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November 2, 2016

The quest for 2nd

B.C. Lions' Loucheiz Purifoy, left, and Ryan Phillips, right, tackle Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Clarence Denmark during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday October 14, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Perhaps it’s coincidental that Paul McCallum is back kicking in the Lions Den this week. Because you see, the now 46-year old has contributed to one of the more bizarre statistical oddities in BC Lions history: for all of the club’s excellent accomplishments, they have only finished second in the West twice in 63 years and one might think the Lions have simply been cursed. There have been a couple close calls, such as the regular season finale of 2003 when McCallum, while kicking for the Roughriders, booted a last-second field goal to oust the Lions 26-23 at home.

The result forced them into a crossover position and an Eastern Semi-Final loss to former teammate Damon Allen in Toronto the following week. Had they pulled it out one-week prior, the Lions would have hosted the Western Semi-Final against Winnipeg and the first year in BC for Wally Buono might have been a little more magical. In 1997 all that stood in their way was a win on the final week against a Stampeders team with nothing to play for. They did not get it done and like ’03, fell all the way into a crossover berth and loss the next week, this time in Montreal. You get the picture; there have been missed opportunities.

The “second place drought” also means veterans such as Ryan Phillips and Travis Lulay have played here a long time without ever having been part of a division semi-final at home. They obviously hope to change that in 2016.

Ricky Collins Jr. #3 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders narrowly misses a touchdown pass under pressure from Ryan Phillips #21 of the BC Lions during the first half of CFL action in Regina on Saturday, October 29, 2016. (CFL PHOTO - MATT SMITH)

“It’s kind of surprising, but I honestly have never even thought about it,” Phillips said. “My first few years we were always number one so I guess you kind of take it for granted sometimes.”

“I don’t know how you explain that, it’s funny,” Lulay said of the lack of second place finishes. “I was thinking about that though, since I’ve e been here we’ve hosted the West Final twice, but not the Semi. Its interesting.”

The Leos look to reverse the trend this weekend where they can wrap up home field advantage in the Western Semi with a victory over Saskatchewan on Saturday or a Blue Bombers loss in Ottawa the night before.

“When you can control your own destiny and put matters into your own hands you feel more comfortable in your approach,” Phillips said. “We need everybody to step up this week and handle it like a professional and we can’t ask for anything better than being in a position to control our own destiny.”

The last time this club finished second, Buono was still four years away from debuting as a head coach in Calgary. Jonathon Jennings and all but six of his teammates on the active roster were not born yet, although we won’t remind McCallum he was in his junior year of high school. The Internet didn’t exist and any cell phone you could find was likely the size of a cinder block.

“I was probably picking on my little infant brother who was born that year,” Lulay said of 1986. “I’m sure I could find some old Christmas footage to compare myself to my own little ones now. Of course it would be on VHS.”

BC Lions' QB Travis Lulay points to the crowd before the start of CFL action in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, Sept 9, 2016. (CFL PHOTO Ð Chad Hipolito)

Phillips also harbours vivid memories of early sibling love that year. “I was probably chasing my brother around or something and probably crying and everything else. It’s funny because now I have a four year old of my own and I am trying to groom him in the right way. His four-year-old experience is a little different than mine. He gets the pleasure of coming into our locker room and he knows everybody on the team,” added the 12-year veteran.

Ryan Jr. (ten) and Braylen (four) already have plenty of experience attending Dad’s football games, despite the lack of second place finishes. In a league that has typically had only eight or nine teams over that span, how is that possible? The number of first place finishes certainly has a lot to do with it as the Lions finished on top of the West for four straight years after the setback in 2003. Like Lulay and Phillips have alluded to, it is a credit to the standard of excellence Buono brought to the franchise almost immediately after his arrival There was also four home Western Finals in a memorable 80’s decade that produced three Grey Cup appearances and the club’s second championship in 1985.

Although it’s fun to look back on the good times and weird statistical anomalies, the important thing right now is 2016 and the fact the Lions are once again in a position to start the Grey Cup playoffs on home turf one week from Sunday. Following back to back losses against Winnipeg October 8th and 14th, it appeared the path to seventh Grey Cup in franchise history would entirely miss BC Place. But thanks to a dominating defensive performance in Saskatchewan and some help on the out of town scoreboard, losing the season series to the Bombers may end up being a moot point. This Lions team deserves second place.

B.C. Lions' Kelvin Palmer (68), Anthony Allen (26) and Rolly Lumbala (46) celebrate Allen's touchdown during the first half of CFL action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Winnipeg Saturday, October 8, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Other than the 15-2-1 Stampeders, your Lions have been the most consistent CFL team in 2016 and those setbacks against Winnipeg represented the only losing streak they’ve had. However, the fact remains that they have one more win to go. Meaningful in the standings or not, they for sure want to close out the regular season on a good note and they know the last place Roughriders won’t just hand it to them.

“No one is going to take any games for granted regardless of the circumstances,” Phillips said. “We have a prime opportunity right now and a chance to build from our momentum we built from the last couple of weeks.”

In many respects, it has already been the season of the unexpected: Buono returned to the sidelines and McCallum was back at practice kicking field goals this week. Might as well finish second.

Matt Baker:mbaker@bclions.com