THE CANADIAN PRESS
Still Roarin': Lions keep playoff hopes alive with win
Posted: October 24,2015 01:00AM
Updated: October 24,2015 01:08AM
CFL.ca Staff
VANCOUVER – Jonathon Jennings passed for 3 touchdowns and Andrew Harris racked up second-half yards as the BC Lions kept pace in the West Division playoff race with 40-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night at BC Place.
Jennings finished 23 of 33 for 247 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. Harris had 119 yards and 2 touchdwons on the ground on 16 carries.
With the win, the Lions keep up in the West Division race as they chase that third and final playoff spot. Both Winnipeg and Montreal via the crossover are battling to earn the post. A dominant Montreal win over Toronto earlier in the evening put even more pressure on the Leos to deliver in this one.
Jeff Mathews fell to 2-2 as the Tiger-Cats starter, finishing 21 of 31 for 261 and a pair TDs and interceptions each.
It didn’t take Mathews long to pick up where the Ticats left off after two consecutive wins. On the second play from scrimmage, Mathews through a strike to Luke Tasker on a quick slant and the former Cornell receiver did the rest. The third-year ‘Cats slotback split a pair of Lions defenders and raced 64 yards for the touchdown and an early Hamilton lead. Kicker Justin Medlock would miss the extra point, giving a 6-point lead to the Tiger-Cats.
Hamilton conceded the safety to try and flip the field position back in their favour but returner Chris Rainey quickly squashed those plans. The former Montreal Alouettes running back, who has been a weapon in the return game, fielded the short kickoff and took it 67-yards into Hamilton territory.
One play later, Jennings connected with WR Shawn Gore for a 20-yard touchdown and their first lead of the game, 9-6.
Doing their part, the BC defence made their mark shortly thereafter, forcing Luke Tasker to put the ball on the carpet and recovering inside the Hamilton 9-yard line.
Once again, Jennings struck quick, finding WR Emmanuel Arceneaux near the front of the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Antoher quick stop by the BC defence, another major on the board for the Leos as the second quarter got under way. Jennings put up a pass down the middle of the field and on the other end was Brian Burnham with the 47-yard reception. Jennings then found Rainey underneath with space to run; he juked around DB Rico Murray and dove towards the pylon.
The 25-yard Rainey touchdown gave BC a comfortable 23-6 lead with 12:14 left in the first half.
That said, leads have been the furthest thing from comfortable for the Lions who have surrendered fourth quarter leads a few times over the last month of play.
The Lions earned a single before the half closed and took a 24-6 lead into the locker room.
Jennings came out firing again after the half, completing big gains to Gore, SB Austin Collie and RB Andrew Harris as they worked their way into Ticats territory. A Leone field goal increased the lead to 21.
The teams traded turnovers but the Ticats made the most of an opportunity given to them by a Brandon Stewart interception. Mathews engineered an impressive drive with completions to Junior Collins and Terrell Sinkfield Jr. before connecting with Andy Fantuz for his second major of the game, cutting the lead to 27-13.
Looking to work the clock and eliminate the naysayers who have questioned their ability to hang on to leads, the Lions leaned on their horse. Harris powered his way to three first downs on the ground and drew a pass interference while leaking out of the backfield.
He salted away the win with a 15-yard touchdown run on a counter play through the teeth of the Ticats defence. A missed extra point put a 33-13 score on the board with 3:53 remaining.
Just as important as the major was the clock management by Jennings, Harris and the Leos. The drive lasted 10 plays, 92 yards and Harris racked up 54 yards on the ground on 6 carries.
Any attempt of a Tiger-Cats comeback expired on the very next play from scrimmage when veteran DB Ryan Phillips jumped a Mathews pass to force another turnover.
The interception helped put Harris over 100 yards in his 100th career game as he added one more major before the final whistle sounded.
The Lions head out on the road next week looking to keep the playoff hopes alive when they visit Toronto while the Tiger-Cats close out the season with a home-and-home with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
VANCOUVER – Jonathon Jennings passed for 3 touchdowns and Andrew Harris racked up second-half yards as the BC Lions kept pace in the West Division playoff race with 40-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night at BC Place.
Jennings finished 23 of 33 for 247 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. Harris had 119 yards and 2 touchdwons on the ground on 16 carries.
With the win, the Lions keep up in the West Division race as they chase that third and final playoff spot. Both Winnipeg and Montreal via the crossover are battling to earn the post. A dominant Montreal win over Toronto earlier in the evening put even more pressure on the Leos to deliver in this one.
Jeff Mathews fell to 2-2 as the Tiger-Cats starter, finishing 21 of 31 for 261 and a pair TDs and interceptions each.
It didn’t take Mathews long to pick up where the Ticats left off after two consecutive wins. On the second play from scrimmage, Mathews through a strike to Luke Tasker on a quick slant and the former Cornell receiver did the rest. The third-year ‘Cats slotback split a pair of Lions defenders and raced 64 yards for the touchdown and an early Hamilton lead. Kicker Justin Medlock would miss the extra point, giving a 6-point lead to the Tiger-Cats.
Hamilton conceded the safety to try and flip the field position back in their favour but returner Chris Rainey quickly squashed those plans. The former Montreal Alouettes running back, who has been a weapon in the return game, fielded the short kickoff and took it 67-yards into Hamilton territory.
One play later, Jennings connected with WR Shawn Gore for a 20-yard touchdown and their first lead of the game, 9-6.
Doing their part, the BC defence made their mark shortly thereafter, forcing Luke Tasker to put the ball on the carpet and recovering inside the Hamilton 9-yard line.
Once again, Jennings struck quick, finding WR Emmanuel Arceneaux near the front of the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Antoher quick stop by the BC defence, another major on the board for the Leos as the second quarter got under way. Jennings put up a pass down the middle of the field and on the other end was Brian Burnham with the 47-yard reception. Jennings then found Rainey underneath with space to run; he juked around DB Rico Murray and dove towards the pylon.
The 25-yard Rainey touchdown gave BC a comfortable 23-6 lead with 12:14 left in the first half.
That said, leads have been the furthest thing from comfortable for the Lions who have surrendered fourth quarter leads a few times over the last month of play.
The Lions earned a single before the half closed and took a 24-6 lead into the locker room.
Jennings came out firing again after the half, completing big gains to Gore, SB Austin Collie and RB Andrew Harris as they worked their way into Ticats territory. A Leone field goal increased the lead to 21.
The teams traded turnovers but the Ticats made the most of an opportunity given to them by a Brandon Stewart interception. Mathews engineered an impressive drive with completions to Junior Collins and Terrell Sinkfield Jr. before connecting with Andy Fantuz for his second major of the game, cutting the lead to 27-13.
| Jennings slings Lions to critical win |
|---|
 Jonathon Jennings spread the ball around and stretch the field on an often stingy Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence, finishing 23 of 33 for 247 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT ... View Full Game Stats. |
Looking to work the clock and eliminate the naysayers who have questioned their ability to hang on to leads, the Lions leaned on their horse. Harris powered his way to three first downs on the ground and drew a pass interference while leaking out of the backfield.
He salted away the win with a 15-yard touchdown run on a counter play through the teeth of the Ticats defence. A missed extra point put a 33-13 score on the board with 3:53 remaining.
Just as important as the major was the clock management by Jennings, Harris and the Leos. The drive lasted 10 plays, 92 yards and Harris racked up 54 yards on the ground on 6 carries.
Any attempt of a Tiger-Cats comeback expired on the very next play from scrimmage when veteran DB Ryan Phillips jumped a Mathews pass to force another turnover.
The interception helped put Harris over 100 yards in his 100th career game as he added one more major before the final whistle sounded.
The Lions head out on the road next week looking to keep the playoff hopes alive when they visit Toronto while the Tiger-Cats close out the season with a home-and-home with the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
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