The Canadian Press
MONTREAL — It was an important moment in a potentially season-defining game, and the BC Lions stepped up when it mattered most.
Trailing for the first time all night — down 14-13 against the Montreal Alouettes, who had just returned a field goal block to the house and taken the lead — backup quarterback Jonathon Jennings led his team on a drive that resulted in a Ty Long field goal. The Lions would not relinquish the lead the rest of the night en route to a 32-14 victory.
It was BC’s first road win of the season, but more importantly moved the Lions temporarily over Winnipeg and into the final ‘crossover’ playoff spot in the East Division.
“It’s huge,” said Jennings, who completed 19 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown in the win. “I was just telling somebody that it’s even better we got two in a row. Our defence played tremendously tonight, and it (was) a key game.
“We stuck with it. It was a crazy big swing when we got the field goal blocked. It went from us being up 16-7 (and) instead it’s 14-13. That was a huge swing, we take it back down the field, kick the field goal (and) take the lead. Then, the defence at the end…finishing the game that was huge for us.”
Jennings threw for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his Friday Night Football relief appearance. (The Canadian Press photo)
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Lulay left in the first quarter with an injury to his left shoulder, and it remains unclear what the timeframe for him will be. Regardless, head coach Wally Buono and co. are confident in their 26-year-old backup.
“Jonathon’s played a lot of football for us — he played last week, which helped his confidence,” explained Buono. “It’s not like he doesn’t ever get reps, he gets 40, 50 per cent of the reps in practice. (Offensive coordinator) Jarious Jackson makes the game easier for these guys.”
The Lions will return home with their playoff fate firmly in their own grasp entering the final third of the CFL season — and Buono expects his team to continue improving.
“I’m really, really pleased with how the coaches have related to the players, have gotten what they’ve needed from them…the players are starting to believe,” said the veteran head coach. “The word we used was carry over. Carrying over a learned process, a technique. Every week should be getting better at it. Tonight was a great example.
“I gotta give the veterans credit they kept guys on the bench up.”
