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VANCOUVER -- The B. Evan Gattis Authentic Jersey .C. Lions are looking for more bang from their Buck on Friday as they host the Calgary Stampeders in the final game of the CFL regular season for both teams. Fresh off a strong relief appearance in a win over Edmonton last week, Buck Pierce will start at quarterback for the Lions as they prepare for the playoffs. It will be Pierces first start since July 19 while he was with a Winnipeg club that discarded him in a September trade to the Lions. "Each opportunity that you get, youre excited about, especially after the year that I had this year," said Pierce after a walk-through Thursday at B.C. Place Stadium. " Its not easy. You leave a situation that was tough mentally, and then youre put into a situation that gives you another opportunity to play and prove your worth and just have fun." The Lions (10-7) will use the game as preparation for a playoff road game, knowing that they are already set to finish third, and a possible re-match with the first-place Stampeders (14-3) in the Western Final. "I think we took a big step last week and did some good things," said Pierce. "Were looking to build off that." The Lions must hope that Pierces banged-up body holds up as he continues his second stint with B.C. in an injury-plagued career. He is getting the start because No. 1 signal-caller Travis Lulay is recuperating from a shoulder injury and replacement Thomas DeMarco has been ineffective recently. Some people might think its redemption time for Pierce, who threw for three touchdowns, ran for one and made a key block as Stefan Logan rushed for another against Edmonton. But Pierce, who has completed 17 of 27 passes for three touchdowns in four games with B.C. after being relegated to third-string status with Winnipeg, takes a different view. "Im not looking for any kind of redemption at all," said Pierce, a nine-year CFL veteran. "Ive never played that way. A lot of people have tried to spin it that way, like its me against the critics and all that kind of stuff. But thats never been what its been about for me. "For me, its about making the most of my opportunities and just go out there and play football and do what I love to do." Despite Pierces comments, he and the Lions, losers of three of their past four games and inconsistent for much of the season, have more than their fair share of critics. And, B.C.s quarterbacking situation for the post-season is far from certain. "If I was honest with you right now, were just going to see where it goes," said Lions coach Mike Benevides. But Pierce has the starters job until Benevides decides otherwise. "I need to continue to play Buck," said Benevides, adding he will play as long as necessary against Calgary. Lulay, who has missed six games after getting hurt while scoring a touchdown against Montreal on Sept. 15, is listed as the backup and will see some action if things are going as well as Benevides likes. "Im going to be suited up, Im going to be ready to play and when that happens, Im not definitively sure," said Lulay. He said its important to get game action in preparation for the playoffs, because it would be difficult to have to play in the post-season without any since his injury. But, like Pierce, he does not plan to reduce his injury risk by shying away from contact. "I think youre always being smart about how those things happen," said Lulay. "But when youre out on the field and youre doing whatever youre doing whatever it takes for your team, its part of playing the game." Meanwhile, the Stampeders are scheduled to use all three of their quarterbacks after general manager and coach John Hufnagel pledged to do so earlier in the week. Kevin Glenn is slated to start while Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell are slated for relief duty. Glenn expects all three signal-callers to receive an equal number of plays. The Stampeders will also have a new look on their offensive line as veterans JMichael Deane and Stanley Bryant are sidelined with injuries that are not expected to keep them out of the playoffs. Hufnagel is also expected to give other players, notably running back Jon Cornish, less playing time than usual. But Glenn said the game still holds considerable importance, even with Calgary holding a bye in the first round. "We still want to go into the playoffs with a winning streak," said Glenn. "Nobody wants to go into the playoffs with a losing streak." The game is also important for him personally after he completed only 11 of 17 passes for 120 yards before being pulled in last Saturdays 29-25 win over Saskatchewan. But he is determined not to dwell on the sub-par effort, which he noted was rare. "The thing is, to have a short memory for your body," he said. "You move on." The Stampeders have a 2-1 record against B.C. this season. Glenn and Cornish said its important for the Stamps to post another win in order to have momentum going into the playoffs. Cornish leads the CFL in yards from scrimmage (2,143) and rushing (1,799). But noting that he has not achieved any of his personal goals this season, he is not looking to pad his statistics. "If (the coaches) want to pull me early, Im cool with that," he said. "If they dont, thats cool, too." The game will be the last for the Lions at home this season. They hope to put in a strong showing for their fans and use the contest as a chance to set the stage for a strong first-round playoff game in Saskatchewan and a possible rematch with the Stampeders in the Western Final after losing to them last year on the same B.C. Place field. "We want to try and send a message," said Lions linebacker Adam Bighill. "If we see them again in the West Final, we want them to remember that we smacked them around here first." Bobby Cox Braves Jersey . And the Ottawa Redblacks linebacker wanted to be sure his words delivered their full effect. "Its an insult," he said over the phone Wednesday after the CFL Players Association lifted its media ban, giving its members the ability to speak openly about stalling collective bargaining talks.Phil Niekro Authentic Jersey .ca in a 30 Teams In 30 Days tour of the NHL in preparation for the upcoming season.PHOENIX -- Al Jefferson helped the Utah Jazz dominate the paint and the game Friday night. Jefferson scored 21 points and Paul Millsap added 19 to lead the Utah Jazz past the slumping Phoenix Suns, 87-80 on Friday night. "We kept attacking and didnt settle for too many outside shots," Jefferson said. "We kept attacking the paint." The Jazz were dominant down low, hitting 30 of 58 shots in the paint for a 60-28 advantage. "Thats how weve got to play," Millsap said. "We come out and put it all on the floor and good things are going to happen." Not including Utahs six free throws, the Jazz scored only 18 points outside the key. "Almost everything they did was in the paint except a couple of jump shots," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "Thats the toughest thing." Gordon Hayward added 14 points off the bench for the Jazz, who have won consecutive games for the first time since they won four in a row Dec. 5-12. "I didnt like the first quarter but after the first quarter until the last three minutes of the game I thought we picked it up on the defensive end." Utahs bench outscored Phoenixs reserves 32-14 and scored 25 points off a season-high 21 Suns turnovers. "They werent forced," Gentry said of the turnovers. "We threw it away." Utah was without centre Enes Kanter, who sprained his right ankle in a win Wednesday against Minnesota. Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix, which has dropped seven of eight. Goran Dragic added 17 points, but only six after the first quarter. Randy Foye gave the Jazz the lead for good, 47-44, on a 3-pointer with 9:41 left in the third quarter -- Utahs only 3-pointer on nine attempts. Four minutes later, Jefferson scored six straight points to key a 14-2 run that stretchhed Utahs lead to 65-52. Babe Ruth Braves Jersey. Phoenix pulled no closer than seven the rest of the way, needing a 10-0 run in the final two minutes to narrow the final margin. The Suns shot 77.8 per cent in the first quarter to take a 31-25 lead, with three of four starters scoring eight points or more. But that abruptly changed in the second quarter, when the Suns second unit went 8:24 without scoring. Fortunately for Phoenix, the Jazz were just as cold -- the teams combined to miss 21 consecutive shots over a 4:28 span and Utah led only 42-40 at halftime. "I dont know what happened," Dragic said. "The second unit didnt move the ball as well. They were playing more one and five and taking tough shots. When you play like that youre not getting good looks, youre shooting over hands and you shoot a low percentage." Phoenixs nine second-quarter points were a season low for any quarter and just two points off the franchise record for futility. "I thought the first quarter was the best weve played all season," Gentry said. "But the last three quarters were as bad as possibly could have played." NOTES: The Jazz had not won in Phoenix since March 4, 2010. ... Utah won on the road for the first time since Dec. 23. ... The Suns scored seven points in a quarter on Nov. 11, 2006, against Memphis. ... Millsap missed the final nine minutes of the first quarter after he bumped heads with Suns forward P.J. Tucker. Millsap needed three stitches in his right earlobe but returned at the start of the second. Later in the game, he took a shot to the throat. ... Phoenix made 14 field goals in the first quarter but only 20 the rest of the way. . Suns guard Jared Dudley, known locally for his lack of dunking ability, was fouled on a dunk for a "dunk and one," his first, he said, since college. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' ' |
