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December 30, 2016

2016: The Year That Was

Although there was no Grey Cup championship to celebrate, 2016 will go down as a very memorable and significant year for the BC Lions franchise. Guided by the return of Wally Buono to the sidelines, the club re-established itself as a model organization and set the tone for what should be an exciting era of football on Canada’s west coast. Here is a look back at some of the big moments from 2016, month by month.

January 7– Safety Ryan Phillips re-signs with the club for a 12th season.  He goes on to dress in all 18 regular season games for an 11th time, recording 38 total tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in the process.

21 Phillips, Ryan

January 14– Stout tackle Jovan Olafioye agrees to a new contract and it pays dividends as he extends his ironman streak to 126 games while earning a sixth straight CFL All-Star selection and seventh consecutive Western Division nod.

January 26– Offensive lineman and two-time Grey Cup champion Dean Valli announces his retirement after ten seasons in the den.

February 2– Buono announces his 2016 coaching staff. Khari Jones returns to his familiar role offensive co-ordinator post while Dan Dorazio is back as offensive line coach after a one-year stop in Saskatchewan. Newcomers include Marcello Simmons (special teams), Marcel Bellefeuille (receivers), and Adam Blasetti (running backs).

Khari Jones vs CGY

February 9– The Lions are active on day one of free agency with the additions of slotback Nick Moore, as well as defensive backs Mike Edem and Brandon Stewart.

February 10– Running back Jeremiah Johnson signs a one-year contract with the club. He goes on to rush for 859 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games.

February 11– Running back Anthony Allen signs with the club. While splitting duties with Johnson, he records 436 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. He also engineers one of the Lions most creative plays in 2016, a flea flicker to Jennings for a TD in Saskatchewan July 16.

February 25– The Lions sign five import free agents, including defensive backs Chandler Fenner and Anthony Gaitor. Despite being among the final training camp cuts, both are re-signed and play pivotal roles in the secondary after the Lions run into injury problems.

March 7– After spending 2015 with Saskatchewan, kicker Paul McCallum signs a one-day contract and retires as a member of the BC Lions. He would return to the club for the final regular season game and playoffs.

March 21– Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy signs with the club and winds up being one of the big surprises in 2016. Starting all 18 games at the nickel position, Purifoy records 43 defensive tackles, five sacks and a fumble return touchdown.

March 23– Quarterback Keith Price signs with the club. The Washington Huskies product beats out Greg McGhee for the number three spot behind Jennings and Travis Lulay.

April 6– Defensive tackle Bryan Turner Jr., a salary cap casualty in Winnipeg, signs with the Lions. The veteran provides the unit with some valuable depth and records 15 defensive tackles and three sacks in ten games.

April 12– The club signs free agent offensive lineman Antonio Johnson who becomes the starting right tackle. Johnson shows no signs of rust in his first CFL season, starting 14 games and helping the Lions lead the CFL in rushing in 2016.

May 5– Jennings agrees to a re-structured contract that keeps him in the den through 2018 and effectively makes him the number one QB heading into 2016 camp. He never loses a grip on that position and finishes his first full CFL season, starting all 18 games and joining Doug Flutie, Casey Printers, and Dave Dickenson as the only QB’s in club history to pass for over 5,000 yards in a single season. Jennings records 27 touchdown passes and also contributes on the ground with 363 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

B.C. Lions' quarterback Jonathon Jennings (10) dives into the endzone past Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Bruce Johnson to score what proved to be the winning touchdown during second half western semifinal CFL football action in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday November 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

May 10– The Lions select seven players in the 2016 CFL Draft: OL Charles Vaillancourt, DB Anthony Thompson, WR Brett Blazsko, OL Dillon Guy, FB Nate O’Halloran, DB Brennan Van Nistelrooy and DL Boyd Richardson.

May 12- Amid much hype and speculation, the Lions unveil their brand new ADIDAS uniforms. The highlight of the new look is the revamped helmet logo which helps symbolize the Lions’ storied history.

May 24– Linebacker Steven Clarke returns to the Lions on a one-year contract.

May 29– BC Lions veterans and rookies report to Hillside Stadium in Kamloops for training camp.

June 11– The Lions kick off pre-season with a 28-16 win at Saskatchewan and just like most exhibition contests the result was put on the back burner. This time it was because of a power outage that stopped play for over an hour.

MORE: Lions kill time during power outage

June 25– In a regular season opener that had it all, including a Lions goal line stand and punt return touchdown by Chris Rainey, Buono and company take down the Calgary Stampeders 20-18. Rainey also had a rushing major in the victory.

July 1– The Lions follow up their emotional season opener by proving they will be road warriors in 2016. Phillips had an interception and a fumble recovery in the 28-3 victory at Hamilton. Elimimian called the victory “personal” after returning to the scene where he ruptured his Achilles tendon the year previous.

July 16– Jennings passes for a career-high 429 yards as the Lions prevail 40-27 in Saskatchewan ahead of their first bye week of 2016. The second half comeback started with Olafioye hauling in his first career touchdown pass.

August 4– The Lions cruise to a 38-18 win in Montreal, but the main fireworks take place afterward as the club endures a 14-hour flight delay due to mechanical issues. The “ordeal” is highlighted by an impromptu jam session in the deserted Mirabel Airport terminal.

August 19Jason Arakgi becomes the CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles, passing longtime Blue Bomber Wade Miller, in a disappointing 37-9 home loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

August 31– The Lions improve to 7-3 overall and 5-1 on the road with a 16-13 win over the Toronto Argonauts. Elimimian breaks Dante Marsh’s single-game record by recording 14 defensive tackles.

September 9– Johnson rushes for three touchdowns and 159 yards, the highest total for a running back in the CFL all season, in a 38-27 win over the Montreal Alouettes at BC Place.

September 19– After failing to catch on with the Minnesota Vikings, receiver Terrell Sinkfield Jr. signs with the club. He winds up contributing with 16 receptions, three for touchdowns, and 297 yards in seven games.

October 1– In one of 2016’s more thrilling games, the Lions outlast the Ottawa REDBLACKS 40-33. Jennings passes for three touchdowns and 348 yards, while the two teams combine for 1,004 yards of total offence.

October 10– Despite losing 37-35 in Winnipeg two days earlier, the Lions clinch their 20th consecutive playoff berth after losses by the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes on Thanksgiving Monday. It is the longest active streak in the CFL and second longest of all-time.

October 14– Elimimian and Bighill become the first teammates in CFL history to record 100 tackles in the same season. It comes in a heartbreaking 35-32 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers that temporarily drops them to 3rd place in the West.

October 22– Longtime Lions Athletic Therapist Bill Reichelt works his 700th CFL game as the Lions grind out a 32-25 win over the Edmonton Eskimos at BC Place.

October 29– The Lions close out their regular season road schedule with a 6-3 record, defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 24-6 in the final ever game at old Mosaic Stadium. The Lions’ defence records seven sacks.

November 1– With Leone nursing an injury, the club brings back 46-year old Paul McCallum. The veteran appears in the regular season finale where he makes good on all four of his field goal attempts, the longest from 44 yards out. In two playoff games, McCallum does not attempt a single field goal, but was good on both convert attempts in the Western Semi-Final victory over Winnipeg.

November 5– The Lions clinch second in the West Division and their first home playoff game since 2012 with a convincing 41-18 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders to close out the regular season. In the win, Arceneaux becomes the first Lions receiver to record 100 catches in a season since Geroy Simon in 2006.

November 9– Arceneaux, Olafioye, Bighill, Elimimian, Rainey, Bryan Burnham, Alex Bazzie and Richie Leone are all named CFL West Division All-Stars.

November 13– The Lions win their first playoff game since the 2011 Grey Cup in thrilling fashion; a 32-31 comeback victory over the upstart Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Jennings rushed for the winning touchdown with 1:06 to play and the Lions prevailed despite trailing by 12 in the 4th quarter.

November 20– The Lions’ season comes to an end with a convincing 42-15 loss at Calgary in the Western Final. The visitors fell behind the eight ball early and trailed 32-0 at halftime.

November 24– Elimimian caps off his amazing comeback season by winning a third CFL Most Outstanding Player Award. In addition, Marco Iannuzzi collects the Tom Pate Memorial Award for community service.

solomon-elimimian-2016-1-800x451

December 5– Rainey signs a one-year extension, keeping him with the Lions through 2018.

December 7– Bighill, Elimimian, Olafioye, Arceneaux, Rainey and Leone are all named CFL All-Stars.

December 9– Bighill was granted his release to pursue NFL opportunities, exercising a clause in the linebacker’s contract. He will return to the Lions if an NFL club doesn’t sign him by January 27th.

December 15– Buono announces eight of his coaches will return in 2017, while Mike Lionello will also serve as Assistant Running Backs Coach to go along with his quality control duties.

December 16– Jeremiah Johnson signs a two-year extension to remain with the club. He rushed for 809 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games while successfully platooning with Allen in the backfield.

B.C. Lions' Jeremiah Johnson outruns two Calgary Stampeders' defensive players during first half CFL Western Final football action in Calgary, Alberta on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (CFL PHOTO - Larry MacDougal)

December 21– Elimimian elects to avoid free agency by agreeing to a two-year contract that keeps him in orange through 2018. It proves to be a major offseason win for Buono and company and no doubt a nice way to head into the Christmas break.

What will 2017 bring? That remains to be seen! Happy New Year to all of our great fans!

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com