Vernon Adams Jr. throws 3 touchdowns as Lions win final pre-season game
In his first pre-season start for the B.C. Lions, Vernon Adams Jr. said he felt like time slowed down.
He went 12 for 12 and led three touchdown drives as the B.C. Lions survived a late comeback bid from the Calgary Stampeders to eke out a 25-22 win.
“It's probably the first time in my career (I felt like that),” he said. “I just felt like I was seeing everything very clear tonight and it helped me get the ball out quick tonight.”
Adams earned the starting quarterback role for the Lions after Canadian Nathan Rourke departed to the NFL in the off-season.
He arrived midway through last season after a major injury to Rourke, with the Lions sending a first-round pick to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange.
Adams had 1,504 passing yards with eight touchdowns and one interception in eight games with the Lions last season.
He spoke repeatedly during training camp about establishing a connection with his receivers and giving them an opportunity to shine.
“It felt like we were there. Like I said, I might have thrown a little to their back shoulder,” he said after Thursday's game. “I'm going to make these guys runners so they catch it on the run. These guys are playmakers.”
Head coach Rick Campbell said he was pleased with both how Adams managed the playcalling as well as adapting on the fly.
“He made some off-script plays, buying time with his feet, running for a first or buying time and finding an open guy,” he said. “It was good to see him in a rhythm and feeling good about things.”
Kieran Burnham kicked the game-winner as the Lions' offensive drives faded in the second half with backup quarterbacks Dane Evans and Dom Davis failing to establish a rhythm.
Justin McInnis led the way in scoring for the Lions receiving corps, catching two touchdowns along with three receptions for 60 yards in the first half.
Only Dominique Rhymes had more, with five receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown.
“I had two big catches for touchdowns,” McInnis said after the game when asked if he made a statement with his performance. “I just couldn't wait for this day, to finally get on the field for this team, be with this group and go and make plays and have fun.”
The Stampeders struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the first half, including a turnover on downs on the Lions' nine-yard line in the first quarter, but turned that around in the second half.
Tommy Stevens, Luther Hakunavanhu and Dedrick Mills all had touchdowns for Calgary as the Stampeders rotated through quarterbacks with all three getting at least three reps.
Quarterback Chris Reynolds led the way for the Stampeders, going 12 for 13 with 122 yards and one touchdown.
This is the final pre-season tilt for both teams before meeting up in Calgary in their season opener next Thursday.
Campbell said his focus is on the regular season and announcing final cuts to the squad.
“I wouldn't read too much from this game from a standpoint of who won this game doesn't really matter as much as next week,” he said. “The evaluation piece was more important than winning the game.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.