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Heere's Johnny!!! BC Lions visit the Eskimos

By 250 News

-by John Goodwin


Take us to your happy place....

Two points to kick off today’s offering, as my time as a soothsayer may well be numbered......

First the Saskatchewan Roughriders ( my pick to challenge BC for the West at season’s end) experienced a collective cranial collapse this past week followed by a stoning meted out by the Calgary Stampeders, who have now wrapped up third spot in the conference.

Saskatchewan had the Stamps on the ropes 21-3, than gave up 26 straight points to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory and the CFL playoff picture is beginning to come into focus.

Now the only way the Roughriders can get into the playoffs is by crossing over to the East and securing their # 3 spot.

Secondly, a fluid story line that could have been authored by Bagdad Bob.

Up until he was hurt, I’d picked Dave Dickenson to be the best bet for the CFL Player Of The Year Award, but am hearing now there is a groundswell of support for Toronto QB Damon Allen for that distinction. It’s a titillating prospect considering his season’s performance at age 40 plus, and frankly Dickenson would now seem to have missed just too much football to be a serious contender.

Furthermore, and to make matters worse for Mighty Dave is the “de je vu all over again” syndrom revisited upon the team’s quarter-backing tandem of he and Casey Printers. Since Casey entered the fray in relief for the BC starter he is playing like he’s born again, having not only stopped the hemorrhaging, he’s also lit up the scoreboard and his team in spectacular fashion. One need only to watch and listen to the players (during interviews) who are almost giddy over his return to last season’s form and now feeling pretty juiced about their ever improving prospects.

I’m not coaching b-u-t if Printers continues down this road, would it be logical to start a Dave Dickenson and break the magical spell currently being enjoyed by Casey and the boys??

Ya gotta dance with the one that brung ya.

A decision by coach Buono will not have to be made around the issue going into this game as Dickenson isn’t ready to play and Printers will be handed the ball .

The Lions will enter Commonwealth Stadium a notably healthier unit than has been dawning the black and orange over the past several games. The number of sidelined and walking wounded have been numerous leaving coaching with little option to not only play the kids, but apply the “there’s no bones sticking out so get in there” rule, thereby exposing some people to situations that weren’t always in their best interests, let alone those of the team.

The highly anticipated return of safety Mark Washington to the BC backfield will, if he is ready to play, compliment the recent Whally Buono player acquisitions, and the team’s new attitude born out of the success they’ve enjoyed over the last two games....yes it all began with their play in the loss to the Alouettes.

This Eskimo team had best set aside that ill advised smug swagger they’ve adopted as a colorful piece of their persona, and be ready for a very fired up BC Lions, all wearing work boots, carrying lunch buckets and hoping to rain hell down on them....or perhaps Napoleon’s advice may just have application here when he said “never stop an enemy when he’s making a mistake”.

Lion fans have good reason for cautious optimism going into this one.

Be aware of wonder.......

Some numbers:

                                                                                               Lions                                                                      Eskimos

Passing:                                               5338 yds./69.4%/32 TD’s/ Rank #1                                  5055/67.3%/25TD’s/Rank#4

Offensive Rank 10 categories:                                        #2                                                                                #7


Points Scored:                                                                 491                                                                               360

Total Offense:                                                               6449/#2                                                                         5835/#6

First Downs Allowed:                                                      #1                                                                                   #2

Passing:                                                                            #2                                                                                   #3

Intercepts for:                                                                  23/#2                                                                               14/#9

Penalties:                                                                     152/#2                                                                              187/#8

QB sacks allowed:                                                      68/#9                                                                                  37/#6

Sacks by defense:                                                       39/#5                                                                                  45/#1


Game time 6:00p.m. pacific,  TSN

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