B.C. Lions Take Top Spot in Rout of Reeling Roughriders

Going into Sunday, there might have been some debate on which team deserves to be at the head of the class at this point of the season in the Canadian Football League. Now there’s no doubt: the B.C. Lions scored 17 points in the second half on their way to a 24-5 rout of the skidding Saskatchewan Roughriders.

With the victory, the defending Grey Cup champions now stand at 5-2 and also lead the league with fewest points allowed (124); this was the third straight game in which B.C.’s defence had given up fewer than 10 points. The Riders have now lost four in a row and are now tied for third in the Western division at 3-4.

Quarterback Travis Lulay completed 22 of 30 pass attempts for 257 yards, including touchdowns on the ground and in the air — to Arland Bruce III and Ernest Jackson — and no turnovers. Lulay has now thrown a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive games, equalling Khari Jones for fourth all-time. Jones saw the record-tying toss from the visitors’ sideline: he is Saskatchewan’s offensive coordinator.

That 55-yard TD play to Bruce in the third quarter was the turning point in the game. The two teams fought a defensive battle in the first half, with a 36-yard field goal by Riders placekicker Sandro DeAngelis the only points until Lulay ran the ball in from five yards out in the final minute of the first half to help put the Lions ahead 7-3.

Defence came up big for B.C. once again as rookie safety Cauchy Muamba caught the first two interceptions of his pro career, while veteran Donte Marsh added another. This was also the third straight game in which the defence has not given up a touchdown. There had been some speculation that the Lions’ defence would miss the presence of tackle Khalif Mitchell, who is serving a two-game suspension for wrenching the arm of Edmonton Eskimos offensive lineman Simeon Rottier, but those concerns have pretty much disappeared.

Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant had a miserable 30th birthday, throwing three interceptions with his mother looking on from the stands at B.C. Place. Durant finished 18-for-27 for 170 yards.

Now the Riders and head coach Corey Chamblin have to figure out where it’s all gone wrong before next Saturday, when they host the team they’re now tied with, the Calgary Stampeders. The Lions, meanwhile, travel to Winnipeg on Friday to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who may have found the spark they needed in quarterback Joey Elliot. For now, B.C. should be happy that they appear to be firing on all cylinders.