The B.C. Lions鈥� message since May鈥檚 training camp in Kamloops has been clear: push beyond the Western final and win the Grey Cup.

Last season ended on a snowy day at I.G. Field with a 28-20 loss to the 2021 champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Now, the Lions (12-6) find themselves heading back to Manitoba, eager to put last year鈥檚 loss behind them and exact some revenge on the Bombers.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. didn鈥檛 start last year鈥檚 West Division final 鈥� he was backup to ex-Lions starter Nathan Rourke 鈥� but he said its memory and aftermath has hung heavy with the team.

鈥淲e remember the feeling from last year and trying not to feel that again,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淚t was tough. We remember that feeling when we lost by eight points 鈥� it came to the last drive. We don鈥檛 want to feel that again.鈥�

The two teams have faced off three times this season, with B.C. winning the opening bout 30-6 before losing the next two 鈥� including a 34-26 overtime loss on Oct. 6.

The Lions had a chance to win that game at the end, with receiver Dominique Rhymes surging forward into open field in the dying seconds of the game only to be dragged down at the five-yard line as time expired.

Adams completed 19 of 33 passes for 352 yards and one touchdown. But the Lions managed just 100 passing yards in the second half as their high-flying offence sputtered when it mattered most.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen these guys three times,鈥� Lions head coach Rick Campbell. 鈥淭hey have multiple good players and they鈥檙e a veteran group that鈥檚 been around and a coaching group that鈥檚 been around.鈥�

But the Lions are also confident in their own abilities, he added.

鈥淲e know two things,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淲e know that it鈥檚 going to be a tough task to beat Winnipeg as they鈥檙e a very good team, on the flip side we know we鈥檙e a good team too and when we show up and play really good football, we鈥檙e tough to beat.鈥�

The Lions have spent the week training at B.C. Place this week in an attempt to mimic the noise they will have to put up with in Winnipeg.

Adams won his first playoff game last week and set a new team playoff passing record by throwing for 413 yards, along with five touchdowns. He eclipsed the old franchise playoff mark of 375 yards set by Roy Dewalt in 1983.

Last season鈥檚 Western final loss fuelled the team鈥檚 motivation, shaping their approach to the pre-season and leaving a mark on the 2023 CFL regular season.

Wide receiver coach Jason Tucker put it clearly back in May when asked about the goal for the season.

鈥淲e just need to get over that hump of one more game,鈥� he said, referring to the loss to Winnipeg.

Wide receiver Lucky Whitehead added the team had 鈥渓eft meat on the bone鈥� with how their season ended.

Adams said he views the game as just another challenge for the Lions.

鈥淲e just got to keep building, keep stacking, not peaking too early,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun playing the Bombers 鈥� the challenge is awesome.鈥�

The CFL has given the Lions a three per cent chance of winning the Grey Cup this season, noting that no second placed West Division team has won the Grey Cup since the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2013.

Campbell said as a coach, he appreciates the motivation, but is looking at the larger picture.

鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way from Kamloops and training camp with the opportunity to play one game to go to the Grey Cup, so we just want to make the most of the opportunity and go from there,鈥� he said.

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