Edmonton Eskimos 28 British Columbia Lions 30 (August 18, 2006)
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0 commentsEdmonton was attempting a 39-yard field goal for the win on the last play of the game when quarterback Ricky Ray fumbled the snap.
Miles, who has a league-leading eight picks - already one more than his career high - snared a Ray pass tipped by Javier Glatt early in the fourth quarter to give the Lions a needed 30-18 cushion.
Banks gave the Lions a 20-8 lead late in the second half with an 18-yard return of a Ray pass attempt under pressure. He also knocked down an end zone pass to Jason Tucker late in the game.
The win moved the West Division-leading Lions (7-3) four points ahead of the Calgary Stampeders while the Grey Cup champion Eskimos (3-6) lost for the fourth time in five games.
Backup Buck Pierce was solid at quarterback for the Lions with 20 completions in 24 attempts for 274 yards and a TD pass to slotback Geroy Simon.
Kicker Paul McCallum was good on three field goals for the Lions while Sean Fleming added two for Edmonton.
Ray reduced the margin to five points with 5:59 remaining in the game when he connected with Tucker on a 16-yard end zone pass.
Ray engineered the drive with five consecutive completions and was aided by a roughing the passer penalty.
Edmonton earlier closed the gap to 23-18 by converting a Joe Smith fumble into a late third-quarter touchdown.
Smith had gained 18 yards from the Lions 12 yard line when Jonte Buhl forced the fumble recovered by J.R. LaRose.
Mookie Mitchell hauled in a 26-yard pass after a scramble by Ray. A roughing the passer penalty gave Edmonton a first down on the B.C. 5 yard line to set up Troy Davis's second rushing touchdown of the game.
The Eskimos opened and closed the scoring in the first half but the Lions took a 20-11 lead into the locker room after Banks returned his second interception of the season for a 20-8 edge.
Ray was under pressure inside his 10 yard line when Banks, the CFL leader in picks last season with the Ottawa Renegades, grabbed his forced pass.
Pierce, making his second consecutive start after veteran Dave Dickenson suffered an ankle sprain against the Eskimos here on Aug. 4, completed nine of his first 10 passes, the last to Simon for a 37-yard TD and a 10-8 lead.
The touchdown was the ninth of the year for Simon, who frequently sees double coverage but had 99 first-half yards on five receptions and went over 1,000 yards for the season.
He also moved past (Swervin') Mervyn Fernandez and into second place on Lions' career list for reception yardage.
Ray, the CFL's passing yardage leader, started the first Edmonton scoring drive with a 52-yard completion to Ed Hervey after inheriting good field position on a short B.C. punt.
The Edmonton pivot survived a fumble on the B.C. two yard line after the Eskimos successfully challenged a ruling that B.C. defensive lineman Aaron Hunt was the last to touch the ball before it went out of bounds.
Davis made it 7-0 the next play.
Pierce moved the Lions by throwing underneath to Smith who also pounded the ball deep into the Edmonton secondary.
The sophomore pivot made an adventure of several snaps. He called several successful quarterback draws but was sacked six times in the first half alone, four times by Charles Alston of the Eskimos.
Final stat leaders Edmonton. Ricky Ray was 24 of 39 for 312 yards and 1 touchdown with 2 picks. Ray also led the rushing offense with 6 rushes for 47 yards. Ed Hervey had 5 receptions for 104 yards with 0 touchdowns. Sean Fleming was 2/2 on field goals and 3/3 on extra points.
Final stat leaders BC. Buck Pierce was 20 of 24 for 274 yards with 1 touchdown and 0 picks. Joe Smith had 12 rushes for 56 yards and 0 touchdowns. Geroy Simon had 6 receptions for 119 yards and 1 major. Paul McCallum was 3/3 on field goals and 3/3 on extra points.
Date
August 18, 2006
