The losing streak is officially over! After coming out on the losing end for three straight weeks, the B.C. Lions finally gave the fans their money’s worth by putting on an offensive spectacle, beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 46-20.
The day didn’t start off very well for the Lions however. TSN 1040’s Matt Baker broke the news that the roof would be closed on a beautiful summer day, which surprised a few people.
So help me out here, not a cloud in the sky, taxpayers fork over half a billion dollars for retractable roof and it's closed roof at BCPlace
— JAY JANOWER (@DOUBLEJGLOBALBC) October 3, 2015
Really disappointed the roof is closed @BCLions. It's a beautiful autumn afternoon. If not open today, pray tell when?
— Matthew Sekeres (@mattsekeres) October 3, 2015
We later learned that the team requested it in order to maximize the most amount of crowd noise as possible. Home field advantage is one thing, but the Lions should be thinking about fan experience also.
Luckily, the play on the field made up for the gaffe off of it.
In just his second career CFL start, 23-year-old QB Jonathon Jennings threw four touchdown passes and caught one himself (yes you read that correctly). He showed the poise of a veteran, leading the Leos to a critical victory in the CFL’s West Division standings.
Jennings picked his spots, playing it safe at times, and then making Saskatchewan’s iffy defence pay with long plays to almost every single one of his receivers. His biggest play was an 82-yard strike to Emmanuel Arceneaux on the first play of the 2nd half.
This should be the day Jonathon Jennings officially becomes the face of Lions, what a performance, he has riddled Sask in every which way.
— Satiar Shah (@SatiarShah) October 4, 2015
I think we may have a potential star in the making. Jonathon Jennings getting fans out of their seats.
— Shanel Pratap (@shanelpratap) October 3, 2015
Jennings finished with 364 yards passing, eclipsing the 250 yard mark by halftime. His ability to escape the pocket could and should be another reason why head coach Jeff Tedford should keep him as the starter, even when Travis Lulay (knee) is healthy enough to slot back in.
Lulay, unable to be the scrambling runner that he once was, has had to be cautious ever since undergoing shoulder surgery to repair the damage done from a injury to his throwing shoulder when he impacted defensive back on a 19-yard rushing touchdown two years ago.
After leaving late in the first quarter last week in Edmonton with a suspected injury, running back Andrew Harris returned, and rushed for 100 yards on 13 carries. He retook the CFL rushing yards lead over former Leo Jerome Messam, who added 42 yards on the ground for the Riders today.
Saskatchewan’s only points of the opening 30 minutes came on a safety and a Paul McCallum field goal. The Lions’ defence accounted for five sacks and two interceptions. Mic’hael Brooks was a force on the defensive line, accounting for two sacks and one highlight reel pick.
Brooks, a first-year starter in the CFL, appeared in 43 games over four years at East Carolina recording 52 solo tackles and 10 sacks. After a notable debut season with the Pirates, he earned Conference USA All-Freshman honours.
Tonight’s win by the Lions (5-8), completes the season sweep of their arch rivals in Saskatchewan. BC is now two points up on Winnipeg (4-10) for third in the division, who they will play next weekend.
Regardless, it’s nice to see that the entertainment factor surrounding this organization has returned.
Now the question is, will it stay for good?
I am officially interested in the BC Lions again
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) October 4, 2015
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