Dynamic Defense Helps Lions Victory Over Blue Bombers – TSN.ca

VANCOUVER — A pair of pick sixes helped the BC Lions move closer to a playoff home spot with a 40-32 win over league-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday.

Halfbacks TJ Lee and Marcus Sayles each racked up interceptions and made massive runs for touchdowns in a win that gave BC (11-5) sole possession of second place in the CFL’s West Division.

It was a mixed night for Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who threw for 138 yards and finished 13 of 22 attempts with a touchdown. He added 18 rushing yards and was sacked three times.

There were several new faces in Winnipeg’s lineup as head coach Mike O’Shea decided to rest a number of his usual starters, including quarterback Zach Collaros.

In his first CFL start, Dru Brown threw 325 passing yards for the Blue Bombers (14-3) and hit on 28 of 39 attempts with three touchdowns and two interceptions. The sophomore QB was sacked three times.

Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio struggled and missed three long field goal attempts. He was successful with a 38-yard kick.

Sean Whyte made all four tries for BC, including a 41-yard drive.

Winnipeg lost 13 points early in the final frame and refused to back down.

Brown found Rasheed Bailey deep in BC territory earlier in the quarter with a 15-yard catch, and the American receiver rushed in two yards for a touchdown to cap an 85-yard, seven-game scoring drive .

The Lions responded with a 25-yard field goal from Whyte.

Lee sealed the win with just over two minutes on the game clock by picking up Brown’s pass to Nic Demski and sprinting 102 yards for a touchdown.

A successful single-point converter from Whyte gave the Lions a 40-24 cushion.

The Blue Bombers continued to press, adding another TD to the scoreboard before the game was over.

Brown delivered a crisp 11-yard pass to Bailey in the end zone with less than 70 seconds left and then hit with Demski for a two-point conversion that cut the Lions’ lead to 40-32.

Whyte’s 26-yard kick gave the home side a 30-17 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Bombers bit into BC’s lead earlier in the picture as the CFL’s leading receiver made his first catch of the night.

Brown sent an arched 22-yard throw to Dalton Schoen, who made a hard catch on the edge of the end zone. The touchdown, Schoen’s 14th of the season, reduced Winnipeg’s lead to 27-17.

The Lions went into halftime with a 27-10 lead, thanks in part to a successful coaching challenge.

As time ran out in the second quarter, Adams sent a long ball to Alexander Hollins only to see the ball was incomplete. BC head coach Rick Campbell challenged the game for interfering with defensive passing, and after a review, officials agreed and handed Winnipeg a 38-yard penalty.

The Lions took advantage and Adams completed the shot on goal with a 23-yard throw to Dominique Rhymes in the end zone. The touchdown was Rhymes’ 11th of the season.

A missed field goal helped BC increase their lead to 20-10 earlier in the frame.

Leigghio’s 52-yard attempt failed and Williams collected the ball, throwing it back 90 yards and putting the Lions in scoring position. Adams couldn’t find a teammate in the end zone, but Whyte put three points on the board with a 16-yard field goal.

BC got a big play from their defensive unit midway through the second game. Marcus Sayles took Brown’s pass and ran it in 45 yards for a TD.

Winnipeg temporarily leveled the game 10-10 early in the quarter when returnee Janarion Grant charged 94 yards down the sideline and into the end zone on a punt return.

The Lions open the second with a 41-yard field goal from Whyte to give the home side a 10-3 lead. Running back James Butler put BC in goal position with a 36-yard run late in the first round.

Big runs were an early theme for the Lions on Saturday.

Terry Williams opened the game with a 40-yard kick return and Adams crawled out of the pocket minutes later for a 16-yard rush.

The QB handed the ball to Butler on the next play, and he weaved nine yards through traffic into the end zone to complete the five-play 50-yard scoring drive.

Winnipeg responded with a ride of its own.

Brown showed off his groundplay with a solid 12-yard rush into second to get the bombers into Lions’ territory. But Winnipeg’s offense struggled and finally decided with a 39-yard field goal on their first possession of the game.

The Lions will take on the Elks in Edmonton on Friday while the Blue Bombers have their final reunion of the season. BC will conclude the Regular Season campaign on October 28th in Winnipeg.

NOTES: Both sides had great performances from their returns, with Grant catching 226 yards and a TD for the Blue Bombers and Williams at 341 yards. … BC linebacker Ben Hladik left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. … On Saturday, Winnipeg lost to a West Division opponent for the first time this season (9-1).

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 15, 2022.