B.C. Lions defensive lineman Brent Johnson gets his mitts on a Calgary Stampeder during regular-season action Oct. 15, 2006. Johnson, a native of Kingston, Ont., led the league in quarterback sacks this season with 16. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)
B.C. Lions
Last Updated Tues, 31 Oct 2006 15:25:16 EDT
CBC Sports
B.C. used a different path in clinching its third straight West title. Last year, the Lions stormed out to an 11-0 mark, but stumbled down the stretch and were upset by the eventual Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos in the West title game.
The Lions continued to struggle at the start of the 2006 season, losing three of their first five games with two defeats coming against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. But despite the slow start, the Lions won their next seven games on the strength of a pressure defence that led the CFL with 59 sacks and an offence using a rotation at quarterback because of injury problems to starter Dave Dickenson.
The veteran pivot missed time with an ankle sprain, but backups Buck Pierce and Jarius Jackson filled the void with little problems. That's because both quarterbacks had the security of throwing to Geroy Simon. The Lions receiver led the CFL with 1,856 yards, 15 touchdowns and is the heavy favourite to walk way with the league's most outstanding player award.
Defensively, the Lions allowed the second fewest points (355) in the league and pressured opposing quarterbacks better than any other team. Defensive end Brent Johnson led the league with 16 sacks, which in turn contributed to club leading the CFL with 36 interceptions.
The Lions won four of their last five games and are hoping a sterling home record translates into a trip to the Grey Cup in Winnipeg. The team went 8-1 at B.C. Place this season, including a 2-1 mark against Calgary and Saskatchewan, the two combatants who will square off in the West semifinal.
| Name | Position | Uniform # |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Smart | RB | 2 |
| Ryan Thelwell | WR | 3 |
| Paul McCallum | K | 4 |
| Javier Glatt | LB | 6 |
| Jarious Jackson | QB | 7 |
| Bret Anderson | SB | 8 |
| Barron Miles | DB | 9 |
| Jason Pottinger | LB | 11 |
| Dave Dickenson | QB | 12 |
| Rob Pikula | K | 14 |
| Buck Pierce | QB | 16 |
| Sebastian Clovis | DB | 17 |
| Todd Mortensen | QB | 18 |
| Paris Jackson | WR | 19 |
| Mark Nohra | RB | 20 |
| Ryan Phillips | DB | 21 |
| Mark Washington | DB | 23 |
| Korey Banks | DB | 24 |
| Carl Kidd | LB | 26 |
| Lavar Glover | DB | 27 |
| Lyle Green | FB | 28 |
| Dante Marsh | CB | 31 |
| Joe Smith | RB | 33 |
| Otis Floyd | LB | 35 |
| George White | LB | 36 |
| Alexis Bwenge | FB | 37 |
| Jamall Johnson | LB | 39 |
| Markeith Knowlton | DB | 42 |
| Tyson Craiggs | LB | 45 |
| Dean Valli | G | 54 |
| Sherko Haji-Rasouli | G | 55 |
| Rob Murphy | OL | 56 |
| Kelly Bates | G | 59 |
| Jason Jimenez | T | 60 |
| Bobby Singh | G | 62 |
| Amariah Farrow | T | 63 |
| Angus Reid | G | 64 |
| Geory Simon | SB | 81 |
| Jason Clermont | SB | 82 |
| Gilles Colon | WR | 83 |
| Kendrick Jones | WR | 85 |
| Tony Simmons | WR | 88 |
| T.J. Acree | WR | 89 |
| Aaron Hunt | DL | 90 |
| Nautyn McKay-Loescher | DE | 91 |
| Matt Kirk | DT | 93 |
| Ricky Foley | LB | 95 |
| Tyrone Williams | DT | 96 |
| Brent Johnson | DE | 97 |
| Whitney Bell | DE | 98 |
| Chris Wilson | DE | 99 |
