The Calgary Stampeders think they can get a lot better.
The BC Lions were left wondering if they can get any worse.
Quarterback Henry Burris threw two touchdown passes and ran for one himself as the Stampeders demolished the Lions 48-35 Friday night.
"We had our highs and we had some lows," said Burris, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for one himself to lead the Stampeders to their ninth consecutive win over the Lions.
Burris also threw three interceptions to bring his league-leading total to 12.
"We were able to overcome some adversity. Some things happened, it's nothing to worry about. We will get those things right. We will get better."
The Stampeders improved their record to a CFL-leading 7-1.
The Lions suffered their seventh-consecutive loss and dropped to 1-7, the worst record in the league.
"When do you get tired of losing?" said dejected Lions slotback Geroy Simon, who caught one touchdown pass. "When do you get tired of getting your ass handed to you?
"We still have a long season left but it's getting shorter and shorter every week. We played Calgary but the BC Lions beat BC again."
The final score actually flattered the Lions. B.C. scored two touchdowns late, one on the last play of the game.
A more telling statistic is Calgary had 499 yards net offence compared to 266 for BC The Stamps rushed for 215 yards, the Lions 44.
There were some anxious moments late in the third quarter when BC receiver Darius Passmore ran into one of the signs along the side of Empire Field.
The corner of the sign looked to hit him in the face or chest. Passmore lay on the turf for several minutes while medical staff from both teams attended him.
Passmore was placed on a stretcher but gave the crowd a thumbs-up as he was taken off the field.
"Everything should be fine," Lions coach Wally Buono said. "He fell and I guess he jammed his throat with either a piece of wood or the sign."
Burris showed a strong arm, managed some key runs but also made some bad decisions as he threw three interceptions. One of the picks led directly to a touchdown that got the Lions back into the game late in the first half.
Burris finished the night completing 20 of 34 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
John Hufnagel, Calgary's coach and general manager, preferred to look at the half-full glass.
"Henry Burris is human," said Hufnagel. "We won the football game, that's what I ask him to do.
"Any time you respond, drive your team to score, that's what a good professional is all about."
When Burris wasn't beating the Lions deep, he was dumping off short passes. Ken-Yon Rambo was his favourite target, catching nine passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
"I don't think we played to the highest of our ability," said Rambo. "We still have to be better yet."
Burris threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Deon Murphy and a 20-yard strike Rambo. He scored on a nine-yard run.
Arjei Franklin scored for Calgary on a three-yard run. The crowd of 25,127 began heading to the exits when backup quarterback Drew Tate scored on a one-yard plunge midway through the fourth.
Tate also threw a 20-yard touchdown to Rambo.
Rob Maver kicked field goals of 37 and 11 yards.
The humiliating loss was another sour note in a sad season for BC. The Lions are 0-4 at home this season.
Lions quarterback Casey Printers, who returned to the lineup after missing four games with a knee injury, threw a 48-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Arceneaux late in the game and scored on a one-yard run.
"We just didn't make the plays that were right there in front of us," said Printers, who finished the night completing 10 of 26 passes for 191 yards and the touchdown.
Jamal Robertson also scored on a one-yard run on a play set up by a Lions' interception.
Backup quarterback Travis Lulay hit Simon with a 38-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the game.
Paul McCallum kicked field goals of 40 and 33 yards.
Printers showed some signs of rust after his long layoff. He enjoyed early success, marching BC to a touchdown on the Lions' first possession.
After that Printers struggled. He over threw some open receivers and was short on other passes.
"There's a couple of throws I'd like to have back but that's just kind of how it goes," he said.
The Stamps looked to be comfortably in control when Rambo's first touchdown gave them a 24-10 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Lions battled back with 10 points in just under two minutes. A McCallum field goal cut into the lead, then Dante Marsh picked off a Burris pass at the Stampeder 27.
A great catch by Simon, where he walked a tightrope along the sidelines, set up Robertson's touchdown.
An early mistake allowed Calgary to build a quick lead.
Maver was short on an attempted field goal but BC's Yonus Davis fumbled on the return, giving Calgary the ball on Lions' nine. That set up a Burris touchdown.
Later Burris launched a 48-yard bomb to Murphy, who got between BC halfback Stanley Franks and safety Tad Crawford.
Printers battled back, hitting Arceneaux with a 44-yard pass, then scoring himself on a quarterback sneak.
LIONS PAWS: Entering the game Lions quarterbacks had thrown for three touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. ...The Lions next game is Sept. 3 in Montreal. BC returns home Sept. 11 against Toronto. ...Defensive back Korey Banks played in his 100th CFL game. ...Yonus Davis's first name means Greek King.
