MAKING THINGS HOPPIN’
The high-flying Eskimos were unable to soar past the tenacious B.C. Lions
The long-term significance of the B.C. Lions’ victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday night will be revealed over the length of this CFL season but, in the here and now, one thing can be said without fear of contradiction.
It saved a lot of uncomfortable questions for this team in the foreseeable future.
The Lions, who needed a win the way roses need water, survived an early 14-3 deficit, a dizzying array of their own mistakes and a late scare to record a 31-23 victory over the Esks and old friend Mike Reilly.
The win, in front of 17,745 fans, left the Lions with a 3-4 record and tied, for the moment, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for fourth in the West. As for the ramifications of a loss, well, it’s a moot point now.
Following a frustrating start, the Lions managed to stay out of their way long enough in the second half to beat Reilly for just the third time in their last 12 meetings.
Travis Lulay, in a courageous performance, rallied his team in the second half, erasing a 10-point Eskimos lead, but it was the defence that played the starring role in the victory.
In addition to limiting Reilly et al to three second-half points, the Lions surrendered just 170 yards in net offence over the final 30 minutes and contributed the game’s two biggest plays: a Winston Rose interception that led to a Ty Long field goal and the game’s winning points, and Otha Foster’s strip sack on Reilly inside the Esks’ 10 that led to Travon Van’s seven-yard touchdown run.
The Lions’ defence also forced a third turnover on downs with two minutes left before Reilly marched his team to the Lions’ 15 with 16 seconds left. Garry Peters then sealed the win with an end-zone interception, the Lions’ fourth turnover of the second half.
“We just said ‘stick together and play ball,’” said Rose. “This is a big win. It definitely keeps us going for the playoffs.”
Lulay, meanwhile, engineered a key 72-yard touchdown drive on the Lions’ first possession of the second half, completing five of six for 72 yards and hitting Kevin Elliott for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Long also contributed a 51-yard field goal in the third quarter.
The Lions’ comeback seemed unlikely after an opening 30 minutes that played out like so many meetings between these teams. The Esks opened a 14-3 lead on a pair of smart drives before Chris Rainey gave the Lions a spark with a 79-yard punt return touchdown.
On the next series, the Lions appeared to take the lead on a Lulay-to-Bryan Burnham touchdown pass which, alas, was called back on a holding penalty. On the next play, Lulay served up an interception to Korey Jones that led to a Reilly-to-Walker 15-yard touchdown and a 20-10 Esks’ lead.
Lulay, who faced a fero- cious pass rush most of the night, finished 16 of 29 for 239 yards. Reilly went 25 for 39 and 299 yards but most of those yards came on the first two drives and the late fourth-quarter drive.
Esks’ big-play receiver Duke Williams was limited to four catches for 44 yards.