Edmonton Eskimos 9 British Columbia Lions 29 (July 6, 2007)
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0 commentsQuarterback Dave Dickenson continued his slow start to the CFL season Friday but his only touchdown pass secured a 29-9 British Columbia Lions home opener win over the Edmonton Eskimos.
The 100-yard touchdown drive ended with a 36-yard completion to slotback Jason Clermont midway through the third quarter for a 23-6 lead.
Kicker Paul McCallum completed the Lions attack with five field goals and a convert.
Dickenson, who needed a jump start from the running of Joe Smith last week in a 24-22 victory over the Toronto Argonauts, got another one Friday as Smith started the drive with runs of 20 and 13 yards.
Smith, who had 84 yards on 14 carries, ended the first half by plunging over for the game's first major score after Barron Miles gave the Lions a short 38-yard field by getting a hand on a low Sean Fleming punt.
The victory came as the Lions celebrated their 2006 CFL title at halftime by parading a giant Grey Cup at British Columbia Place Stadium.
The Eskimos moved the ball but couldn't end their drives beyond the goal line as they were plagued by penalties and mistakes.
That made the game a battle of field position and kickers before 32,893 fans.
McCallum, who missed his first attempt, kicked field goals of 44, 35, 14, 47 and 18 for the 2-0 Lions. Fleming connected from 42, 16 and 36 for the Eskimos.
Edmonton, which tied Winnipeg last week, have lost three in a row to the Lions going back to last season when they missed the playoffs for the first time in 35 years.
The Lions took a 16-6 lead by halftime after Miles stopped a promising Edmonton drive by intercepting Edmonton pivot Ricky Ray, set up the TD with his hustle on the Fleming punt which he recovered at the Eskimos 38 with one minute 39 seconds remaining.
Dickenson, who had thrown up his hands in frustration earlier in the second quarter when he was 4-for-12 in passing, got the Lions to the Edmonton two yard line.
He completed a short pass to Paris Jackson then found Tony Simmons and Geroy Simon for a pair of 16-yard completions. Smith plunged one yard for the touchdown.
Ray also struggled in the opening half as mistakes and another interception by Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips gave the Lions the ball on the Edmonton 12 but they had to settle for a McCallum field goal.
In the fourth quarter LaVar Glover stepped in front of another Ray pass attempt to give B.C. a first down on the Eskimos' 50-yard line but the Lions kicked their final field goal.
B.C. rush end Brent Johnson, who got two quarterback sacks last week, doubled his total by twice corralling a scrambling Ray for losses. He also recovered a fumble.
Lions tackle Rob Murphy, who was accused of dirty play by the Eskimos earlier in the week, was ejected in the fourth quarter after a foul on defensive end Adam Braidwood.
NOTES: ... the teams meet twice more this season with a home-and-home series in October ... the Lions were 2-1 against Edmonton last season ... B.C. led the CFL last season with a 9-1 record at home ... the game was the first for Edmonton offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine against his old club.
courtesy of cfl.ca
Date
July 6, 2007
