Celebration cut short for Grey Cup champion Argonauts in home opener vs. Stampeders
On a day when they raised their CFL-record 19th banner as Grey Cup champions, it was the visiting Calgary Stampeders who looked more like the team to beat, handing Toronto its second straight loss to open the season: 29-19 at BMO Field.
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Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Backup is up: Jeremiah Masoli gets start at QB for B.C. Lions vs. Winnipeg
The B.C. Lions signed veteran Jeremiah Masoli as a free agent this off-season to provide quarterback depth, and they aren't having to wait long to see about their return on investment. The Lions (1-1) announced Friday that Masoli will start at pivot on Saturday (4 p.m.) at B.C. Place against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) in place of the injured Nathan Rourke. Rourke was hurt in the fourth quarter of last Thursday's 34-20 loss in Winnipeg and was replaced under centre then by Masoli. Rourke was a limited participant when the Lions returned to the practice field in Surrey on Tuesday — he went through the walk-through portion where they go over step-by-step plays they're going to run in the upcoming game — but didn't take to the field with his teammates on Wednesday or Thursday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Masoli, 36, is in his 12th season in the CFL. He had a monster campaign in 2018 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, throwing for 5,209 yards and 28 touchdown as the East Division nominee for CFL Most Outstanding Player. He has battled through injuries the past few years. He passed for 1,149 yards, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions, for the Ottawa Redblacks last season. He was 1-2 as a starter for an Ottawa team that was 9-8-1 overall. 'He has a lot of experience in this league. He communicates well with the guys,' Lions head coach Buck Pierce said. 'He knows what he likes. He understands his strengths, too. 'Each week we try to look different, and with Jeremiah in there might be a couple of new things here and there.' On Friday, the Lions were listing Rourke as a game-time decision as a third stringer behind Masoli and Chase Brice. Pierce said that Rourke would dress Saturday. Asked about whether Rourke might see action Saturday, Pierce explained, 'We're going to go ahead and move forward with Jeremiah.' B.C. had another walk-through practice on Friday. Rourke was instead running wind sprints with other injured players. Masoli is 28-31 all-time as a starter in the CFL, including 3-6 versus Winnipeg. Masoli talked Friday about how that playing time off the bench last week helps him. He was 7-of-10 for 84 yards with an interception in that fourth quarter versus the Blue Bombers. He says it gave him a chance to 'just calm down a little bit and let the game slow down.' With Rourke sidelined, it will be interesting to see if the Lions can find ways to get the running game going more. They carried it 16 times last week against Winnipeg, and six of those were from Rourke. Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden has talked about wanting to be more physical and a team capable of grinding out games along the ground late in the season. 'We've been working our tails off since we played these guys. We've had a great week of preparation and we're just excited to go show it off,' Masoli said Friday. 'We got in our own way a lot last week and especially in the first half. It was just some little, tiny details. For us, it's just playing clean, making sure we're on top of our details, and the rest should take care of itself.' Receiver Keon Hatcher, 30, says he remembers watching Masoli when he was starring at University of Oregon 2008-09, and talked about how he was excited to 'make some plays for him.' He, too, tagged B.C.'s issues last week as the finer points. 'It's all details. Us cleaning up our mistakes. I feel that we do that and come out focused and we'll have a pretty good night,' Hatcher said. Winnipeg is set to miss running back Brady Oliveira (shoulder), but quarterback Zach Collaros returns to the lineup after sitting out the first half of this doubleheader with a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. These are the only times that B.C. and Winnipeg meet this season. The back-to-back meetings are something that happens regularly in a nine-team league like the CFL. 'I think it's fresh in your mind. You have a familiarity with what you need to do offensively and defensively,' Pierce said of playing a team twice in a row. 'You need to focus on the details a little bit more and less about scheme.' Pierce signed on with the Lions this off-season after spending the past decade on the Blue Bombers' coaching staff, including the past four seasons as offensive coordinator. sewen@
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Nathan Lukes taken off seven-day injured list and inserted into Blue Jays lineup
Toronto Blue Jays right-fielder Nathan Lukes (38), middle right, is looked at by a trainer after a collision with teammate second baseman Ernie Clement (22) during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) TORONTO — Nathan Lukes was reinstated from Toronto's seven-day injured list on Friday and was immediately inserted into the Blue Jays lineup against the Chicago White Sox. The outfielder was out with a concussion and his addition to Toronto's batting order delayed the announcement of the Blue Jays' lineup by about 30 minutes. Lukes was pencilled in to hit seventh and play left field. Right-handed pitcher Nick Sandlin (right lat strain) was reinstated from Toronto's 15-day injured list and was also available to pitch against Chicago. Lefty Justin Bruihl and outfielder Will Robertson were optioned to triple-A Buffalo in corresponding moves. Right-handed starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) had a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday. It appears that the surefire Hall of Famer will likely start against the Cleveland Guardians at some point next week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Calgary Stampeders off to a hot start host winless Ottawa Redlacks in CFL
Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum sets up a play during first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Crum will be Ottawa's starting quarterback in Saturday's game against the Calgary Stampeders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Doing it for Reggie was a Calgary Stampeders theme head of Saturday's CFL game against the Ottawa Redblacks. Veteran receiver Reggie Begelton, in his eighth season as a Stampeder, had surgery this week following a leg injury that will keep a key cog in Calgary's offence out of the lineup for some time. 'Big piece, can't replace him, but you know he's been here, he's been talking to us all week, watching film with us, helping us, so you know we're looking to do it for Reggie this week because we know he wants to be out there with us,' said receiver Erik Brooks, who was promoted to starter because of Begelton's absence. Lineup changes Both Calgary (2-0) and Ottawa (0-2) enter Saturday's clash at McMahon Stadium with significant lineup changes. Ottawa's quarterbacking carousel stopped on Dustin Crum after Dru Brown (hip) was injured in the season-opener against Saskatchewan and Matt Schiltz was intercepted three times by Montreal in Week 2. Brown took a few reps in practice this week, but it was Crum doing first-team duty. The 26-year-old Crum has a 3-11 record in CFL starts. 'We know all three quarterbacks. Obviously Dru's not going to suit up,' Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said. 'Different styles. I'm sure (they) call a different game for all three guys. 'I hope my brother has a great game, but the plan is to do our job and beat Ottawa.' Godfrey Onyeka is ready for a brotherly battle on Family Day as his younger brother Kene and the Redblacks come to town. 🗞️ — Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) June 20, 2025 'But we're just going to play our game, we're going to see what the weather's like, how we feel the best way to stop them is.' Rainy forecast Continuous rain forecasted for southern Alberta could make for a soggy afternoon at McMahon. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. says that prospect isn't unsettling for him having played for the University of Oregon Ducks. 'The rain's not a huge deal,' Dickenson said. 'You can call your game. Maybe a little harder to catch the ball and throw the ball. We've all played in some nasty weather, especially playing and living in Canada. 'It's ball security basically. Special teams has a huge impact in a bad-weather game. Balls on the ground, the kicks that are hitting the ground and bouncing backwards. Special teams is always important, but in windy, bad-weather games, I think the importance is even more.' Adams has yet to throw for a touchdown in two games, but he's navigated Calgary to nearly 400 yards of net offence per game and ranks second to Hamilton's Bo Levi Mitchell in passing yards (585). 'The first two games I feel like the defence has really held us in there and then we come back like later on in the game,' Adams said. 'That shows our resiliency. We would like to get going a little bit more and stay more consistent, but I just like the fight that we have and just staying together.' Begelton out Begelton, a three-time 1,000-yard receiver, was placed on the six-game injured list after he went down on the Stampeders' second play from scrimmage in last week's 29-19 over the Toronto Argonauts. He underwent surgery Thursday. When Adams goes to the air, he's expected to lean on Canadian Jalen Philpot, who compiled a career-high 117 receiving yards against the Argos, and Dominique Rhymes, who had four receptions for 98 yards. A wet game can turn into a running game, and Adams has a solid option in Dedrick Mills with 122 rushing yards and a league-leading four touchdowns in two games. The Stampeders will also be minus offensive lineman Bryce Bell (shoulder), long snapper Aaron Crawford (knee) and linebacker Marquel Lee (bicep), who was scheduled for Friday surgery. Micah Teitz has shifted to middle linebacker and Jacob Roberts into starting weak side in Lee's absence. Calgary's defence ranks third in the league in yards allowed (355.5), points allowed (22.5) and opponent rushing yards (57.0). According to CFL statisticians, strong-side linebacker Derrick Moncrief allowed only three of eight passes in his direction to be completed in Toronto, and those passes amounted to a total of seven yards with no first downs. New Stampeder cornerback Adrian Greene had two interceptions, including one for a touchdown against the Argos. Ottawa is thin at weak-side linebacker with Lucas Cormier (ankle) and Davion Taylor (ankle) both out. The Redblacks need to get their run game going as 70 yards over two games ranks last in the league. They also need to stop shooting themselves in the foot with a league-leading 231 yards in penalties. Shiltz was 22-for-32 in passing for 205 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in last week's 39-18 loss to Montreal. Crum has scored a pair of short-yardage touchdowns this season. -- Donna Spencer This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
