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Canwest News Service
Seven times the B.C. Lions were flagged for illegal procedure on Sunday. Eleven points its defence allowed over the game's final seven minutes of regulation, including a two-point conversion with seconds left to send it to overtime.
But, hey, the Lions did manage to score on a first-and-goal from the one-yard line en route to their 34-27 OT win victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division semifinal at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
"It's the story of the season — why make things easy when you can do it the hard way?" said Lions general manager and head coach Wally Buono, whose team will face the Montreal Alouettes in this weekend's Eastern final with a berth in the Grey Cup on the line.
"If it's not one thing, it's another. The only thing that stands out is this week we'll be playing a totally different team. Yes, we need to correct some things — nothing's different there — but it's the same objective every week."
Seventeen times B.C. has been called for procedure violations over the last five games.
"It's a very big concern, it affects the whole team," said Buono, who refused to lay blame. "I can honestly say I don't know what the issue is. I'm sure it's a lot of things, but most of it is correctable. "
Injuries. Crowd noise. An itch.
Whatever the problem, it needs to be fixed fast. Left tackle Daren Heerspink is questionable for this weekend after spraining his ankle in the fourth quarter against Hamilton, so there's no good news there.
And if you think 27,000 people at Ivor Wynne can get loud, wait until this weekend at Olympic Stadium.
As it stood Monday, maybe the best hope for B.C.'s offensive line is a dose of talcum powder between quarters.
Alas, there's no such easy remedy for giving up late leads.
Three times in their last four games, the Lions have led in the fourth quarter, only to allow their opponent to fight their way back. Twice in the past four weeks, B.C. has allowed a two-point convert in the final seconds to send the game into extra time.
"It's something we'll deal with and have to improve," said Buono, whose team would have swept the season series with Montreal if only it didn't give up a last-minute touchdown the last time the two teams met.
Not that it's all bad. Quarterback Casey Printers did throw for 360 yards on Sunday, while wide receivers Emmanuel Arceneaux and O'Neal Wilson had their best games of their rookie seasons — the former finishing with six catches and 120 yards, including a crucial 49-yard reception to get B.C. out of deep trouble in the third quarter.
Paul McCallum continued to be money on field goals, going four-for-four to remain perfect since his return to the roster in Week 15. And, of course, the Lions' run defence limited Hamilton to just 36 yards rushing.
"We did some good things and because of them we're in the situation we're in," said Buono, adding only in the case of injury would he make changes to his lineup against Montreal. "All I can say is it's a whole new season and we're 1-0."
When it comes to this Lions team; whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep at night, Wally.
iwalker@vancouversun.com
