Jennings’ late interception costs Lions in loss to Eskimos

EDMONTON (NEWS 1130) – BC Quarterback Jonathon Jennings interception with less than three minutes left cost the Lions dearly in a 27-23 loss to the Eskimos.

Down by one, the Lions (8-4) got the ball on their own 35 with less than three minutes left. On the first play of the drive, Deon Lacey stepped in and intercepted Jennings pass for Manny Arceneaux.

The Edmonton (6-7) offence was able to wind the clock down before kicker Shawn Whyte kicked his second field goal of the game with 36 seconds left, putting them up four.

BC had one last chance, but Jennings was picked off again on a hail mary in the end zone on the final play of the game, giving Edmonton the victory.

Jennings finished the game with 278 yards and a pair of TD’s.

Edmonton running back Shakir Bell ran for 108 yards and a score, while QB Mike Reilly threw for 300 yards and a TD.

The Lions had the first chance to put some points on the board on their second drive of the game. Kicker Richie Leone missed a 51 yard field goal and Edmonton’s Kenzel Doe returned it out of the end zone.

Reilly couldn’t move the offence on the next drive going two and out, and the Lions took advantage.

On the next drive, Jennings hit Bryan Burnham for 19 yards, he then found Arceneaux in the end zone for a 26 yard score. BC was unable to convert on the ensuing two point attempt, leaving BC up six after the first quarter.

BC kept rolling in to start the second. On the first play from scrimmage of the quarter, Jennings and Arceneaux connected on a 68 yard score. The Lions were able to convert for two and went up 14-0.

After being shutdown on their first three drive. The Eskimos changed it up and began to rush the ball more on their fourth. Bell rushed for 27 yards, setting up a Reilly sneak from the one and cutting the Lions lead in half.

Edmonton got the ball back and Reilly drove the Eskimos the BC 32 before being intercepted by Tony Washington, giving the Lions their second takeaway in the last five games.

Jennings couldn’t get the offence moving, and BC punted it away with less than three minutes left in the second.

Reilly hit Adarius Bowman for 58 yards down to the Lions sideline, before Bell rushed it in from the three.

Leone added a single before the break giving BC a 15-14 lead.

Edmonton came out strong in the second half. Reilly led the Eskimos on an 11 play 75 yard drive, capped off with a 22 yard TD pass to Bowman.

The Lions got five points back before the end of the third. They added a safety when Adam Bighill sacked Reilly in the end zone, and Leone kicked a field goal, putting the Lions down 21-20 after three.

BC looked poised to add a TD early in the fourth. Jennings drove the offence down to the Edmonton five, but on second and goal, he was sacked by Odell Willis, and the Lions had to settle for another Leone field goal and a two point lead.

Whyte kicked his first field goal of the game on the Eskimos next possession, giving Edmonton the 24-23 lead.

The Lions gave the ball back on the next possession, before Whyte added another three putting the Eskimos up four.