The B.C. Lions may have a home playoff date for the primary time in six years.
Keon Hatcher, James Butler and Antonio Pipkin all recorded touchdowns because the Lions earned a 31-14 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Friday.
“It was a complete team win,” mentioned Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who was 18 of 24 passing for 211 yards. “Our defence played lights out again.”
The Lions will end second within the CFL’s West Division — their file is 12-5 with one sport left — incomes the suitable to host their first playoff sport since 2016 and simply their second since 2012.
“We got it done,” mentioned Lions head coach Rick Campbell. “Edmonton has performed lots of robust individuals and I used to be pleased with our guys for making the performs once they wanted to make them to win the sport.
“It was an enormous sport for us to clinch home discipline. To get a home playoff sport within the West Division is an enormous deal for us, so we’re enthusiastic about that. I’m excited for our followers who’ve been nice all yr. I’m glad we get to play yet one more time in entrance of them.”
The horrific home drawback streak of losses for the Elks (4-14) will carry into the low season. Edmonton has now misplaced a CFL-record 17 consecutive video games at home relationship again to 2019.
“We made so many errors that we ended up shedding a three-score sport,” mentioned Elks head coach and basic supervisor Chris Jones. “So, I’d hope that that is not our greatest effort.”
The Elks couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to the sport as Mike Dubuisson recovered a Lions’ fumble on the opening kickoff. Rookie Canadian quarterback Tre Ford was then capable of join on a seven-yard landing go to Dillon Mitchell with the sport simply over two minutes previous.
The Lions matched that halfway by way of the primary on a subsequent lengthy drive, capped off by a seven-yard TD toss from Adams Jr. to Hatcher.
B.C. began the second quarter with a 35-yard Sean Whyte discipline purpose.
The Leos made it 17-7 with 5 1/2 minutes to play within the second on a three-yard dashing main from Butler.
An errant Ford go was returned 40 yards on an interception by Marcus Sayles, resulting in a one-yard keeper by backup QB Pipkin.
Edmonton obtained again into the sport early within the third quarter as Donovan Olumba picked off an Adams go and introduced it again 54 yards, finally resulting in a one-yard plunge by backup Kai Locksley.
The Lions responded with a punt single and 36- and 37-yard Whyte discipline targets coming off a pair of fumble recoveries to make it 31-14 to begin the fourth and held on from there.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 21, 2022