Lions overpower Eskimos in home opener
The B.C. Lions honoured their recent past with a commanding 29-9 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos Friday night in Vancouver.
Quarterback Dave Dickenson struggled early, but rebounded to lead B.C. with 230 yards through the air and one touchdown. Receiver Jason Clermont contributed with 84 receiving yards and one touchdown reception.
Prior to Friday's game, the Lions raised their 2006 Grey Cup championship banner to the roof at B.C. Place Stadium.
Brent Johnson, the defensive player of the year in 2006, had another stellar game for the B.C., sacking Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray twice to bring his league-leading total to four.
Ray, meanwhile, failed to build on his stellar performance against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the first week of the season. While Ray threw for 284 yards, he was also intercepted three times.
Last week, Ray was named the top CFL offensive player after throwing for 394 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Eskimos salvage a 39-39 tie with the Bombers.
The Lions, who won two of three meetings versus Edmonton last season, began to exert their muscle in the second half.
Leading by 10 points to start the third quarter, B.C. pulled away from the Eskimos with a seven-play drive.
Dickenson lofted a perfect 36-yard strike to Clermont at 8:07 of the third, giving the Lions a 23-6 advantage.
Kicker Sean Flemming nailed a 36-yard field goal 2:17 into the fourth quarter to reduce B.C.'s lead to 23-9.
But Paul McCallum restoredthe Lions'17-point lead less than three minutes later, connecting from 47 yards out.
Defensive back Lavar Glover ended any hope of an Edmonton comeback by intercepting Ray with more than five minutes remaining in the game.
Glover's interception led to McCallum's fifth field goal of the contest with 1:28 remaining, increasing B.C.'s lead to 29-9.
Games takes a turn
The game turned ugly in the fourth quarter as B.C. offensive lineman Rob Murphy was ejected for ripping the helmet off Eskimos defensive end Adam Braidwood.
Tempers on both sides were sparked following comments made by Edmonton's Rahim Abdullah earlier in the week, suggesting that Murphy and fellow offensive lineman Jason Jimenez are the dirtiest players in the CFL.
The Lions scored the game's first touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 16-6 lead into the locker room.
Running back Joe Smith's one-yard plunge was made possibly by a blocked punt from defensive back Barron Miles.
The Nebraska product is now one short of the CFL record held by Gerald Vaughn, who posted 12 blocked punts during his career.
The rest of the first half featured five combined field goals, including three by McCallum.