Current Lion lineman anxious to face former teammates
TORONTO — Shawn Lemon will have a little extra juice today at BMO Field.
The veteran defensive lineman will make his first appearance in Toronto since being dealt to B.C. on July 24 for a player on the Lions’ negotiation list. Lemon, 29, played 33 games over two-plus seasons with the Argonauts, helping them capture a Grey Cup title last year.
The 6-foot-2, 251-pound Lemon was surprised to be dealt and is very anxious to face his former team.
“This game means a little bit more to me just from being in the city, being teammates and winning a Grey Cup with them last year,” Lemon said. “Just having my family there and being so close for my parents to come up to the game and having the connection with the guys in the locker room, I was a little disappointed (about the trade) . . . .
“But I’m very thankful for the opportunity to come to the Lions. I’m definitely excited about what the future holds.”
Lemon was very outspoken on Twitter, saying the Argos’ offensive line couldn’t block him during practice and won’t be able to handle him today.
When asked if he still believed that, Lemon remained steadfast.
“Most definitely,” he said emphatically. “It is what it is.”
Lemon believes his prior experience with Toronto gives him a distinct advantage against his former team.
“I know their offence,” he said. “I know how they want to attack teams, I know how they want to attack me.”
McLeod Bethel-Thompson will make his second straight start after rallying Toronto to a stirring 42-41 win over Ottawa on Aug. 2. Bethel-Thompson threw for 302 yards and four TDs — including a 23-yard scoring strike to Armanti Edwards with just nine seconds remaining — as the Argos overcame a 24-point deficit to capture the victory.
Bethel-Thompson said he’s also looking forward to facing the motivated Lemon.
“He’s a great football player and I hope he brings his A-game,” Bethel-Thompson said. “To be the best, you have to beat the best.
“I’m so excited to have him come in here and just play ball. We always got to go against each other in practice, but he never got to touch me and hopefully he doesn’t get to touch me (today) either.”
Toronto running back James Wilder Jr. is also excited to match-up against Lemon.
“He’s a great player, he’s feisty,” said Wilder. “I think it’s going to be pretty fun to go against him and actually be able to show him what I have outside of practice in a real game.”
Toronto (2-5) is third in the East Division, two points behind Hamilton (3-4).
B.C. (3-4) is tied with Saskatchewan for fourth in the West Division, four points behind Winnipeg and Edmonton.
B.C. has won its last four road games in Toronto and since 2011 is 9-5 versus the Argos. But the Double Blue is 10-4 coming off the bye since 2011 and the Lions are 0-4 on the road this season. “That’s obviously our next challenge,” said Lions quarterback Travis Lulay. “We set out this year to be a good home team, we talked about that in training camp and have done that, but we haven’t been good enough on the road.
“We want to be competitive and play like crazy to give ourselves a chance to win. It just takes a focused effort, and winning in the fourth quarter if it comes down to a one-score game. You’ve got to find a way to make those plays.”
Lulay, 34, will make his fifth straight start since replacing Jonathon Jennings. B.C. is 2-2 under Lulay, who needed time at the start of the 2018 campaign to fully recover from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
“I think my comfort level has grown each week, that’s natural and kind of what I expected,” he said. “The starter’s role is where I’m most comfortable . . . so I can lean on that past experience.”
B.C. is also coming off a comeback win, overcoming an 20-10 half-time deficit to beat Edmonton 31-23 on Aug. 9.
Lulay was 16-of-29 passing for 239 yards with a TD and interception in that game.
Today’s kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. PT.