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CFL B.C. Lions

Lions and Ti-Cats tangle Saturday night presented by SUBWAY® Restaurants

October 20, 2006 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
B.C. Lions News Release


Date: Saturday, October 21, 2006 Place: BC Place Stadium Game Sponsor: SUBWAY® Restaurants Kick-off: 7:00 pm (Gates open at 6:00 pm) Television: TSN (local blackout in effect) Radio: TEAM 1040 (Rick Ball, Giulio Caravatta) - Fans can catch the Lions pre-game show starting at 5:00 pm. Giveaway: First 2,000 women through the gates receive a complimentary pink BC Lions scarf. In addition, four $1,000 Coquitlam Centre shopping sprees are to be given away on game night. Halftime: The annual Salute to Amateur Football Celebration presented by SUBWAY® Restaurants Merchandise: 2006-07 Felions Calendar (available at Section 10 Group Sales Table). Discounts on ladies apparel will be in effect at all merchandise kiosks in BC Place Stadium.

BC Lions Street Party Powered by Pepsi and presented by 99.3 The Fox - featuring performances by Marianas Trench, YUCA and the Felions Dance Team kicks off at 5:00 pm with Leo the Lion, face painting, inflatable games, poster making, great food, Lions merchandise and much more. Saturday night is the Bannerfest & Cheerfest from 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm at the Street Party, with teams performing original cheers and presenting handmade banners for a chance to win a $500 first prize and $250 second prize in both categories.

The annual Tim Hortons Punt, Pass & Kick finals kick off at 2:00 pm and wrap up at 4:00 pm at BC Place Stadium. Following the game, the annual Scouts Sleepover will take place at field level.

Game Overview

The BC Lions (11-5) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-13) in the first of back-to-back home games versus East Division clubs to finish out the Lions 2006 regular season. The Leos enter the game having dropped a road tilt last Sunday to the Calgary Stampeders - a game that ended 32-25 and was described by head coach Wally Buono as having "too many passengers." Hamilton, meanwhile, finishes off another disappointing year for a club currently stationed in "next year land." The Lions topped the Tabbies 28-8 in their last meeting (Sept 30th) and hold a 10-3 advantage in wins since 2000.

Two weeks after clinching top spot in the West, the Lions know that they will have to elevate their play if they hope to enter the playoffs on a roll. Whether or not the Ti-Cats and Blue Bombers provide the type of motivation needed is a moot point with Wally Buono as the 200-win head coach expects nothing less than a committed effort for 60 minutes from all 42 players on the game roster.

Hamilton, on the other hand, looks like a squad that is using the remaining games on its schedule as a 2007 training camp primer with new faces in key positions. GM Marcel Desjardins knows that his club has a major hill to climb if they hope to compete in the East next season and a list of key decisions is growing with everything from the status of head coach Ron Lancaster to quarterback Jason Maas on the table. One bright spot is the play of running back Jesse Lumsden who looks to be a solid foundation on which the Ti-Cats can build. On a down note, slot back Terry Vaughn will see his 11-year streak of 1000-yard receiving seasons come to an end tonight.

For the Lions the future is here and now and anything short of a championship would be a major disappointment for all involved. On offence, quarterback Buck Pierce worked 2-plus quarters in Calgary before banging his throwing arm on a helmet in the third quarter. Not wanting to take any chances with Pierce, Buono parked his young QB on the bench in favour of back-up Jarious Jackson who very nearly led his team to a comeback in the game's waning moments. Pierce will likely get the start versus Hamilton but with Dave Dickenson enjoying concussion symptom-free days don't be surprised if the veteran sees some key minutes on Saturday night.

For the Lions the future is here and now and anything short of a championship would be a major disappointment for all involved. On offence, quarterback Buck Pierce worked 2-plus quarters in Calgary before banging his throwing arm on a helmet in the third quarter. Not wanting to take any chances with Pierce, Buono parked his young QB on the bench in favour of back-up Jarious Jackson who very nearly led his team to a comeback in the game's waning moments. Pierce will likely get the start versus Hamilton but with Dave Dickenson enjoying concussion symptom-free days don't be surprised if the veteran sees some key minutes on Saturday night.

Up front, the offensive line will likely be rejoined by Rob Murphy as he comes off surgery to his left wrist last weekend to remove some floating cartilage. Sherko Haji-Rasouli showed he's one of the top back-up linemen in the CFL filling in last week at left tackle for Murphy. The Miami-grad also stepped in for Bobby Singh at right guard earlier in the year. The Lions surrendered just two sacks versus Calgary last Sunday. Hamilton has recorded 35 sacks on the year and is led by DL Tim Cheatwood with six.

Geroy Simon was limited to five receptions and 62 yards in Calgary and will look to bounce back with a big night versus a Ti-Cat defence that has given up 4498 passing yards through 16 games (7th). Last time the two teams clashed (Sept. 30th), Simon rung up six receptions for 132 yards and a TD. Over the past 11 games, Simon has been held under 100 receiving yards only three times. With 326 yards needed to hit 2,000 on the season he'll need some big outings to finish the year. Simon is just 15 yards from breaking his own Lions season record of 1750 receiving yards he set in 2004.

Other notes on offence: Running back Joe Smith rushed for 41 yards last week and added another 55 yards through the air. While Smith hasn't hit the 100-yard mark in rushing since debuting in Calgary in July, he has contributed 1124 combined yards from scrimmage which is second to Geroy Simon (1741). Throwing out his one-yard performance as a back up in Week 1, Smith is averaging 102 yards of offence per game out of the backfield. Jason Clermont is averaging 11.4 yards per catch in 2006 and with undoubtedly be looked to for key receptions in the CFL's second season. Rookie Kendrick Jones enjoyed his best game as a Lion last week hauling in 2 catches for 84 yards including a 42-yard TD strike from Jarious Jackson. The Illinois-grad hauled also blocked a punt to help bring the Lions within a touchdown last week.

The Lions defence performed well in Calgary despite being on the field for more than half of the game (31:03). For the second time in as many outings Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds was held under 100 yards rushing, but the Stamps did manage to roll-up 379 yards of total offence. The Lions defence will look to get back on track versus the Ti-Cats second-year pivot Kevin Eakin. The ‘D" currently heads up the CFL sack charts with 53 after Carl Kidd and Otis Floyd picked up one each in Calgary. Brent Johnson leads the CFL with 15. As a unit, the Lions have given up the fewest yards to date (4892), the second fewest points (308), the second fewest TD's (31) and have scored an astounding 42 points (five interceptions for TD's, two fumble returns for TD's).

Other notes on defence: Javier Glatt leads the Lions with 70 tackles and has added four picks and six sacks. Korey Banks notched his sixth interception of the year last week and trails the league leader Barron Miles by three. Tyrone Williams has been dominant in the CFL's second half and has now rung-up 41 tackles trailing only Winnipeg's Doug Brown (47) among interior lineman. Aaron Hunt who has nine sacks (tied for 5th), 14 defensive tackles, four TFL and two PKD should garner consideration as the West Division's Most Outstanding Rookie. As a team, the Lions have forced 51 turnovers and lead the league with a +26 turnover ratio - Hamilton is a league worst in the category at -22. Of note, Hamilton and Edmonton are the bottom two teams in the category and both will miss the playoffs.

On special teams veteran Paul McCallum had a tough day in Calgary last week, missing two of three field goal attempts. With the Lions' next three games including the Scotiabank West Championship under the dome, he should have every opportunity to get back in the groove. McCallum still owns an 84.6% success rate between the uprights and sits third in points with 150.

The Lions need only take a look back at last year to understand the value in finishing strong. A Hamilton club with plenty of players on the bubble should provide plenty of prickly opposition for a Lions team itching to show all comers that they'll likely roar long into November.

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Canadian Football League Stories from October 20, 2006


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