The BC Lions may have turned the corner after a disappointing 1-4 start to the CFL season. This past weekend, a clearly motivated Lions team defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 35-20. The Roughriders dropped to 3-3 in the early going in the CFL season.

Lions defensive end Brent Johnson said that the motivation for this game was simple–his team was just plain sick of losing:

„We were sick of losing. That was our only option – to win tonight. This was the must wins of must wins.“

Johnson led a fearsome Lions defense with three QB sacks. Overall, the BC defense combined for five QB sacks and three interceptions.

Lions running back Martell Mallett caught one touchdown pass, ran for another and generally made himself a problem for the Riders defense all night. After the game, he praised the play of his offensive line:

„We just went out there and executed. The offensive line blocked well. I was just hitting the holes. They opened it for me and I got in it.“

BC starting QB Buck Pierce had been hearing some criticism from the Vancouver media suggesting that he lose his starting spot. After the game, he spoke of the team effort in the win:

„I was very proud of our offence tonight. „The way we stayed poised, the way we moved the ball. Running and throwing the ball, we were very good.“

His Saskatchewan counterpart Darian Durrant blamed the loss on his teams lack of execution:

„It was frustrating. B.C. gave us plenty of opportunities to put more points on the board. We just didn’t capitalize.“

Despite the victory, Lions coach Wally Buono realizes that his team still has plenty of work to do:

„We have to play much better football than what we did. I saw the intensity that you need, I see the resilience and I saw some guys make some plays.“

BC now hits the road, traveling to Toronto to play the struggling Argonauts on Thursday. Saskatchewan will host the Hamilton Tiger Cats.

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.