Photo: TSN

Jul. 03, 2009

Over the course of his 20 year coaching career in the CFL, Wally Buono will be hard pressed to think of a more strange game than the one this evening.

The Lions and Roughriders combined for 15 turnovers in a 28-24 Saskatchewan victory. What's even more amazing is each club managed to score 24 points of the giveaways.

The most costly for BC was a Paul McCallum dropped fumble late in the first half.

Listen: Listen- Stu Foord Touchdown off McCallum fumble.mp3

That misque made it 25-7 for Saskatchewan. The visitors pulled to within 11 before the halftime break on an Emmanuelle Arceneaux touchdown reception.

"You gotta give the defences credit," Buono said after the loss.

Buck Pierce was sacked a total of eight times and threw two interceptions.

"Part of that was when its three step protection you've got to throw the football and at times I thought we hung on to it a little too long," Buono said.

Listen: Listen-Wally Buono with Rick and Giulio.mp3

The Lions defence gave up only three points in the second half and almost engineered an amazing last minute drive to stun the Regina faithful.

Buck Pierce hit Paris Jackson for a long conversion on 3rd and 10. After Pierce was sacked on the next play, he nearly hit Ryan Grice-Mullen on a play that would have given them 1st and goal with over 20 seconds to play.

Listen: Listen- Grice-Mullen drops long pass at Riders 10 yard line.mp3

Jarious Jackson was then brought in for one last ditch effort on 3rd down. The wobbly pass was picked off by the Riders' James Patrick at their own one yard line.

Listen: Listen- Jarious Jackson picked off on final play.mp3

"It (the loss) was ugly and pretty at the same time," said linebacker Javy Glatt who had one of the team's interceptions.

"Wally always says it's a wasted effort but I'm sayin we put ourselves in a chance to win with the game on the line against a very good team, in a very hostile enviroment," Glatt added.

" How it happened is whacky and crazy, but that's the CFL."

Listen: Javier Glatt Post Game.mp3

Perhaps Javy was motivated with the prospect of another linebacker coming in. The TEAM 1040 learned Buono met Reggie Hunt over coffee Friday morning. He was let go by the Alouettes last month and still keeps a home in Regina where he played from 2002-07.

Notes: The Lions lose in Regina for the first time since October of 2006. That was also memorable after McCallum's failed attempt at punting through the end zone in overtime. Former BC slotback Jason Clermont was held to just one reception for nine yards. On the injury front, running back Ian Smart left in the third quarter with an apparant groin problem sustained after a long run. Arceneaux also left with a shoulder problem.

You can catch tonight's broadcast by downloading the TEAM 1040 podcast: http://www.team1040.ca/shared/podcast_rss.php?play=bc_lions