BC Lions Web Site
Watch This Week's Game (Thursday, June 30 at 4:30 p.m. PDT)
Vancouver (B.C.) Sun story featuring Mike Reilly (published June 23)
Vancouver (B.C.) Province story featuring Adam Bighill (published June 26)

SURREY, B.C. (June 28) -- Former Central Washington University football players Mike Reilly and Adam Bighill will both suit up for the opening game of the 2011 regular season in the Canadian Football League when the British Columbia Lions visit the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night (June 30).

Reilly, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound quarterback, is in his second season with the Lions after signing with the club as a free agent midway through the 2010 season. Currently listed third on the team's depth chart at quarterback behind veterans Travis Lulay (Montana State University) and Jarious Jackson (University of Notre Dame), Reilly had a stellar pre-season in limited playing time, completing 11 of 15 passes for 130 yards with three touchdowns in a pair of exhibition games. The Kennewick native and 2009 CWU graduate was also given the Lions' offensive game ball after completing all eight of his pass attempts for 108 yards and two touchdowns -- on just two fourth-quarter series -- in a 34-6 win over Saskatchewan last Wednesday.

Bighill, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound linebacker from Montesano and a 2011 graduate, is in his first season playing professionally after completing his eligibility with the Wildcats last fall. Originally listed as a practice-squad player when rosters were announced this past Saturday, Bighill will be making the trip for the regular-season opener after two productive exhibition appearances in which he starred on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. In the pre-season finale against Saskatchewan last week, he had two tackles on defense -- both for losses including a quarterback sack -- and two special-teams tackles. He also had two special-teams tackles and a fumble recovery in his Lions debut at Calgary on June 15.

The game between the Lions and the two-time defending Grey Cup champion Alouettes, which is the first of an 18-game regular-season schedule that begins Thursday and runs through early November, will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (7:30 p.m. Eastern Time) and can be viewed in the United States on the NFL Network or on ESPN3.com.

Reilly and Bighill are two of just three former Wildcats to currently be playing professional football in North America. Another former CWU star, quarterback Jon Kitna (1992-95), is hoping to embark on his 16th professional season this fall. Kitna is currently with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.