VANCOUVER - Kevin Glenn ended the B.C. Lions' touchdown drought in fine fashion.
Glenn threw for 261 yards and two TDs as the Lions downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 26-9 on Saturday night at B.C. Place Stadium.
"It feels a lot better coming out of the game scoring touchdowns than not scoring touchdowns," said Glenn.
The Lions failed to score a touchdown in their 7-5 win a week earlier over Ottawa. And the game before that — a 20-16 loss to Saskatchewan on Aug. 24 — the Lions' only touchdown was on a punt return by Tim Brown.
Glenn, filling in for an injured Travis Lulay, delivered a solid, albeit unspectacular, effort as he completed 20 of 27 passes without tossing an interception. Glenn was playing his first game back as B.C.'s starter since Lulay dislocated his shoulder against Ottawa.
The Lions (7-4) posted their second consecutive win and took sole possession of fourth place in the West Division. The Bombers (6-6) were relegated to last place following their third straight loss.
The Lions evened their home record at 3-3 in front of 27,754 fans at B.C. Place. It was the Lions' first game back home since club president Dennis Skulsky's guaranteed win was spoiled in last month's loss to Saskatchewan, resulting in fans getting free tickets to another game.
Despite the Lions using Jermarcus Hardrick, their fifth different starter at left offensive guard this season, Glenn went 14-of-15 in the first half and was only sacked twice. The Lions finished with 398 yards in net offence while never trailing and only being tied once, 3-3, in the early going.
"The guys up front, I'm really impressed," said Glenn. "They were challenged at the beginning of the week, and they took the challenge and they pursued it, and they came up on top."
Andrew Harris and Emmanuel Arceneaux caught Glenn's touchdown passes while Paul McCallum had three field goals and a convert. B.C.'s remaining points came off a safety conceded by Winnipeg and a punt single as the hosts led from start to finish, avenging a home loss to the Bombers in July.
Harris also had a strong night on the ground, rushing for 101 yards thanks to a late surge. He had produced only 55 yards in his previous two games combined.
The Lions produced 163 rushing yards, which fell short of the 250-yard goal that Harris set for his squad during the week. But the Winnipeg native felt his public airing of the intention made a difference, because, he claimed, it resulted in steady trash talk from the Bombers.
The Blue Bombers could only manage three field goals from rookie Lirim Hajrullahu. They lost starting quarterback Drew Willy to an undisclosed injury late in the first half.
"At the end of the day, it's a big loss, because he's our leader," said Bombers offensive lineman Glenn January.
Willy was replaced by rarely used Brian Brohm, who struggled amidst constant pressure from the B.C. defence and completed just six of 13 passes for 33 yards. January said the Bombers committed too many little mistakes that cost them.
"B.C.'s a very good team," he said. "They're a team that you don't want to play from behind on. Defensively, they're like a pack of rabid dogs when they've got the lead on you. We had the good start and we should have continued that the whole game."
The Lions entered the game having failed to score a touchdown in their previous two contests as well as an Aug. 25 loss to the Blue Bombers. This marks the first time in 60 years, since club's inaugural 1954 season, that B.C. has not scored a touchdown in three games during a season.
"The guys up front, I'm really impressed," said Glenn. "They were challenged at the beginning of the week, and they took the challenge and they pursued it, and they came up on top. They did a hell of a job blocking (on) the pass and runs."
Winnipeg had only allowed a total of four first-quarter points in its previous seven games combined and had never trailed after the opening 15 minutes. The Blue Bombers remained true to form as the first quarter ended with the clubs tied 3-3.
Just when it looked like they would have to continue a trend of settling for field goals, the Lions caught a break with an offside call on Winnipeg. Three plays later, Glenn connected on a four-yard touchdown with a wide-open Harris, who walked leisurely into the end zone untouched with only 45 seconds left before halftime. It was B.C.'s first offensive touchdown since an Aug. 17 win in Toronto, leading to a 15-3 half-time lead.
The Bombers lost Willy as he was injured while being sacked by Alex Bazzie. B.C. defensive lineman Khreem Smith also got his arms on Willy as he helped bring him down.
Notes: B.C. lost receiver Courtney Taylor to a foot injury in the first half. He said it resulted after a Winnipeg defender stepped on him one play before he went out. …The Lions posted their 502nd franchise win and put their all-time record above .500 for the first time ever. … Willy's injury means that starting QBs from all five West Division teams have been injured this season. Calgary's Bo Levi Mitchell was hurt earlier Saturday. … Lions general manager Wally Buono made the opening coin toss in recognition of his entry into the CFL Hall of Fame later this year. ... Jason Arakgi recorded his 150th career special-teams tackle on B.C.'s first punt. He became the 12th CFLer to reach the milestone. ... Arceneaux stood out after he was questionable earlier in the week due to a finger injury suffered in practice.
