BC survives last scare to beat Edmonton

Aug 19, 2006, 6:30 GMT

Vancouver, BC - Buck Pierce threw for 274 yards and a touchdown as British Columbia survived to beat Edmonton, 30-28, for their fifth-straight victory.

Trailing by 12 in the fourth quarter, Edmonton staged a late rally to get back in the game. With 5:45 left to play, Eskimos' quarterback Ricky Ray hooked up with Jason Tucker for a 16-yard touchdown reception to bring the Eskimos within five. Then, after a three-and-out from BC, Edmonton tacked on three more points courtesy of 38-yard field goal by Sean Fleming.

The Eskimos defense came up big once again and Edmonton got the ball back with just over a minute left on their own 26 yard line. Faced with a third and 10, Ray hit Tucker with a 38-yard strike that put the Eskimos in position for the game-winning field goal. However, as time expired, holder Jason Johnson fumbled the snap and Fleming didn't get an opportunity to win the game for Edmonton.

Ray completed 24-of-38 passes for 312 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns.

Ignited by a Edward Hervey 52-yard reception, the Eskimos marched 74 yards on five plays on their second possession of the game and scored on a Troy Davis two-yard run. The drive was almost for naught, as Ray fumbled the ball out of bounds on the two yard line and possession was awarded to BC. However, the call was reversed on a replay in favor of Edmonton.

The Lions answered with a short Paul McCallum field goal and, after conceding a single to start the second quarter, BC took the lead on a Pierce 37-yard touchdown strike to Geroy Simon. The ensuing extra point made it a 10-8 game.

McCallum added a 28-yarder with 3:26 left to play and Korey Banks picked off an ill-advised Ray pass and returned it for a score with less than a minute left to make it 20-8 in favor of BC. The Eskimos managed to drive down the field before time expired and added a Fleming 26-yard field goal to make it 20-11 at the break.

After the teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, Edmonton recovered a Joe Smith fumble and Davis' subsequent touchdown run brought the Eskimos within five.

Barron Miles picked off a deflected pass from Ray in the fourth quarter and ran it back 33 yards for a score to make it 30-18. It was Miles' league- leading eighth interception this season.

Game Notes

BC's veteran starting quarterback Dave Dickenson, who has been out with a sprained ankle, replaced an ineffective Pierce late in the fourth quarter.

Attendance was 33,589.

Smith finished with 66 yards rushing on 12 carries.

© 2006 The Sports Network