LIONS SUNK BY MARSH
ALOUETTES 39 LIONS 38:
Montreal’s rookie quarterback shocks B.C. with thrilling comeback victory
MONTREAL — Travis Lulay wasn’t about to fall on his sword and take the blame for everything that went wrong Thursday.
But he took enough of the responsibility to make it obvious that something has to change for the B.C. Lions.
In a season of varying contradictions so far, the CFL team is starting to show cracks in places where it matters the most. They still have a winning record despite their 39-38 loss to the Montreal Alouettes, but the offence is going in reverse.
Lulay threw for just 206 yards and generated only two touchdown throws to Shawn Gore. It was the lowest passing total this season outside of another rainsoaked game in Edmonton last month.
But though he’s hardly prone to hyperbole, Lulay knows something is wrong. The problem is discovering a remedy.
“I don’t think we’re playing our best football,” the former outstanding player said in what would represent a sizable understatement. “We’re making strides here and there but we make enough mistakes to hold us back.
“In a game like tonight every single facet is going to want to have a done a little better. But if you erase all that, if we can kick a field goal the last two times we had the ball, they have to score a touchdown.”
Indeed, the Lions played like a team trying to beat the clock down the stretch instead of the Als, whose defence held enough times to give them the chance for the win. In the second half, the Lions unofficially could only manage eight rushing yards.
Is it time for the Lions to at least devise a change-up by inserting a package for backup QB Thomas DeMarco on occasion, much as their next opponent, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, are doing on a regular basis lately?
“I don’t think it’s a personnel thing,” said coach Mike Benevides, who nonetheless went on to suggest he wasn’t beyond looking at making changes anywhere on his roster.
“It’s a couple of guys not making plays in the right spot.”
Clearly, the Lions have issues beyond what they are not doing on offence. The best safety at Molson Stadium Thursday was retired Canadian Davis Sanchez, who had split loyalties having played for both clubs.
But Lulay is clearly not the same quarter back who was named most outstanding player two years ago. And the Lions showed they are not good enough.