Edmonton (Van Sun)– The B.C. Lions haven’t had a lot of success against teams with winning records this season. The Edmonton Eskimos — specifically kicker Sean Whyte — kept that dubious record intact Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
Whyte, the former Lion, booted six field goals, including two in overtime and 16-yarder with three seconds left in regulation time, as the Eskimos defeated the Lions 26-23 before 28,517 fans.
B.C. is 1-7 this season against teams with a better than .500 record, their only victory coming Aug. 6 against the Eskimos at BC Place Stadium.
With B.C. nursing a 20-17 lead Saturday, Whyte’s fourth three-pointer of the game sent it into extra time, finishing off a furious 85-yard, 15-play drive by the Eskimos as the Lions tried to protect the lead.
The Eskimos, scrimmaging first at their opponent’s 35-yard line in overtime, advanced to the Lions’ three-yard line, from where Whyte kicked his fifth field goal to put Edmonton in front 23-20.
Richie Leone matched Whyte’s effort with a 37-yard field goal after Jonathon Jennings’ end zone pass to Austin Collie just failed to click for the Lions.
But Dexter McCoil picked off Jennings’ pass in the next overtime series, allowing Edmonton to turn to Whyte for the winning points.
The victory allowed the 12-4 Eskimos to keep pace with the Calgary Stampeders, 27-15 winners earlier in the day against the Toronto Argonauts in a game played in Hamilton, Ont.
The loss dropped the Lions to 5-10, only half a game ahead of the 5-11 Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the turtle derby for third place in the West.
The Lions, who have had their issues closing out games, allowed the Eskimos to score 22 unanswered points en route to a 29-23 win in their second meeting this season, on Sept. 26.
