and play in Calgary next Thurs 7 pm Pac. TSN for opening season.
tonight's recap:
http://tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=241194&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_cfl
VANCOUVER - The two B.C. Lions quarterbacks battling for the starting
job seem to be still in a virtual dead heat.
Both Buck Pierce and Jarious Jackson threw touchdown passes to Geroy
Simon and Paris Jackson Thursday as the B.C. Lions defeated the
Calgary Stampeders 39-35 in the final CFL exhibition game for both
clubs.
"They played great," Simon said. "Obviously we have confidence in both
of them."
The victory by the 2007 West Division finalists evened both clubs'
exhibition records to 1-1.
B.C. defensive back Korey Banks turned the game around in the second
quarter with an electrifying 84-yard interception return.
Pierce said not getting sacked and his short passing game helped get
him into a rhythm, but didn't want to offer an opinion on whether his
performance was enough to land him the starting job.
"I don't know," Pierce said. "You go out there and do what you can do
as a player and try and put the ball in the end zone. That's just what
I tried to do and manage the game.
"It all comes down to (coach) Wally (Buono). We can both feel good
about our play tonight and our confidence level going into the next
game."
The diplomatic Buono said either pivot would be a good choice to
start.
"At the end of the day I don't think I'll make a bad decision," he
said.
Pierce didn't hurt his chances in the first half after both
quarterbacks had anemic performances last week in a loss to
Saskatchewan.
He completed 13 of 18 attempts for 184 yards for the two majors and
without any interceptions.
Jarious Jackson, who started most of the games for the Lions last
season when the club was hit by injuries at quarterback, played the
second half and was eight of 11 attempts for 126 yards.
"I just wanted to come out and play, period, regardless of how Buck's
half went," said Jackson, a fourth-year Lion.
"He started slow and came on strong at the end. Good for Buck. I just
wanted to be the general on the field and put the offence in good
positions. I feel like I played pretty well."
Jackson found Simon for a 29-yard one-handed grab in the end zone in
the third quarter and connected with Paris Jackson for a 14-yard major
in the fourth.
The Lions scored three touchdowns in less than seven minutes to lead
22-10 after a half played mostly by veterans on both teams.
Pierce connected with Paris Jackson for a 17-yard TD strike to rally
the Lions from a 10-1 deficit. Pierce, also a fourth-year pro, then
drilled another 22-yard completion to Simon in the end zone for the
lead on the Lions' next possession.
The oft-injured Dave Dickenson, released by the Lions at the end of
last season, came in fore Calgary with 5:02 remaining in the first
half but his third pass attempt was tipped by intended receiver
Jeremaine Copeland.
Banks picked it off and rambled untouched into the end zone.
Calgary starting quarterback Henry Burris connected with running back
Joffrey Reynolds for a 10-yard TD pass early in the second quarter.
Ben Sankey started the second half and connected with Copeland for a
four-yard TD reception.
Barrick Nealy, the third Calgary pivot, engineered two late
touchdowns. He scored scored the first on a one-yard plunge, hit
Reggie Williams for the other with a 27-yard completion with no time
remaining, then ran for a two-point convert. Lions kicker Paul
McCallum had a field goal, four converts and a 62-yard single to open
the scoring. Sean Whyte added the other B.C. convert.
Sandro DeAngelis had a pair of 12-yard field goals, two converts and a
single on a kickoff.
Notes: The two clubs open the regular season against each other next
week ... Calgary is 1-8-1 in its last 10 regular-season games against
the Lions ... Dickenson returned to B.C. wearing No. 15, his old
Stampeder number ... he wore No. 12 as a Lion ... B.C. offensive
tackle Rob Murphy has yet to appear in camp because his wife is
expecting triplets in Florida.
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