Casey Printers (file)

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes looked like the class of the CFL once again Sunday, but B.C. Lions quarterback Casey Printers says looks can sometimes be deceiving.

The Lions committed five turnovers and saw their defensive secondary picked apart by Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo in a 56-18 drubbing in the East Division final. But Printers feels B.C. handed the Alouettes the game on a platter.

"They're very good when we make mistakes like that," Printers said. "When we give them 21 points off turnovers and give them short field after short field, it makes them look better than they actually are.

"We just didn't play up to the standards of the B.C. Lions ball club, and because of that we gave them every advantage to make plays."

Running back Martell Mallett lost two fumbles to match his season total in one game, but it was the first one that was the costliest. It gave Montreal possession at the B.C. 22-yard line midway through the first quarter, and Calvillo needed one play to find Jamel Richardson all alone behind the defence for his first of five touchdown passes in the game.

A Printers interception followed by a 45-yard return by Billy Parker to the Lions 18-yard line set up Montreal's second touchdown, a four-yard Calvillo pass to Kerry Watkins to make it 17-3 after one quarter.

Then, on Montreal's next possession, Watkins took advantage of a missed tackle by cornerback LaVar Glover for a 90-yard reception which turned into another Richardson touchdown one play later for a 24-3 Lions deficit.

Two turnovers, two missed defensive assignments, and the Lions were out of the game.

"Two turnovers back to back and two blown coverages back to back, then all of a sudden that's a lot of points," said Lions head coach Wally Buono. "With the game here, the atmosphere of the crowd, the intensity of it all, that's hard to overcome.

"You almost have to be perfect, which against a team like this, you're not going to be perfect."

The Lions' defence lost a key piece on Montreal's very first offensive play when starting weakside cornerback Dante Marsh left with a knee injury, forcing back-up nickel back Jerome Dennis into action.

"You second-guess yourself when you don't get quality reps in practice, and that leads to indecision," Dennis said. "Unfortunately, I was a little indecisive on certain plays."

But Buono wouldn't use the Marsh injury as an excuse for the wide gaps deep in the secondary.

"I look at two or three of the big plays early in the game and that's not necessarily where the issues were," Buono said. "Did that rattle the defence?

"I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say yes."

Offensively, Printers was never able to find a groove, completing 20-of-40 passes for 234 yards. But often his throws were rushed or he was pressured to force attempts into tight coverage.

"They made sure every corner of the field was covered for our wide receivers," Printers said. "It made it tough trying to throw the football down the field."

Still, the Lions made it through a rough ride of a season where five different quarterbacks completed passes. There were repeated injuries to starter Buck Pierce, inconsistent play from backup Jarious Jackson, and finally the late-season surge from Printers, who put up big numbers but failed to win a regular-season game for the Lions.

The Lions finished 8-10 after losing their last three regular-season games, but still backed into a crossover playoff berth, then upset the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-27 in a thrilling overtime East Division semifinal at Ivor Wynne Stadium to earn a shot at a Grey Cup berth.

So, does simply having that opportunity in spite of all the adversity make this a good season for the Lions?

"I don't want to say good year or bad year," Buono said. "I'll just say tough year."