Only the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had something at stake. Only the B.C. Lions played like it.
Dave Dickenson threw touchdown passes to Geroy Simon and Ryan Thelwell and substitute quarterback Jarious Jackson rushed for a major as the Lions cruised to a 26-16 home victory Saturday night over the Blue Bombers.
The Lions' Joe Smith, left, avoids a tackle by the Blue Bombers' Doug Brown during Saturday's game in Vancouver.
(Chuck Stoody/Canadian Press)
"I felt pretty good out there," said Dickenson, who completed 15 of 17 passes for 163 yards. "The defence gave us some great field position.
"I feel fresh, I feel good. We won a game that was supposed to mean nothing to us. We're in a good frame of mind."
The game was of little importance to B.C. (13-5), which had already clinched first place in the CFL's West division and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Winnipeg, on the other hand, had a chance to lock up a home playoff game with a win. Instead, the Bombers (9-9) will have to travel to Toronto for the East semifinal on Nov. 5 (CBC, 12:30 p.m. ET).
No record for Stegall
Winnipeg failed even to secure a milestone for slotback Milt Stegall, who needed one touchdown to tie the career league record of 137 shared by Mike Pringle and George Reed.
"I wasn't looking to score no touchdowns," said Stegall, who was held to two catches for 17 yards. "I was looking to win the game. That's it."
Worse for the Bombers, quarterback Kevin Glenn sprained his ankle on Winnipeg's second play from scrimmage. That forced the Bombers to go with backup Ryan Dinwiddie, whom they signed in August and had never played a CFL game.
Dinwiddie was intercepted three times but did throw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Brazzell in the second quarter before being replaced by Brad Banks late in the third.
Banks hit Jamie Stoddard with a 15-yard touchdown pass late in the game.
Dickenson's TD tosses, both of which came late in the first half, were set up by interceptions by the Lions defence.
"The momentum switched that fast," said safety Barron Miles, who set up B.C.'s second touchdown with his CFL-leading 10th interception of the year.
"When you make turnovers, good things happen. That's how valuable getting your hands on the ball is."
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
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