Eskimos 31 Lions 28
VANCOUVER — Quarterback Ricky Ray plunged for a one-yard touchdown in overtime to give the Edmonton Eskimos a 31-28 victory over the B.C. Lions on Saturday night.
Edmonton’s winning TD came after a B.C. pass interference call on defensive back Stanley Franks, giving Edmonton the ball on the one.
B.C. kicker Sean Whyte had staked the Lions to a 28-25 lead on a 21-yard field goal in OT after forcing the extra session with a 48-yard FG on the final play of the fourth quarter.
It was B.C.’s second straight overtime loss after dropping a 47-35 decision to the Blue Bombers on Monday.
Edmonton moved into a tie with B.C. for third place in the West Division, as both clubs now have 5-10 records with three regular-season games remaining. However, they will not face each other again.
Edmonton took the season series with B.C. 2-1 and, in the event of a tie in the standings, will be awarded third place in the West over the Lions.
The Eskimos posted their third win in four games while atoning for a humiliating 36-11 loss to Hamilton last weekend. The Eskimos also improved their chances of playing a cross-over playoff game against an East Division opponent, if necessary, as they moved within four points of the struggling Toronto Argonauts.
Ray also threw for a touchdown and ran for over 100 yards as the Eskimos lost two key receivers to injuries.
The game got off to a bad start for the Lions as they lost J.R. LaRose to an apparent leg injury on the opening kick-off. He was taken off the field on a golf cart.
Things didn’t go well on the Lions’ first series either as T.J. Hill sacked quarterback Travis Lulay, who replaced recently released Casey Printers, to end a B.C. drive after the quarterback had completed his first two passes.
Ray then proceeded to march the Eskimos into scoring range, faking a hand-off and romping 45 yards before hitting Fred Stamps with a 26-yard pass. That catch put Stamps over 1,000 receiving yards on the season.
Two plays later, Ray found Stamps again for a nine-yard touchdown pass.
But the Lions got a break on the ensuing kick-off as returner Tristan Jackson fumbled and Jason Arakgi recovered, giving B.C. the ball on the Edmonton 30. Lulay took the Lions to the Edmonton one, then backup Jarious Jackson came in and pitched out to Yonus Davis who scampered into the end zone.
Whyte booted the convert to create a 7-7 tie.
Edmonton kicker Derek Schiavone, playing his first game of the season following Noel Prefontaine’s recent trade to Toronto, booted a 40-yard field goal to put the Eskimos ahead 10-7 early in the second.
But Lulay quickly guided the Lions on a nine-play, 74-yard scoring drive, which culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Stephen Black.
Shortly after the touchdown, Edmonton lost receiver Kamau Petersen as B.C. defensive back Anthony Reddick sent him head over heels after a catch.
A few minutes later, the Eskimos lost another receiver.
Just when the Eskimos were threatening to score, B.C. defensive back David Hyland nailed Kelly Campbell as he was attempting to make a catch at the B.C. 25-yard line. Korey Banks intercepted and returned the ball to midfield, but the Lions could only manage a Whyte 53-yard punt single.
But Schiavone booted a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter to reduce the Lions’ lead to 15-13 at half-time.
On the Eskimos’ opening drive of the third quarter, Ray surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark as he ran for 20 yards on three plays, setting up a one-yard Mathieu Bertrand touchdown run that staked the Eskimos to a 20-15 lead.
Early in the final quarter, Whyte conceded a safety in the end zone to put Edmonton up 22-15.
Ray later guided the Eskimos 73 yards — on 12 straight running plays — to set up a 17-yard Schiavone field goal that gave Edmonton a 25-15 advantage.
With three minutes left, Lulay went to work as he completed a series of passes, including a pair to Geroy Simon, and ran for 16 yards himself to move the Lions to the Edmonton one. Jackson came in again and handed off to Robertson for a touchdown, reducing B.C.’s deficit to 25-22.
NOTES: Lions defensive end Brent Johnson played in his 165th consecutive game. He has not missed a game in 10 seasons ... B.C. receiver Simon extended his reception streak to 139 games. He is three contests away from surpassing former Defensive lineman Etienne Legare, acquired from Toronto in the Prefontaine trade, played his first game for Edmonton. ... Petersen came out of the dressing room in street clothes in the second half sporting crutches and a walking boot on his left leg.