B.C. Lions beat Calgary Stampeders 27-22 in CFL West Division showdown

VANCOUVER – Andrew Harris ran for the winning touchdown as the B.C. Lions beat the Calgary Stampeders 27-22 on Saturday night in a showdown for first place in the CFL’s West Division.

Harris, who produced 125 all-purpose yards on the night, ran in from three yards out 1:23 into the fourth quarter to stake the Lions to a 27-13 advantage.

The Stampeders scored the game’s final nine points, but the B.C. defence held them in check on their final two possessions.

B.C. improved its West Division-leading record to 10-4 and moved four points up on the second-place Stamps (8-6). The Lions have won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams.

Shawn Gore and Nick Moore caught touchdowns for the Lions, while Paul McCallum provided their remaining points on two field goals and three converts.

Defensive back Brandon Smith, on a fumble return, and receiver Romby Bryant scored touchdowns for Calgary, while Rene Paredes added three field goals and a couple of converts.

B.C. played without top receivers Geroy Simon (hamstring) and Arland Bruce III (concussion-like symptoms), putting more of an onus on the running game and, specifically, Harris.

The Winnipeg native ran for 73 yards and gained 52 more on pass receptions as he and Calgary counterpart Jon Cornish, the top two running backs in the CFL, put on a show.

Cornish finished with 93 all-purpose yards — 61 on the ground and 32 through the air — but did most of his damage in a first half in which Calgary struggled to score.

B.C. quarterback Travis Lulay completed 23-of-33 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Calgary pivot Kevin Glenn struggled most of the night, completing just 18-of-33 passes for 242 yards while throwing two interceptions.

Lulay, who has thrown a TD pass in 25 straight games, connected on an eight-yard scoring strike with Gore midway through the first quarter, giving B.C. a 7-3 lead. The B.C. quarterback is now nine games shy of Montreal legend Sam Etcheverry’s record streak of 34 games, which was set between the 1954 and 1956 seasons.

Lulay’s run began in August 2011 as the Lions began an improbable comeback from a 1-6 start to win the Grey Cup. The touchdown toss to Gore was the 49th that Lulay has thrown since his streak began.

The Lions tried some trickery after the touchdown as McCallum attempted an on-side kick. But the ball travelled seven yards rather than the required 10.

Calgary gained possession at the B.C. 42, setting the stage for a 26-yard Paredes field goal that reduced the Stampeders’ deficit to 7-6.

Lulay’s streak hit the 50-touchdown mark early in the second quarter as he threw a 20-yard scoring strike to a wide-open Moore.

The touchdown came after Lulay connected with Harris on a 29-yard pass-and-run play after the quarterback was being pursued and racing backward to avoid a sack.

Calgary threatened to score after some untimely B.C. penalties, but Dante Marsh intercepted a Glenn pass to negate the drive.

Just before halftime, the Lions advanced the ball to the Calgary one-yard-line after a pass interference penalty on Smith. But a snap went high over Lulay’s head, forcing the quarterback to fall on it, and the Lions had to settle for a 22-yard McCallum field goal that put them ahead 17-6 at half-time.

Calgary’s lack of first-half scoring negated a strong start from Cornish, who produced 86 all-purpose yards — 52 on rushes and another 34 on receptions — in the opening 30 minutes.

But the Stampeders pulled within four points early in the third quarter as Charleston Hughes knocked the ball out of the hands of Harris and Smith returned the fumble 48 yards for a touchdown.

The Lions came close to scoring another touchdown late in the third quarter, but Moore let a pinpoint Lulay pass slip through his hands. B.C. settled for a 12-yard field goal to go up 20-13.

The Lions reached the end zone again early in the fourth quarter as Harris ran in from three yards out — just one play after a pass interference penalty on Randle as he covered Gore resulted in a 38-yard B.C. gain. McCallum’s convert put the Lions ahead 27-13.

Still, the Stamps fought back — quickly — as Jason Armstead’s 33-yard punt return gave them the ball at midfield as McCallum helped bring him down and prevent a touchdown. Glenn passed to Bryant for a 31-yard gain and connected with him again on the next play for a 19-yard touchdown. Bryant reached the end zone after Marsh had him in his arms but could not bring him down.

But Calgary was unable to complete a two-point convert attempt as Cornish was stopped for a loss.

The Stamps tried to rally again on their next possession but B.C.’s Ryan Phillps picked off a Glenn pass. Calgary managed to get the ball again but Khreem Smith sacked Glenn.

Notes:The Lions allowed their first sack in four games as Juwan Simpson down late in the fourth quarter. … Cornish is attempting to become the first Canadian since Winnipeg’s Gerry James in 1957 to lead the CFL in rushing. James ran for 1,192 yards in 18 games. … B.C. defensive lineman Eric Taylor suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return. Taylor was twisted down by Obby Khan away from the play. … Lions defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury.