.C. to Calgary in November 2024. On Saturday, he made the Lions pay. He finished with 229 passing yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball to five different receivers, according to Global News. Calgary led 24-14 at halftime after two quick touchdowns in the final three minutes of the second quarter.
Kicker Jude McAtamney added a 57-yard field goal — a stadium record at the Apple Bowl. Running back Dedrick Mills scored the game's first touchdown on a 20-yard catch. Return specialist Tyreik McAllister put the game out of reach with a punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter, PaNow reported.
Rourke Piles Up Yards But Lions Can't Finish
Nathan Rourke threw for 462 yards and three touchdowns. On paper, that should be enough to win. But the Lions kept stalling when it mattered most. Calgary's defense recorded a key sack on Rourke late in the fourth quarter, ending B.C.'s last serious rally, according to Brandon Sun.
Head coach Buck Pierce was blunt after the game. "We're moving the football, but we're not finishing," he said. "In this league, 460 yards should equal a win. We have to be better on special teams and defense." Running back Zander Horvath scored twice for B.C., but it wasn't enough, NSNews reported.
FIFA World Cup Forces Lions Out of Vancouver
The Lions are playing in Kelowna because FIFA took over BC Place for the 2026 World Cup. The stadium was handed to FIFA 30 days before the first match, leaving the Lions without a home. The team will stay on the road or in temporary venues until late July, Yahoo Sports reported.
The Apple Bowl is normally a 2,000-seat community stadium. It was temporarily expanded to hold a professional crowd. Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas called the weekend a "resounding success for the local economy." The event is estimated to have generated $12 million in economic activity for the Okanagan region.
Lions Face Their Worst Start in 15 Years
At 0-3, B.C. is off to its worst start since 2011. That year, the Lions went on to win the Grey Cup — but the Western Division is far more competitive now. Calgary improved to 1-2. Saskatchewan sits at the top at 2-0, The Star noted.
The "Touchdown Kelowna" series continues July 4 when B.C. hosts the Edmonton Elks. That game is already sold out. The Lions need a win badly — and fast. Each loss makes the path to the playoffs steeper in a division that isn't waiting for anyone.
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