Final
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.
- BC: 17
EDMONTON: 33
Final
Jul 16 9:55 PM - Brt Columbia Touchdown - Travis Lulay pass to Akeem Foster for 30 yards.
Lions 16, Elks 33 4th - 1:16Jul 16 9:45 PM - BC: 10
EDMONTON: 30
End of 3rd
Jul 16 9:13 PM - Edmonton Touchdown - Daniel Porter up the middle for 5 yards.
Lions 10, Elks 29 3rd - 0:36Jul 16 9:11 PM - BC: 10
EDMONTON: 22
Halftime
Jul 16 8:28 PM - Brt Columbia Touchdown - Travis Lulay pass to Geroy Simon for 25 yards.
Lions 9, Elks 21 2nd - 1:34Jul 16 8:20 PM - Edmonton Touchdown - Ricky Ray pass to Daniel Porter for 5 yards.
Lions 3, Elks 20 2nd - 2:30Jul 16 8:13 PM - BC: 0
EDMONTON: 11
End of 1st
Jul 16 7:42 PM - Edmonton Touchdown - Ricky Ray pass to Fred Stamps for 39 yards.
Lions 0, Elks 9 1st - 1:27Jul 16 7:37 PM - BC: 0
EDMONTON: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Jul 16 7:10 PM
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