Quarterback Henry Burris ran for one touchdown and threw for two more to lead the Stampeders to a 28-18 win over Lions in season-opening action Thursday. “It feels good especially to get a big win at home against the cream of the crop,” said Burris, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 274 yards and ran for 62 more. “Those guys are going to be a tough team throughout the season. We know if we want to get to that level we’re at we have to beat them.”

The Lions beat the Stampeders three times last season, and the teams tied once.

Burris’s performance helped former Calgary quarterback Hufnagel earn his first victory as head coach and general manager of the Stamps.

“Henry played well,” said Hufnagel, who played four seasons for the Stamps from 1976-79 to start his 12-year CFL career. “He’s an athletic quarterback. He can do a lot of things. He can do some damage with his arm and also with his legs and he demonstrated both skills this evening.”

Ken-Yon Rambo and rookie Chris Jackson each caught TD passes, while Sandro DeAngelis kicked two field goals and a single.

Cory Rodgers caught a pair of touchdown passes, Paul McCallum kicked two singles and the Lions also scored on a safety.

“This was a terrible effort,” said B.C. linebacker Javier Glatt. “We didn’t even show up tonight, we didn’t get off the bus.”

B.C. coach Wally Buono blamed himself for not getting the Lions ready for the start of the CFL season.

“I did not get them ready to play and we had poor execution on all phases of the game,” he said. “We did not have emotion and we were not ready play and that is my fault.”

With just two starters back from last season, Calgary’s revamped defence held the B.C. Lions to just 65 yards rushing in front of 30,159 appreciative fans at McMahon Stadium.

“It’s great how we all came together as one and played this game,” said defensive lineman Howard Hodges. “I’m very happy with the result.”

In the first quarter, Burris capped off a five-play, 55-yard scoring drive by rambling seven yards into the end zone after bobbling the snap from Rob Lazeo.

“One good thing about being a quarterback is that you’ve always got that run-pass option with the ball in your hand,” said Burris, who faked a pass and eluded B.C. defensive back Ryan Phillips. ” I just beat him to the corner of the end zone.”

On the drive, Burris went three-for-three for 30 yards, while running back Joffrey Reynolds broke free for an 18-yard gain to get the Stamps into the red zone.

McCallum kicked a single for the Lions early in the second quarter before Burris went to work again and led the Stamps on a four-play, 75-yard drive culminating in a 32-yard touchdown pass to Rambo.

DeAngelis then kicked a 40-yard field goal to give the Stamps a 17-1 lead before punter Burke Dales conceded a safety.

On the ensuing drive for the Lions, Geroy Simon hauled in a 38-yard pass from Buck Pierce before the B.C. quarterback tossed a 37-yard TD strike to Rodgers.

McCallum tried a last-gasp 59-yard field goal as time ran down in the first half, but his attempt went wide left.

Miguel Robede, Hodges, Eddie Freeman and Juwan Simpson all sacked Pierce in the second quarter.

McCallum and DeAngelis traded singles in the third quarter before the Burris engineered a nine-play, 93-yard scoring drive in the fourth, which was capped off by a diving catch by Jackson in the end zone for his first-ever CFL touchdown.

“I needed to make a play for the team,” said the rookie, who caught two passes for 28 yards. “I just concentrated and reeled the catch in.” The Stampeder defenders then took over as they forced a turnover on downs before Dwaine Carpenter picked off an errant pass by back-up B.C. quarterback Jarious Jackson to set up an 11-yard field goal by DeAngelis.

Jackson tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Rodgers with 23 seconds left in the game to round out the scoring.

Notes: Retired offensive lineman Jay McNeil, who spent his entire 14-year career with the Stampeders, was honoured at halftime. The Lions went 3-0-1 against the Stamps last season including an exciting 45-45 tie at McMahon Stadium. As coach of the Lions, former Stampeder bench boss Wally Buono now has an 11-3-1 record against his former squad.