The B.C. Lions took down the Edmonton Elks for the third time this season, however there have been nonetheless some nagging issues amidst the post-game pleasure
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What it’s essential to learn about Friday’s massive win.
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FEAR THE BEARD
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Rick Campbell wasn’t positive if he appreciated the beard. Every time the B.C. Lions coach was requested in regards to the uncharacteristic silver development on his face this week, he made positive to level out it was his spouse’s thought, and he or she appreciated it.
“I simply wish to level out this beard is undefeated,” he proclaimed to hoots and hollers from his participant within the locker-room Friday night time, because the crew basked in its 37-29 win over the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium.
It may not be a playoff beard, nevertheless it’s a beard that received the Lions into the playoffs. The lunch-bucket win over Edmonton clinched a playoff spot for B.C., shifting them to 10-4 on the season, tied with the West Division-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Bombers had been on a bye week, and play twice earlier than heading into their closing bye, adopted by their closing two video games of the common season. The Lions play 4 straight earlier than ending with a Week 21 bye.
However all eyes can be on the Oct. 6 assembly between the 2 at B.C. Place, which might decide which crew will get the house discipline benefit that comes with the West crown.
“(Making the) playoffs is wonderful,” stated quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.
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ALL ABOUT THE W
It’s not about the way you win. It’s simply that you just win.
Friday’s recreation was no tour de drive. For a crew that states it’s all about taking part in the very best soccer, there have been lots of holes of their efficiency.
Adams is all the time the primary to place his hand up with the mea culpa, blaming himself for the first-quarter choose six — a 56-yard return by Edmonton’s Kai Grey — and a drive-killing interception by Darius Bratton within the second quarter, the place Adams threw behind meant receiver Justin McInnis. He additionally misinterpret two photographs on the finish zone on the finish of the primary half, not seeing two receivers come open, and forcing B.C. to accept a discipline objective.
“I gotta be higher for my crew shifting ahead. We began off sizzling and was simply type of up and down … extra down,” he stated.
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However Adams made performs when he wanted to. He knifed a first-down move to Alex Hollins by means of smothering protection within the fourth quarter when Edmonton had all of the momentum. On the finish of the sport, he took off on an 18-yard scramble that moved the sticks and flipped discipline place, setting the Lions up for a game-clinching discipline objective on their subsequent drive.
He completed with 265 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-26 passing.
“There have been some powerful moments,” stated Campbell. “(Edmonton) had been discovering their manner again into the sport and that third quarter, we had been getting their finest shot.”
CITY OF CHAMPIONS
They need to simply give Taquan Mizzell the important thing to town in Edmonton, since he appears to have unlocked their soccer crew.
The B.C. Lions operating again has two 100-yard video games this 12 months — and each have come at Commonwealth Stadium. He had 16 carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns Friday.
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“Smoke is that dude!” a teammate yelled as ‘Smoke’ was doing his post-game media.
Within the second half, after the Lions had run right into a brick wall with two straight two-and-outs, placing up a mixed -14 yards, Mizzell righted the ship with a 48-yard sprint by means of the left facet of the road of scrimmage. It helped make up for a first-half fumble that the Elks become a Dillon Mitchell landing — the primary offensive factors Edmonton had scored on B.C. this season.
The Lions are at the moment averaging the fewest yards and makes an attempt, although Friday’s 175-yard whole night time will increase their 78.2 yards per recreation common all the way in which as much as 85 ypg.
FOUR QUARTERS
Sluggish begins had led to losses in opposition to Hamilton and Saskatchewan early on, and almost value them in opposition to Ottawa earlier than an insane comeback within the closing 2:30 of final week’s recreation saved them.
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There was no sluggish begin Friday. The Lions had three first-quarter touchdowns, together with a seven-play, 69-yard opening drive capped off by a Justin McInnis landing catch. Adams hit on 12 of his first 15 makes an attempt, although two of them had been interceptions.
However he bounced again after the primary pick-six to seek out Jevon Cottoy on the sidelines, and the huge 6-foot-5, 230-pound receiver out-ran the defence, flashing a peace signal as he loped into the tip zone.
“We now have guys which are laborious on themselves — coaches and gamers,” stated Campbell. “I like having that man (Adams) on our crew as a result of he all the time bounces again and finds methods to make performs.”
OUTFLANKING FORD
Tre Ford had turn out to be a revelation for the Elks, coming in with a lofty common of 10 yards per rush, and main Edmonton to back-to-back house wins.
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However the Lions had been prepared for Teflon Tre. They rushed laborious, and quick, choosing vast stress to hem him in, drive him to take his eyes off downfield targets and scramble. And when he did run, they had been there in numbers to deliver him down — finally. He was sacked seven instances — twice by league chief Mathieu Betts.
Ford had 43 yards dashing, however 30 of these got here on two performs on the Elks’ closing drive, down two scores. He accomplished 20-of-27 passes 27 for 182 yards
“They did an excellent job game-planning, they had been ready for me,” Ford informed Postmedia after the sport.
Twitter.com/TheRealJJAdams
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