Season On The Line

Playing on home turf naturally adds to the comfort level of any team and given what the BC Lions have been through this season, playing at BC Place was what they needed.

This was a game they truly needed if they ever planned to advance and have a chance at moving forward to face the Stampeders the following weekend.

Lula has been the guiding force for Jennings who have been hoping for a game like this to come along for some time now and for him and the team it wasn’t a moment too soon.

Not just playing for the bragging rights to move on, but also for possible contracts for the .

upcoming season.

The game was testy from the opening kick-off to the final whistle, but regardless of the play,win or lose it was in the fate of the

Lions.

At first it was a rough start for QB Jennings first half that saw him deliver an interception to Chris Randle on the second play from scrimmage.

This allowed former Lion Andrew Harris to march in for a TD, but later in the first quarter, Jennings created a turnover on a fumble in the red zone.

The Bombers led 25-12 at the half before and heading to the dressing room, it was time for the Lions to begin to “Roar” for the last two quarters of the game.

Jennings got his first touchdown run getting them to within nine heading to the 4th quarter adding some motivation for Wally’s squad.

Jonathon Jennings managed a nine-yard TD run scamper with 1:06 remaining on the play clock that saw the place erupt.

The Lions trailed by 12 points with a mere 11:34 remaining in the 4th quarter and Jennings called the play.

He took the snap then narrowly avoided a sack, broke free from one tackle fighting his way around the right end driving for the goal-line.

In a desperation dive from two-yards out he leaped over the Bomber defender and dove over the line for the game winning 32-31 victory.

Jennings was well aware that it was a move of sheer desperation that would either advance the Lions or send them packing watching the Grey Cup.

Some describe it as one of the biggest playoff plays in the franchise history of the BC Lions, but that might vary depending on who you talk to.

The Lions travel to Alberta to face the Stampeders who are 15-2-1 this season to see who will advance from the Western Division Final against the 15-2-1

Jennings mentioned to the media “That’s the dream moment right there,” Jennings said of his late heroics and that’s something that you always dream of but you don’t always want to win like that but if it had to be a cool way to win, you wanted to do something pretty cool and that was a cool way to do it.”

The Lions’ QB finished with 329 passing yards as well as touchdown strikes to Bryan Burnham and Terrell Sinkfield Jr.

The play of the game that several were questioning was when the Bombers decided to attempt a kick from the 61 yards out.

The choice was going for 3rd and 4 with 36 seconds left, but rather than possibly take the sure gamble, they ended the season on a low, rather than moving on.

Medlock kicked a 61-yard go-ahead attempt, only to see the kick miss the uprights and as they say in tennis – Game – Set – Match!!

Lions boss Wally Buono stated that he simply wasn’t ready to lose faith in Jennings, even though he had a tough first half, but rather chose to stick with the game plan.

Buono told the media “I’ve yet to be around a quarterback that hasn’t thrown an interception and I’ve been around Doug Flutie, Dave Dickenson, Jeff Garcia and Buck Pierce.”

The Stampeders managed to take two of three regular season meetings, but the Lions pulled out an impressive 20-18 over Calgary in week one of the regular season.

He continued “Throwing an interception is part of the game. It’s how you react after you throw it. If he throws seven, I would pull him out of the game. He threw one. The defensive player made a great play. He jumped the throw.”

Strong D-play of Solomon Elimimian who led the way with six (6) tackles and although they didn’t force any turnovers of their own, they clamped down when they had to.

Bombers Matt Nichols had a solid outing with 390 yards passing and two touchdowns to Ryan Smith.

Lions receiver Manny Arceneaux was knocked out of the game by Bombers Safety Taylor Loffler with many call a cheap shot to the head.

The Lions took Arceneaux to the dressing room for observation and the normal concussion protocol as stipulated by the League.

Earlier in the week he was seen taking some reps with the first team and seemed to be showing no real signs of discomfort.

Doug McNeill was also able to get some reps in with full team drills, and the Lions will travel with 45 players, but McNeill will be the extra.

The league and Calgary Stampeders have been notified there could be a late change with McNeill being activated and Arceneaux going to the one-game injured list if he is unable to play.

Thanks to BC Lions Media for cover photo.