BC Lions Drop Second Straight 26-16
Saturday, July 05, 2008 03:41 AM
by John Goodwin
The BC Lions left home field fully defanged last night as they kicked off their 08 home season with a stinker and an 0-2 record as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take it to their hosts in Vancouver moving themselves to 2-0.
It was a tail of two personalities as the Leos looked to be on a mission to start the game but halfway through the 3rd quarter they began to fold.
BC ended the first quarter fully in the thick of a see saw battle that saw their opponents end the frame with a 3-1 lead in a hard fought affair.
Things began to look testy for the visitors as their first string QB was forced from the game with a pulled hamstring. Enter second stringer Steven Jyles.
But as good as the Lions entire defense played to that point, the offense continued to struggle with only fleeting moments of brilliance.
The BC defensive line had come to play, and along with ends Brent Johnson and Cameron Wake were back into their games beating Roughrider pass protection and applying unrelenting pressure on their pivots. If they weren’t getting to the Roughrider QB’s for sacks they were causing forced plays and rushed passes.
The first half ended 14-10 Lions with really nobody showing any signs of domination. Joe Smith went to the break with a two touchdown performance. On the downside all Roughrider points in the half came off of BC turnovers.
The Leos must have been rubbing their hands together to start the third frame as they saw the Roughrider third string QB run onto the field.
This guy would be mauled like a puppy in a bear cage.......Ahhhh, but not so fast.
That little surge of confidence proved to be pre-mature and the Sask. game changed as they went to the ground to support their third stringer.
The Riders began putting together some drives with 6-8 yds on first down, and short yardage on second to move the chains with some consistency. The grinding style of Roughrider football seemed to wear the Leos down as they appeared to wilt and lose interest.
Mental mistakes and penalties took over the Lion’s game and began to cost them first downs, caused some turnovers and they were no longer matching the Roughrider intensity as they were beginning to drown.
While BC started the final quarter up 16-13 they were not the same team, and at one point couldn’t move the sticks as they went 2 and out in 5 consecutive series. Jackson was ineffective in the final two frames, began to go away from any semblance of a game plan and was finally, mercifully replaced by Buck Pierce.
A Wes Cates TD in the final frame spelled lights out yet again for the Leos.
Because of the way they lost their first two games, those who have followed the team with consistency know Wally’s charges may well have tested his patience one too many times.
Wally Buono has shown less tolerance for under performers in the last two seasons and this team may just have more than one new name on locker doors before the next contest at home. It wouldn’t surprise me if any changes would include at least one notable player.
I thought Jarious Jackson was better than his record showed this night as several catchable balls were dropped at key times during important drives, especially late in the game
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
