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Lions down Eskimos for sixth straight win

Oct 1, 2011 - 6:55 AM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Travis Lulay threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, as the Lions erased an early deficit and opened newly-renovated BC Place stadium in style with a 33-24 win over the Eskimos.

Andrew Harris had five receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions (7-6), who won their sixth straight game and moved into a three-way tie with Calgary and Edmonton atop the CFL West.

Ricky Ray threw for 255 yards and a touchdown for the Eskimos (7-6), losers of two straight.

Jerome Messam ran for 70 yards but was ejected in the fourth quarter following a scrum in the endzone.

Edmonton took a 13-5 lead on Kerry Joseph's one-yard touchdown plunge in the waning moments of the first half, but B.C., spurred by a near-capacity crowd, battled back with grit.

Lulay connected with Harris for a 22-yard touchdown strike with 26 seconds remaining in the half, making it a 13-12 game, and the Lions outscored the Eskimos, 14-2, in the third quarter to take firm grasp of the contest.

A six-play, 44-yard drive, capped by Lulay's four-yard touchdown scamper, opened the second half.

Later in the third, Lulay completed a 63-yard touchdown strike to Harris, and the Lions held the momentum, and a 26-15 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Ray drove his team into field goal range to open the fourth, but Damon Duval missed a 43-yarder.

The Lions then emphatically distanced themselves from the Eskimos with a nine- play, 70-yard scoring drive, which burned 5:02 off the clock. Lulay's three- yard touchdown pass to Geroy Simon put the Eskimos on top, 33-16.

With 6:36 remaining, Ray connected with Jason Barnes for a 61-yard touchdown. Messam converted the two-point conversion with a sweep to the left corner of the endzone to make it a 33-24 contest.

In addition to the endzone, Messam also found extracurricular conflict on the run, as he scuffled with Lions defender Korey Banks. As the scrum fizzled, Messam threw one final blow, connecting with a B.C. player's helmet, resulting in his ejection. a After the melee calmed, the Eskimos forced a Lions punt and received the ball with 3:19 remaining. gearing for a final push.

They moved to the B.C. two-yard line, but Joseph's pass attempt on third down fell incomplete, allowing the Lions to secure the win.

Edmonton had grabbed its early lead on a pair of Duval field goals, while Paul McCallum added an early field goal for the Lions.

Game Notes

The newly refurbished BC Place stadium, a 55,000-seat venue, is replete with a retractable roof, an all-weather playing surface and the second-largest center-hung video screen in North America...B.C. head coach Wally Buono earned his 250th career victory.