Stampeders pummel Lions to advance to Western final

The Western final will be another edition of the battle of Alberta, as the Calgary Stampeders dominated the BC Lions 35-9, setting up a date with the Edmonton Eskimos next weekend.

Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 199 yards and connected with Eric Rogers for two touchdowns, and Jerome Messam added 147 yards from scrimmage with a score, as the Lions proved no match for the defending Grey Cup champs.

The league's third-ranked defence smothered the Lions' offence all game, with Keon Raymond intercepting a Jonathon Jennings pass for a pick-six before the 23-year-old rookie pivot was forced from the game with an apparent shoulder injury.

Travis Lulay came on in relief for BC, but didn't fare much better against a stout Calgary defence that held the Lions to three field goals.

The playoff matchup looked very similar to the regular season, during which the Stampeders beat the Lions in both meetings by a combined score of 63-30.

Calgary faces a tough task next weekend in Edmonton, as the Eskimos have won eight games in a row. Though, the Eskimos' last loss was at the hands of the Stampeders on Sept. 7.