THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER -- Henry Burris put his hand over his heart and took a deep breath. "Too much drama,'' the Calgary Stampeder quarterback said with a
grin.

A game that hardly had a pulse in the first half had a heart-pounding ending as the Stampeders hung on for a wild 34-32 win over the B.C. Lions Friday night.

It was a bare-knuckled fight with the Stampeders dodging a last-gasp blow when a 57-yard field goal attempt by the Lions' Paul McCallum in the final seconds went a little wide and was about a yard short.

"I thought both teams slugged it out,'' said John Hufnagel, Calgary's coach and general manager. "We each had opportunities to seize back the momentum.

"It was a see-saw battle all the way.''

While there were high-fives and celebration in the Calgary dressing room, the Lions quietly pulled off their equipment and brooded over missed chances.

"There was opportunities all game and we didn't capitalize on them,'' said slotback Geroy Simon, a few splatters of blood on his pants.

"We can make all the excuses in the world but we've just got to get better and make the little plays we're supposed to make and those big plays will come.''

The win improved Calgary's record to 1-1. It also was the sixth consecutive victory for the Stampeders in Vancouver. The Lions lost their home-opener and dropped to 0-2.

"The game was a game of frustration,'' said Wally Buono, B.C.'s coach and general manager.

After scoring just 13 points in the first half, the teams combined for 53 in final 30 minutes.

The Lions almost managed a Hollywood ending.

Quarterback Travis Lulay scored on a five-yard run with just over a minute left to draw the Lions to within two points. A two-point convert attempt failed when Simon couldn't haul in a Lulay pass.

The Stampeders still almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. With Calgary trying to run out the clock, Burris mishandled a simple handoff to Joffrey Reynolds and linebacker Solomon Eliminian recovered the ball on the Lions' 49-yard line.

B.C. managed one first down, but then were forced to try McCallum desperation kick.

The Lions were toothless in the first two quarters, but played a much better game in the second half. It still wasn't good enough.

"We made some of the plays that were there,'' said Lulay, who completed 17 of 39 passes for 279 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

"For one reason or another there was always something missing. I either didn't throw it perfect or the guy didn't catch it. Every play we were just a little bit away.''

Lulay also was the victim of several dropped passes. Dobson Collins dropped a sure touchdown. Steven Black and Shawn Core both had balls hit the grass that they should have hung onto.

Hufnagel said his team managed to regroup at half-time.

"It was a combination of things,'' he said. "Figuring out what the other team is doing, making some adjustments.

"The players maybe getting rid of a little bit of nervousness.''

Burris threw three touchdown passes, but the biggest might have been a 61-yard play to Nik Lewis.

The veteran slotback took a little dump pass, made a couple quick moves, then battled his way out of the grasp of Lions defensive back David Hyland before rumbling to the end zone.

"Every year I always wonder if I can do what I used to do,'' said Lewis, who had four catches for 100 yards.

"It was huge for me. Now my confidence is up. I have the ability to still make those kinds of plays.''

Burris said Lewis was the difference in a tight game.

"Nik is a play-maker,'' he said. "He may not be the fastest guy but he made guys miss. He got the job done.''

Burris finished the night completing 19 of 36 passes for 298 yards, the three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Late in the game, Lions defensive back Stanley Franks was taken off the field in a cart with an injury.

Buono didn't know the extent of Franks' injury.

"It's not good,'' he said.

Burris threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jon Cornish and connected with Landan Talley on a 16-yard play.

Backup quarterback Michael Bishop also scored on a two-yard run for Calgary.

Kicker Rene Paredes, signed this week to replace the injured Rob Maver, kicked field goals of 50 and 25 yards.

Lulay threw a 54-yard touchdown to Akeem Foster and a 11-yard touchdown to Andrew Harris. Tim Brown scored on a six-yard run.

McCallum kicked field goals of 14 and 35 yards for Calgary.

The game was played on a cool evening before 22,738 fans at Empire Field, the temporary facility the Lions will use until moving into the refurbished B.C. Place Stadium on Sept. 30. It was a night for shirt sleeves but dark clouds threatened over the North Shore Mountains.

Home wasn't a friendly place for the Lions last season. B.C. had a 3-6 record at Empire Field, something that must be improved on if the club hopes to still be playing when Vancouver hosts the Grey Cup this November.

The Lions opened the season with a 30-26 loss to the Alouettes in Montreal. Calgary was beaten 23-21 at home by the Toronto Argonauts.

Notes: It was the 242 regular season home game played at the Empire Stadium site. ... Lions rookie Nick Moore, who dropped a couple sure catches last week, did not dress. He was replaced by Black. ...The Lions did not commit a turnover in their season-opening loss to Montreal.