EDMONTON - The BC Lions literally took the boot to the Edmonton Eskimos in the season opener for both teams on Sunday night. Paul McCallum booted six field goals as the Lions defeated the Eskimos 25-10.
"It was a nice way to start the season, absolutely," McCallum said. "It's good to be able to go out there and help the team, but on the same token you don't want to be in a situation where the team needs you to kick that many either.
"But when I am called upon, I want to be able to do that for them."
McCallum's six field goals tied his own career record set in 2006.
The CFL record is eight field goals in a game, accomplished twice by Dave Ridgway.
The Lions were in field-goal range at the end of the game but chose to run out the clock.
In McCallum's mind, that was better than trying to go for a seventh on the night and kicking the Eskimos when they were down.
"There was no point," he said. "That would have been rubbing salt in the wound."
Lions head coach Wally Buono was satisfied with the opening performance from his team.
"There is still a lot of improvement to do," he said. "There are some things we can do better. But I liked the fact that we competed and made plays when it was critical. I liked the fact that the veterans set the tone, as well. The veterans made the big plays and the young guys can learn from that and get better."
The Lions join Calgary and Saskatchewan atop the Western Division standings at 1-0 with the Eskimos already a full game behind the other three teams at 0-1.
"We obviously wanted to play better than this and just didn't do it," said Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray. "We just couldn't get into a rhythm. That's just not doing the little things. All through the off-season we talked about being more consistent and we still have a way to go there."
Edmonton head coach Richie Hall echoed Ray's comments.
"Our overall play wasn't consistent enough," he said. "As a team, we weren't good enough to win a football game."
Edmonton had a rough start to the season.
After marching down to the Lions' one-yard line, the Esks took a couple of penalties before Ray was absolutely crushed by Korey Banks, fumbling the ball to Keron Williams.
"That was the turning point," Buono said. "That set the tone for the whole game."
Ray looked shaken up on the play, but returned for the next series.
The Lions put the first points on the board with four seconds remaining in the opening frame as McCallum booted a 44-yard field goal.
It was the Lions' turn for a QB scare early in the second as Casey Printers barreled into the timekeeper's table but emerged unscathed. McCallum added a 49-yard field goal on the next play to put the BC up 6-0.
BC made it 13-0 with six minutes remaining in the second quarter on a huge individual effort by running back Jamal Robertson, turning on the jets and evading three Eskimo tackles in a 61-yard touchdown run.
"Every year you get older and you have got to prove that you can still do it," said Robertson, who signed with the Lions this year after spending the previous two years in Toronto. "It was great for me to start off like that here."
That seemed to finally wake the Esks up as they executed a long drive on their next possession, finished off by a four-yard run into the end zone by Arkee Whitlock with 1:31 remaining.
McCallum responded with his third field goal of the night to make it 16-7 for BC at the half.
Eskimo kicker Noel Prefontaine and McCallum traded field goals to start the third and the Lions got one more with two minutes left in the quarter as Edmonton returner Skyler Green fumbled at his own 32, scooped up by BC's Jason Arakgi. The 18-yarder was McCallum's fifth three-pointer of the night and put the Lions ahead 22-10.
The Eskimos continued to struggle in the fourth as Ray fumbled the ball again after being sacked by Anton McKenzie. Anthony Reddick recovered the loose ball for the Lions, who took over at midfield. That would eventually lead to yet another McCallum field goal.
Edmonton had a chance to salvage some pride in the late stages but stalled out on the BC 14 after three missed passes in the Lions end zone.
Notes: The two teams also met in pre-season play as wide receiver Skyler Green hauled in a last-minute touchdown catch for a 36-32 Eskimos win. Both teams were 1-1 in exhibition action. . . Edmonton was 9-9 last season while the Lions finished at 8-10. . . Edmonton was looking for its 100th win over the Lions. Coming into the match the Esks were 99-67-4 all-time against BC. . . The Lions are now 4-0 in their last four trips to Edmonton. . . The Lions had 19 new faces on their 46-man roster to start the year. . . It was Edmonton's first game in their lavishly remodelled dressing room. . . Eskimo defensive end Greg Peach left the game with an ankle injury in the first quarter. . . The Edmonton Oilers first overall NHL draft pick Taylor Hall was in attendance for the game. Hall's father Steve, was a receiver in the CFL with Winnipeg and Ottawa after originally being signed by the Eskimos.
