Lions fall to Redblacks in their season opener
Posted July 4, 2015 6:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA , ON (NEWS 1130) – After opening up the CFL season with a bye in week 1, the BC Lions kicked off their schedule with a 27-16 loss on the road against the Ottawa Redblacks. Travis Lulay completed 18-of-32 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown in the defeat.
Ottawa kicked a field goal on the final play of the first half to take a 10-7 lead into the break. The Lions had two red-zone opportunities in the first half, but had to settle for field goals from rookie Richie Leone on both occasions.
After BC forced a safety early in the third quarter to cut the deficit to a single point, the Redblacks added another field goal to make it a 13-9 advantage.
The Lions took their first lead of the second half with 3:37 to play in the third quarter. Lulay connected with former NFLer Austin Collie for a 26-yard touchdown, Collie’s first in the CFL in his first game.
The lead was short-lived though, as Burris tossed his second touchdown of the game just 13 seconds into the fourth quarter. He hooked up with Greg Ellingson for a 30-yard score, which turned out to provide the winning points. Burris threw one more touchdown before the night was up, as he hit former Lion Ernest Jackson in the endzone.
Lulay was playing in his first regular season game since injuring his shoulder last year in Ottawa. He was intercepted once.
Manny Arceneaux had a big day for the Lions in the defeat. He caught seven passes for 112 yards receiving. Collie added five catches for 65 yards.
The Leos will play their home opener on Friday night against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
