Henry Burris is the West finalist for most outstanding player. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Henry Burris might think about his CFL all-star snub later. Much later.

The quarterback had a career season to lead the Calgary Stampeders to Saturday's West Division final against the British Columbia Lions.

But Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo was named the league's all-star quarterback on Thursday.

Given that Burris and Calvillo are the West and East division finalists, respectively, for the CFL's most outstanding player, Calvillo is the front-runner for the league's top honour; the winner will be announced Nov. 20.

"Who knows? At the end of the season, I can reflect back on it, but hopefully I'm drinking too much champagne to recognize it," Burris joked Thursday.

Sips of celebratory bubbly after the Grey Cup would taste especially sweet for Burris because it would mean he'd marshalled Calgary to back-to-back playoff wins and the first two of his career in a Stampeders jersey.

Three straight losses in the West semifinal rankle Burris, who also has yet to win a playoff game at McMahon Stadium. He's hoping to change that Saturday against the Lions.

"It would be huge, it would be huge and more to just cap off this season the way it's been," Burris said. "We've overcome a lot of things and proved a lot of things not only to people outside the locker room, but also to ourselves."

The winner of the West final will face the Montreal Alouettes or the Edmonton Eskimos in the Grey Cup on Nov. 23 in Montreal.

Burris's lone post-season victory as a starter was a semifinal win over Edmonton in 2004, when he was with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Since signing with the Stamps the following year, he's combined moments of brilliance with questionable decisions to earn the label inconsistent.

But the planets aligned this season for the 33-year-old from Spiro, Okla. Calgary's 13-5 record was the club's best with Burris at pivot.

He set career highs in touchdowns (39), passing yards (5,094), completions (381) and completion percentage (64.5), while leading all quarterbacks in rushing yards this season with 595.

Burris's 14 interceptions equal his total last year, but they happened at less costly times in a game. He was more likely to eat the ball or throw it away safely than force a pass.

"He put us in a position to win each and every game," Calgary head coach John Hufnagel said. "We have not won every game, but when he's finished the game, we've been in a position to make a play at the end to have a chance to win and that's about as much as you can ask a quarterback."

'Henry is more consistent'

Burris's comfort level was high this year for two reasons. It was his third season working with the same group of receivers and running backs and it was his offence's second under offensive co-ordinator George Cortez.

"Henry is more consistent," said Lions defensive end Brent Johnson. "Henry is in a system he knows well. If there are problems, he knows where to go to now."

Burris also benefited from having quarterback Dave Dickenson, a former Grey Cup winner, as his backup and then his mentor once concussion symptoms halted Dickenson's season.

Kicker Sandro DeAngelis, receiver Ken-yon Rambo and running back Joffrey Reynolds were voted to the all-star team Thursday. The Football Reporters of Canada, the eight CFL teams and fans vote for the all-stars.

While Calvillo's numbers are higher than Burris's in several quarterbacking categories, a case could be made for Burris because the West Division was much tougher than the East this season.

Of Calvillo's 43 touchdowns passes, 21 of them were against Toronto and Hamilton and neither club made the post-season. But Burris didn't begrudge Calvillo's all-star designation.

"I had an inkling it was going to be that way because Calvillo has had an excellent season," he said. "They won a lot of games and they've been successful so kudos to him.

"One thing they can't take away from you is what you can do as a team and that's what I'm focused on."