It's a showdown of the league’s top quarterbacks in Vancouver Saturday.
The B.C. Lions’ Travis Lulay, who was named top CFL MVP in 2011 will bring his wicked aerial attack in a face-off against high-flying 40-year-old Alouette Anthony Calvillo, who bagged the title the year prior.
Calvillo will be battling his team’s long-lasting slump in B.C. where the Alouettes have only one once in the last decade.
“We know we’re playing a team that can put points on the board,” said Lulay. “Right away that increases the pressure on us to score early.”
The Lions (6-3) will be trying to avenge a 30-25 loss in Montreal last weekend.
“When we got on our flight out of Montreal, we knew it was an important week and an important game coming up, you can feel the urgency in the locker room,” said Lulay.
The Alouettes beat the Lions after Lulay was unable to complete a game-winning pass to Arland Bruce III on its final possession in Montreal last weekend.
Calvillo, for his part, wasn’t thinking much about Lulay.
“I try not to think about the opposing quarterback when I get on the field,” said Calvillo. “I try not to get too wrapped up, regardless of whether I’m facing Lulay, (Argo) Ricky Ray, or Henry Burris (of the Hamilton Tiger Cats). That’s how I am, I want to play the same type of game regardless of who I play.”
The Alouettes (6-3) have won only once – in 2010 -- in their last 11 visits to B.C.
But this will be the first time the two teams are facing off in an afternoon game in Vancouver since 1961.
Calvillo believes the early start could give the Als an advantage, as the team is frequently plagued by jet lag in B.C. due to the three hour time difference, as the games usually feel like they’re being played at 11 p.m. for the eastern visitors.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
