Lions down Winnipeg

Oct 29, 2006, 5:05 GMT

Vancouver, BC - Dave Dickenson completed 15-of-17 passes for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as British Columbia topped Winnipeg, 26-16.

Joe Smith rushed for 56 yards on nine carries for the Lions (13-5), who have already cemented first place in the West Division and the right to host the conference final. Geroy Simon caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Jason Clermont added 62 receiving yards.

Ryan Dinwiddie completed 11-of-24 passes for 107 yards with a score and three interceptions for the Blue Bombers (9-9), who blew a shot at hosting an East Division playoff game. The Bombers will finish third in the East Division and now must travel to Toronto to face the Argonauts in the East semifinal.

Charles Roberts rushed for 49 yards on 12 attempts, while Chris Brazzell added 40 receiving yards on three catches.

Bombers quarterback Kevin Glenn sprained his ankle on Winnipeg's second play from scrimmage.

British Columbia got on the board when Troy Westwood conceded a safety with 10:18 remaining in the first. Paul McCallum added a 21-yard field goal with 2:22 left for a 5-0 BC lead heading into the second.

Dinwiddie hooked up with Brazzell on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 12:27 left in the second for a 7-5 Winnipeg lead.

BC blew the game open in the final two minutes before halftime courtesy of interceptions by Mark Washington and Barron Miles, who got his league- leading 10th interception. With 1:40 left, Dickinson found Ryan Thelwell for a 13-yard touchdown pass and then hooked up with Simon on a 24-yard touchdown pass 26 seconds later after the Miles pick for a 19-7 halftime lead.

BC added another score when Jarious Jackson ran it in with just over 10 minutes to go in the third.

Winnipeg started to rally early in the fourth, but had to settle for a 27-yard Westwood field goal with 13:21 remaining. Brad Banks completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jamie Stoddard for the final margin.

Game Notes

B.C. kick returner Ian Smart left in the first half with a high ankle sprain.

Milt Stegall still needs two more touchdowns to break the record of 137 shared by Mike Pringle and George Reed.

Miles blocked his ninth career punt, which put him in second all time for most blocked punts.

B.C. has won its last six home games while Winnipeg's last win at B.C. Place came June 20, 2003.

© 2006 The Sports Network