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Eskimos move to 3-0 against winless Lions

Jul 17, 2011 - 4:45 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Daniel Porter scored on the ground and through the air and Ricky Ray passed for over 300 yards to lead the Edmonton Eskimos over the British Columbia Lions, 33-17.

Ray completed 24-of-33 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns and added 49 yards on the ground for the Eskimos (3-0), who didn't get their third win last season until September 26.

"We've got a lot of guys on the team that can make plays for us," Ray said. "That's got to make it tough on defenses."

Fred Stamps caught seven balls for 104 yards and a score for the victors.

British Columbia is off to an 0-3 last for the first time since 2002. Geroy Simon and Akeem Foster scored the Lions' only touchdowns on passes from Travis Lulay.

Lulay threw two interceptions and ended with 313 yards on 23-of-41 efficiency.

"Hopefully this is rock-bottom for us," Lions coach Wally Buono said.

Edmonton's opening drive stalled in the red zone, and Damon Duval came on and booted a 20-yard field goal to get the hosts on the board.

Stamps' 39-yard touchdown grab preceded a single on the ensuing kickoff, and Duval booted a 21-yard field goal for a 14-0 cushion early in the second.

Paul McCallum got BC on the board with a 45-yard field goal, and Simon countered Porter's five-yard touchdown catch with a 25-yard score to get BC within 21-10.

Edmonton's defense, which did not allow a first down until 27 minutes and 45 seconds had passed, did not give up another score until the final minutes of the game.

Duval tacked on a single before halftime and another one after, and T.J. Hill's 71-yard interception return set up Porter's five-yard TD run in the final minute of the third for a 30-10 advantage.

Duval's 35-yard field goal in the final quarter extended the lead, and Foster caught a 29-yard bomb in the corner of the end zone to account for the final score.

Game Notes

The last time the Eskimos started the season 3-0 was 2002...Jerome Messam, who was traded by BC to Edmonton during training camp, carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards...Simon had seven receptions for 107 yards.