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GAME RECAP
MAKING GAINS: BELL RUNS ESKIMOS PAST LIONS
EDMONTON — Sean Whyte kicked two late field goals while Shakir Bell reached the century mark on the ground, leading the Edmonton Eskimos to a timely 27-23 win over the BC Lions on Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
Bell added a touchdown to his 108 rushing yards on 23 carries while Deon Lacey’s late interception helped seal the deal, notching a pivotal division win for the Green and Gold and ending a three-game losing streak.
The win moves the Eskimos into a playoff spot via the East Division crossover following the Argos’ loss on Friday night.
Mike Reilly threw for 300 yards on 24-of-31 passing in the win, scoring once on the ground and once through the air while also throwing an interception. Adarius Bowman caught six passes for 121 yards, including a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
The Lions failed to win despite jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first half and getting major contributions from Jonathon Jennings and Emmanuel Arceneaux. The latter caught seven passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, the majority of his production coming in the opening 30 minutes.
Jennings finished with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns, but was contained throughout most of the second half and threw a crucial late-game interception to Lacey.
After first feeling each other out, it wasn’t until late in the first quarter that the Lions and Eskimos started to pick things up offensively.
It started when the Lions took over possession near midfield with just under five minutes left, when Jennings completed four straight passes, the last one coming in stride to Arceneaux in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown.
The Lions missed the two-point try but on their next possession went right back to work. A six-yard completion to Arceneaux kept the drive alive on second-and-five, then, on the very first play of the second quarter, Jennings dropped back and delivered a strike downfield to Arceneaux behind coverage.
The veteran receiver took that pass 68 yards untouched for his second touchdown of the night, while Jeremiah Johnson scored on the two-point convert to extend BC’s lead to 14-0 in the early going.
The Eskimos, needing a win to climb into a playoff spot via the East Division crossover, got the response they desperately needed not long later.
A 19-yard completion to Bowman moved the chains on second and 10, and that sparked what was to come – a 16-yard completion to Chris Getzlaf and a 13-yard run by Bell on the way to a one-yard touchdown run by Reilly, cutting the Eskimos’ deficit to 14-7.
With time running out in the second quarter, the Eskimos completed the opening-half comeback. Reilly connected with Bowman on a 58-yard completion on second and long, while on the next play Bell finished things off with his lone touchdown of the night, pulling the Esks into a 14-14 draw.
That capped off a seven-play, 62-yard drive, while the Lions added a punt single from Richie Leone to take a 15-14 lead into the half. While the Lions’ lead may have been slim, Arceneaux was easily the star of the first two quarters, hauling in six catches for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
After scoring twice to end the first half, Reilly and the Esks’ offence picked up exactly where they left off out of break. Bell ran for a first down and Reilly moved the chains twice on completions to Walker, eventually setting up a 22-yard touchdown pass to Bowman.
That capped off a nine-play scoring drive that took 4:30 off the clock, while Reilly’s first touchdown pass of the game was his 21st of the season, moving him into a tie for sixth on the Eskimos’ all-time list with Damon Allen.
Down for the first time all evening, the visiting Lions chipped away at Edmonton’s lead, sacking Reilly and forcing a safety before later adding a field goal, making it a 21-20 Eskimo lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After the Lions’ passing attack couldn’t be stopped through the game’s first 20 minutes, Edmonton’s defence made life difficult for Jennings and co. in the form of constant pressure and heavy hits. That appeared to continue into the fourth when the Eskimos stymied what looked like a promising drive with Almondo Sewell’s eighth sack of the season back towards midfield — but on second and 18, Jennings rifled a pass into the mitts of Gore, again moving the sticks on a clutch completion.
That led to a go-ahead field goal from Leone, giving BC a 23-21 lead with half a quarter left in the game.
Brandon Zylstra’s third catch of the night from Reilly moved the Esks across midfield on a 15-yard gain, while the Eskimos’ field general in Reilly showed his toughness once again when he took a hit to pick up extra yards with his legs down to the BC 19.
The Lions tightened up and forced a field goal, but Whtye’s first three-pointer of the night put the Green and Gold back in front, 24-23.
On the very next play, Jennings’ pass was intercepted by Deon Lacey, giving Edmonton the ball right back with a chance to add to the lead or better yet run valuable time off the clock. Reilly and the Esks milked some clock then extended the lead on Whyte’s second field goal of the game, extending the lead to 27-23.
The Lions had a slight window to steal the game late, but after Jennings moved that unit up near midfield, a Hail Mary attempt with zeroes on the clock ended in an interception by Brandyn Thompson.
Running the ball was an issue for the Lions, who entered the night as the CFL’s number one rushing team, as BC managed only 69 yards on the ground, including 41 for Johnson on only eight attempts.
Adam Bighill was a monster on the BC defence, coming up with 12 defensive tackles and a quarterback sack. Solomon Elimimian checked in with 10 tackles of his own.
Jennings was sacked only twice, but both sacks came in key situations in the second half as the Esks’ defence turned up the pressure in the final 30 minutes.
Edmonton looks to build on Friday’s victory with a visit to third-place Winnipeg next Friday in a game with major playoff implications. The Lions, who had their three-game winning streak ended, aim to get back on track when they welcome the Ottawa REDBLACKS to BC Place on Saturday, Oct. 1.
MAKING GAINS: BELL RUNS ESKIMOS PAST LIONS
EDMONTON — Sean Whyte kicked two late field goals while Shakir Bell reached the century mark on the ground, leading the Edmonton Eskimos to a timely 27-23 win over the BC Lions on Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
Bell added a touchdown to his 108 rushing yards on 23 carries while Deon Lacey’s late interception helped seal the deal, notching a pivotal division win for the Green and Gold and ending a three-game losing streak.
The win moves the Eskimos into a playoff spot via the East Division crossover following the Argos’ loss on Friday night.
Mike Reilly threw for 300 yards on 24-of-31 passing in the win, scoring once on the ground and once through the air while also throwing an interception. Adarius Bowman caught six passes for 121 yards, including a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter.
The Lions failed to win despite jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first half and getting major contributions from Jonathon Jennings and Emmanuel Arceneaux. The latter caught seven passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns, the majority of his production coming in the opening 30 minutes.
Jennings finished with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns, but was contained throughout most of the second half and threw a crucial late-game interception to Lacey.
After first feeling each other out, it wasn’t until late in the first quarter that the Lions and Eskimos started to pick things up offensively.
It started when the Lions took over possession near midfield with just under five minutes left, when Jennings completed four straight passes, the last one coming in stride to Arceneaux in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown.
The Lions missed the two-point try but on their next possession went right back to work. A six-yard completion to Arceneaux kept the drive alive on second-and-five, then, on the very first play of the second quarter, Jennings dropped back and delivered a strike downfield to Arceneaux behind coverage.
The veteran receiver took that pass 68 yards untouched for his second touchdown of the night, while Jeremiah Johnson scored on the two-point convert to extend BC’s lead to 14-0 in the early going.
The Eskimos, needing a win to climb into a playoff spot via the East Division crossover, got the response they desperately needed not long later.
A 19-yard completion to Bowman moved the chains on second and 10, and that sparked what was to come – a 16-yard completion to Chris Getzlaf and a 13-yard run by Bell on the way to a one-yard touchdown run by Reilly, cutting the Eskimos’ deficit to 14-7.
With time running out in the second quarter, the Eskimos completed the opening-half comeback. Reilly connected with Bowman on a 58-yard completion on second and long, while on the next play Bell finished things off with his lone touchdown of the night, pulling the Esks into a 14-14 draw.
That capped off a seven-play, 62-yard drive, while the Lions added a punt single from Richie Leone to take a 15-14 lead into the half. While the Lions’ lead may have been slim, Arceneaux was easily the star of the first two quarters, hauling in six catches for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
After scoring twice to end the first half, Reilly and the Esks’ offence picked up exactly where they left off out of break. Bell ran for a first down and Reilly moved the chains twice on completions to Walker, eventually setting up a 22-yard touchdown pass to Bowman.
That capped off a nine-play scoring drive that took 4:30 off the clock, while Reilly’s first touchdown pass of the game was his 21st of the season, moving him into a tie for sixth on the Eskimos’ all-time list with Damon Allen.
Down for the first time all evening, the visiting Lions chipped away at Edmonton’s lead, sacking Reilly and forcing a safety before later adding a field goal, making it a 21-20 Eskimo lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After the Lions’ passing attack couldn’t be stopped through the game’s first 20 minutes, Edmonton’s defence made life difficult for Jennings and co. in the form of constant pressure and heavy hits. That appeared to continue into the fourth when the Eskimos stymied what looked like a promising drive with Almondo Sewell’s eighth sack of the season back towards midfield — but on second and 18, Jennings rifled a pass into the mitts of Gore, again moving the sticks on a clutch completion.
That led to a go-ahead field goal from Leone, giving BC a 23-21 lead with half a quarter left in the game.
Brandon Zylstra’s third catch of the night from Reilly moved the Esks across midfield on a 15-yard gain, while the Eskimos’ field general in Reilly showed his toughness once again when he took a hit to pick up extra yards with his legs down to the BC 19.
The Lions tightened up and forced a field goal, but Whtye’s first three-pointer of the night put the Green and Gold back in front, 24-23.
On the very next play, Jennings’ pass was intercepted by Deon Lacey, giving Edmonton the ball right back with a chance to add to the lead or better yet run valuable time off the clock. Reilly and the Esks milked some clock then extended the lead on Whyte’s second field goal of the game, extending the lead to 27-23.
The Lions had a slight window to steal the game late, but after Jennings moved that unit up near midfield, a Hail Mary attempt with zeroes on the clock ended in an interception by Brandyn Thompson.
Running the ball was an issue for the Lions, who entered the night as the CFL’s number one rushing team, as BC managed only 69 yards on the ground, including 41 for Johnson on only eight attempts.
Adam Bighill was a monster on the BC defence, coming up with 12 defensive tackles and a quarterback sack. Solomon Elimimian checked in with 10 tackles of his own.
Jennings was sacked only twice, but both sacks came in key situations in the second half as the Esks’ defence turned up the pressure in the final 30 minutes.
Edmonton looks to build on Friday’s victory with a visit to third-place Winnipeg next Friday in a game with major playoff implications. The Lions, who had their three-game winning streak ended, aim to get back on track when they welcome the Ottawa REDBLACKS to BC Place on Saturday, Oct. 1.
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