2006 - Champions at last
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:52 pm
The 2006 season saw Casey Printers go off to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, however a new quarterback controversy of sorts threatened to develop. During the off-season 2005's third stringer, Buck Pierce won the back-up role and early season injuries to Dave Dickenson forced him into action. Pierce's best game as the starter was on October 6 against the Calgary Stampeders, where he threw 25 for 31 for 297 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He began the game with one incomplete pass, and then hit his next 14. The Lions in the off-season also acquired former Roughrider Paul McCallum to stabilize the kicking game which had not recovered from Lui Passaglia's retirement in 2000. After a sluggish 2-3 start in 2006, Coach Buono signalled that no starting job was safe by releasing runningback Antonio Warren and defensive back Sam Young. The team responded by winning the next six games. New running back Joe Smith ran for over 100 yards in his first game. Brent Johnson, Barron Miles, and Mark Washington led a dominant defence, which itself saw 10 different defenders score touchdowns on turnovers.
They also held opposition offences to 17 points or less on 6 occasions. Receiver Geroy Simon dominated opposing defensive backs not seen since Mervyn Fernandez in the 1980s. The Lions clinched first place on October 6, earning a third straight bye into the Western Final at home, and tied a team record with a 13-5 mark for the season. 50,084 (league best for 2006) saw BC crush the Roughriders 45-18 in the West final. Looking fully recovered from earlier concussions, Dickenson went 27 for 37 with 3 TDs and no INTs. Paris Jackson made two circus catches for TDs, Jason Claremont bulled his way to 98 yards on 6 catches, Joe Smith scored twice and ran for 116 yards, McCallum was 5 for 5 in field goals, and the BC defence dominated Saskatchewan all afternoon.
On November 19th, the BC Lions captured their first Grey Cup Championship since 2000 by defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-14 at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg. Dave Dickenson was named the Most Valuable Player of the game, while Paul McCallum was named the Most Valuable Canadian. In the post-game exuberence, the team snapped the Grey Cup off the lower base with the engraved names. The game is noted for kicker Paul McCallum going 6 for 6 in field goals, making him a purrfect 11 for 11 in post season. Coach Buono also platooned the three quarterbacks.
West Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
British Columbia Lions 18 13 5 0 555 355 26
Calgary Stampeders 18 10 8 0 477 426 20
Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 9 9 0 465 434 18
Edmonton Eskimos 18 7 11 0 399 468 14
East Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Montreal Alouettes 18 10 8 0 451 431 20
Toronto Argonauts 18 10 8 0 359 343 20
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 9 9 0 362 408 18
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 4 14 0 292 495 8
Semifinal - Saskatchewan Roughriders 30 Calgary Stampeders 21
Semifinal - Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27 Toronto Argonauts 31
Final - Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 British Columbia Lions 45
Final - Toronto Argonauts 24 Montreal Alouettes 33
Grey Cup British Columbia Lions 25 Montreal Alouettes 14