1997 BC Lions season

The 1997 BC Lions finished in fourth place in the West Division with an 8–10 record. Because of the "crossover" rule, they appeared in the East Semi-Final. The Lions became the first West Division team to appear in the East Division playoffs, but lost to the Montreal Alouettes.

1997 BC Lions season
Owner	David Braley
General manager	Adam Rita
Head coach	Adam Rita
Home stadium	BC Place Stadium
Results
Record	8–10
Division place	4th, West
Playoffs	Lost East Semi-Final

Offseason

CFL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
2	10	Bob Beveridge	OL	British Columbia
3	19	Paul Stoilen	LB	Simon Fraser
3	20	John Partchenko	OL	Michigan
4	25	Bret Anderson	SB	Simon Fraser
4	27	Martin Miller	DB	Manitoba
5	35	Jamie MacDonald	OT	Northern Illinois
6	43	Kelly Lochbaum	LB	Northern Arizona

Ottawa Rough Riders Dispersal Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Pos
1	3	Leonard Humphries	CB
2	11	Duane Arrindell	OL
3	19	Mike Gillock	DB

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record
A	June 8	vs. Edmonton Eskimos	W 32–15	1–0
B	June 17	at Calgary Stampeders	L 18–30	1–1

Regular season

Season standings

West Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	T	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Edmonton Eskimos (C, Q)	18	12	6	0	479	400	+79	24
2	Calgary Stampeders (Q)	18	10	8	0	522	442	+80	20
3	Saskatchewan Roughriders (Q)	18	8	10	0	413	479	−66	16
4	BC Lions (Q)	18	8	10	0	429	536	−107	16

Source: "CFL.ca". Archived from the original on 2009-07-15. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
(C) First round bye; (Q) Qualified for playoffs

Season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record
1	June 26	vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders	L 23–24	0–1
2	July 3	vs. Calgary Stampeders	W 17–16	1–1
3	July 10	at Edmonton Eskimos	W 41–31	2–1
4	July 19	vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers	W 21–17	3–1
5	July 24	vs. Toronto Argonauts	L 20–34	3–2
6	Aug 2	at Hamilton Tiger-Cats	W 42–24	4–2
7	Aug 9	vs. Montreal Alouettes	L 31–45	4–3
8	Aug 15	at Saskatchewan Roughriders	W 39–26	5–3
9	Aug 22	vs. Calgary Stampeders	W 37–23	6–3
10	Aug 30	at Montreal Alouettes	L 24–33	6–4
11	Sept 7	at Saskatchewan Roughriders	L 12–46	6–5
12	Sept 13	vs. Edmonton Eskimos	W 27–1	7–5
13	Sept 19	at Winnipeg Blue Bombers	L 14–26	7–6
14	Sept 26	vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats	W 34–33	8–6
15	Oct 4	at Toronto Argonauts	L 3–46	8–7
16	Oct 10	vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders	L 19–26	8–8
17	Oct 19	at Edmonton Eskimos	L 7–41	8–9
18	Oct 26	at Calgary Stampeders	L 9–43	8–10

Roster

1997 BC Lions final roster
Quarterbacks  9 Damon Allen  2 Giulio Caravatta K Running backs  6 Cory Philpot 34 Brad Yamaoka Receivers 12 Bret Anderson K 21 Jimmy Cunningham  7 Alfred Jackson 82 Nick Mazzoli 86 Trevor Shaw 77 Mike Trevathan		Offensive linemen 65 Chuck Bradley T 55 Doug Davies C/G 64 Mo Elewonibi T 59 Todd Furdyk T 68 Cory Mantyka G 60 Jamie Taras G 53 Mike Withycombe C Defensive linemen 74 Dave Chaytors DT 76 Joe Fleming DT 72 Johnny Scott DE 78 Harry Van Hofwegen DE Special teams  5 Lui Passaglia K/P		Linebackers 95 Sheldon Benoit 29 B. J. Gallis 33 Kelly Lochbaum 96 Virgil Robertson Defensive backs 10 Dave Donaldson 40 Greg Frers 14 Rashid Gayle 22 John Holland 24 Leonard Humphries 11 Maurice Kelly  4 Damion Lyons 18 Frank Pimiskern 20 Don Wilson		Injured list  3 Daved Benefield LB  7 Wayne Drinkwalter DT 80 Andrew English SB 97 Brooks Findlay LB 90 Steve Glenn LB 57 Mark Hatfield T/G 13 Khari Jones QB 31 David Maeva LB 21 Martin Miller DB 25 Sean Millington FB 39 Nick Richards LB  1 Al Shipman SB  8 Andre Strode DB 88 Larry Thompson WR -- Chris Tsangaris LB Italics indicate International player

Awards and records

• CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Sean Millington (FB)

1997 CFL All-Stars

• WR – Alfred Jackson, CFL All-Star
• LB – Maurice Kelley, CFL All-Star

1997 Intergold CFLPA All-Stars

• FB – Sean Millington, Intergold CFLPA All-Star
• WR – Alfred Jackson, Intergold CFLPA All-Star
• HC – Adam Rita, Intergold CFLPA All-Star

Playoffs

East Semi-Final

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Montreal Alouettes	21	21	3	0	45
BC Lions	2	10	16	7	35