GAME ESSENTIALS

THE SKINNY

Backup John Beck, 1-6 as a starting quarterback in the NFL, looks as if he could be the Lions’ starter for some time. After Travis Lulay suffered an MCL tear (knee) in the first quarter, Beck came in to rescue the Lions by throwing a pair of touchdown passes — to Lavelle Hawkins and Austin Collie. Beck, pictured, did throw two interceptions, one that led directly to a touchdown, but his leadership was enough to give the Lions a much-needed win.

TURNING POINT

With the Lions ahead 17-6 in the third quarter, Alouettes quarterback Tanner Marsh had a tipped throw (by Bo Lokombo) deflect into the arms of Lions safety Eric Fraser, pictured, starting in place of Chris Rwabukamba, the team’s major free-agent acquisition. Fraser, a Burnaby Central grad who was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders from Central Michigan, wove his way to the end zone 56 yards later for his second career touchdown in his sixth CFL season.

TOUGH NUT

Despite being blown out 50-17 in last year’s East Division semifinal, the Lions have regularly put up a fight against the Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium. Though Thursday’s game was B.C.’s first victory in Montreal since 2010, the Als had won six of their previous seven victories at home against B.C. by five, four, four, five, one and then 15 points in 2014. Montreal’s 23-13 victory over the Lions at BC Place Stadium on Aug. 20 was the Alouettes‘ first under the dome since 2000.

NEW ARRIVALS

Though they’ve been with the Lions since the start of training camp, Thursday marked the CFL debuts of wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, pictured at left, and Zach Minter, who replaced Craig Roh at defensive tackle. Both were injured during camp. Hawkins has been battling his way back since breaking his arm on the first day of workouts in Kamloops. The Montreal game was the first regular season contest for the former California Golden Bear since 2012, when Hawkins was in the NFL.

HONOURED SCRIBE

Percival Molson Stadium press box play-by-play man Francois Ferland announced the pending retirement of distinguished Province football reporter Lowell Ullrich at the exact moment Eric Fraser took a deflected pass into the end zone to put the Lions in front 24-6. “There’s your parting gift,” quipped Olivier Poulin, the CFL’s manager of communications. Ullrich, pictured, named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame last year, has been covering the Lions since the 2000 season.