RIDERS VS. LIONS
Lions roar back at BC Place
VANCOUVER — Let’s do it again.
Friday’s 35-32 overtime win by the B.C. Lions over the Saskatchewan Roughriders was so entertaining that we can’t wait for the CFL teams to meet again. Fortunately the wait won’t be too long because the rivals are to meet again Friday in Regina.
Manny Arceneaux scored on a four-yard touchdown pass on the Lions’ first overtime possession to win the overtime thriller. Saskatchewan settled for a 33-yard Paul McCallum field goal on its first overtime series. The Riders’ record dropped to 0-3 and the Lions improved to 1-1.
B.C. forced overtime last night when Richie Leone connected a Lions’ record 56-yard field goal that tied the game 29-29 with 15 seconds remaining in regulation time.
It was the second consecutive overtime game for the Riders, who were beaten 4240 by the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday.
The Riders could have iced Friday’s game while facing a third-and-inches on their own 48.
Backup quarterback Brett Smith, who is brought in for short-yardage situations, was stopped short of the first down. Saskatchewan’s defence stiffened, holding the Lions to the long fieldgoal attempt.
The Riders scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Smith scored on a oneyard run and running back Anthony Allen followed up the touchdown later with a 10-yard run. Both touchdowns were converted by McCallum.
The Lions made it interesting when quarterback Travis Lulay hit Austin Collie on a 41-yard touchdown strike late in the fourth quarter. Collie hauled in the two-point convert and the Riders held a 29-26 lead at the 13:22 mark of the fourth quarter.
It took until the fourth quarter for the Lions to score their first touchdown. Lulay and fullback Rolly Lumbala hooked up for a seven-yard touchdown. B.C.’s convert attempt was unsuccessful and the Riders led 22-18 at 8:22 of the fourth quarter. The touchdown was the ninth red-zone touchdown allowed by the Riders this season.
A pair of penalties by B.C. defensive back Josh Johnson kept a Riders’ drive alive early in the fourth quarter. Johnson was flagged for roughing the passer after Glenn had thrown the ball out of bounds to avoid a loss while facing second-and-10. Johnson was penalized for being offside when Allen was stopped on a secondand-goal play.
On the next play, Smith scored on a one-yard run. McCallum’s convert gave the Riders a 22-12 lead at 1:44 of the fourth quarter.
Leone hit on a 42-yard field goal at 12:54 of the third quarter, reducing Saskatchewan’s lead to 15-12 heading into the fourth quarter. It was Leone’s fourth consecutive field goal for the Lions.
Weston Dressler’s second touchdown of the game after hauling in a 10-yard pass from Kevin Glenn gave the Riders a 13-9 lead at 9:44 of the third quarter. The Riders assumed a 15-9 lead when Glenn and Dressler hooked up on the two-point conversion.
The Lions grabbed the lead for the first time early in the third quarter. Leone connected on a 12-yard field goal attempt to put the Lions ahead 9-6 as B.C. scored after the opening kickoff of the second half.
Dressler paced all receivers in the first half with five receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Glenn connected on 14 of 16 pass attempts for 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Lulay hit on 13 of 19 pass attempts for 139 yards.
The Lions reduced the Riders’ second-quarter lead to 7-6 when Leone connected on a 14-yard field goal at 5:11.
An interception by B.C.’s Alex Hoffman-Ellis in the first quarter set the Lions up with field position on Saskatchewan’s 35-yard line. Five plays later, Leone hit on a 25-yard field goal. The Riders led 7-3 after the first quarter.
The pick was the third in as many games for Glenn, who was promoted from backup to starter when Darian Durant suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in a 3026 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 27.
Saskatchewan set the pace early with an uptempo offence. The Riders benefitted from it, the scoring in the first quarter when Glenn found Dressler behind B.C.’s coverage for a 45-yard touchdown pass. McCallum converted the touchdown, staking the Riders to a 7-0 lead at 8:37.