The first half looked like a rout of epic proportions! QB Dave Dickenson making his second start of the year hobbled his way down the field in the first half leading the BC Lions to an early and impressive 24-3 lead at the half time gun. Dickenson looked completely in control of the flow of the game, with pinpoint passing, mastery of the playbook and judicious use of a running game to keep the Eskimos off their game for most of the first 30 minutes.
It was so dominating the 35,367 fans gathered forgot that their Eskimos were Grey Cup champions at times and sent boos raining down on the field as the teams moved through the first two quarters. The boos would dwindle off as Jason Maas slowly got his team back on track as the half would down, coming back from a 22-3 deficit to go into the dressing room down by 8 points at 25-17. Dickenson’s half time stats were an impressive 347 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, Geroy Simon a favourite target of Dickenson on Saturday accounted for two Lion TD’s on his own.
But as they say, one half of football does not a game make. Dickenson would play only one set of downs in the third quarter, wrapping things up at 18 passes for 26, before giving way to Casey Printers early in the third quarter. And while Printers had equal success moving the ball, the Eskimos also began to turn things around as the third quarter marched on.
Jason Maas had a spectacular output on the stats board passing for a career record 497 yards, throwing for three Touchdowns. In the end the downfall of the Eskimos was the defensive backfield at the start of the game, unable to deal with Dickenson and his ability to find the open receiver the Esks gave up too much ground in the first 30 minutes.
The comeback was impressive and the finish was a typical CFL barn burner type of thing, but in the end on this night it appeared the better prepared team had won. The good news for the Lions was the ability of Dickenson to rapidly put points on the board and look in control, the bad news of course was his early exit once again, due to swelling on his knee which gives every appearance of being nowhere near ready for full time football. Fortunately in Printers they seem to have a more than adequate relief quarterback, he quickly took charge of the team and they didn’t seem to miss too much of a beat as they progressed through the third and fourth quarters. The secondary while still burned at times in the game by Maas, did not look as overly outmatched in this game as they did a week ago against Hamilton. Although once again the corner backs were in for a long night, most of it in the second half.
For Tom Higgins and the Eskies it was five and half consecutive quarters of bad football finally turned around as the Eskimos finally managed to get their offence back into the groove. And while many were impressed with Maas’ passing numbers the coach was not counting himself among them. Wins and losses are what count in his books, and on this night the Eskimos were once again in the deficit column, this time to the tune of 41-34.
Edmonton now moves on to Ottawa to play the red hot Renegades on Friday night, the Lions head for Regina and a match up with the winless Riders on Friday as well. Neither of the games will be an easy one, as Ottawa has given indications that they are a major player this year, Saskatchewan smarting from two losses and with a bye week under their belt will be rested and retooled for the game, looking to show the hometown fans that they can get their season back on track. Only week three and both match ups will prove to be pivotal games for all four teams, you couldn’t draw the schedule up any better.
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