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McCallum boots winning FG as Lions take down Ticats

Nov 7, 2010 - 1:21 AM Hamilton, ON (Sports Network) - Paul McCallum kicked three fourth-quarter field goals, including a 25-yarder with under two minutes remaining, as the British Columbia Lions snuck into the postseason yet again with a 23-21 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Travis Lulay completed 30-of-41 passes for 424 yards with two touchdowns -- both of them going to Emmanuel Arceneaux -- and an interception for the Lions (8-10), who advanced to face Saskatchewan in next week's Division Semi-Finals after the Roughriders beat the Edmonton Eskimos, 31-23.

British Columbia has now made the playoffs every year since 1997.

"Our mindset all week was to come in and go hard," Arceneaux said.

Kevin Glenn threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns for the Tiger-Cats (9-9), who will host the Toronto Argonauts in the Eastern Semi-Final on Sunday, November 14. Hamilton was held off the scoreboard in the second half.

"I was very disappointed. I thought we didn't play well as a team," said Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille.

The Lions defense came up with a big play late in the third quarter as Anthony Reddick picked off a Glenn pass to derail a promising drive for Hamilton.

British Columbia converted the turnover into a McCallum 30-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter. McCallum, who missed an attempt in the opening stanza, later kicked a 13-yarder to make it a one-point affair.

The Lions got the ball back after a punt and Lulay led the team to the Hamilton 17-yard line, setting up McCallum's go-ahead field goal.

Glenn guided the Tiger-Cats into British Columbia territory before turning the ball over on downs.

Dave Stala opened the scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Glenn on Hamilton's first drive of the game.

The Lions responded early in the second quarter as Arceneaux came down with a 32-yard toss from Lulay in the end zone. Originally ruled an incomplete pass, the play was overturned following a challenge by BC head coach Wally Buono.

Hamilton quickly reclaimed the lead as Maurice Mann capped the next drive with a nifty grab in the end zone for a 26-yard TD, but Arceneaux evened things up on a 23-yard TD reception with just over a minute left in the first half.

An excellent return from Marcus Thigpen on the ensuing kickoff set up another Ticats touchdown. Glenn found Mann for an 12-yard score with 18 seconds remaining to give Hamilton a 21-14 lead at the break.

Game Notes

Arceneaux caught eight passes for a game-high 164 yards...Jamal Robertson had 92 yards on 11 receptions for British Columbia...Mann hauled in six passes for 115 yards...The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak to the Ticats and now have won 10 of the last 13 meetings.