Kadie Smith
Bryan Burnham scored a late touchdown and Steven Shott had the winning field goal as the BC Lions beat the Edmonton Eskimos 14-11 in their first preseason game at Commonwealth Stadium Friday night.
It was a nail-biting finish for BC as rookie kicker Shott, hit the winning, 38-yard field goal with just eight-seconds left in the game to give the Leos the lead.
The Esks got on the board first with just over five minutes left in the first quarter when Mike Reilly hit a wide-open Fred Stamps with a 33-yard pass.
Newcomer Ricky Schmitt would give the Lions their first score with a 38-yard field goal late in the first after the Lions‘ strong drive from their own 36 to get within scoring position.
They added a single on a rouge late in the third to bring the score to 7-4. That’s where it would stay until rookie receiver Bryan Burnham scored a late touchdown to tie the game.
With just under three to play in the game, Burnham hauled in a 28-yard pass from another rookie, QB Travis Partridge, for the Tulsa alum’s first CFL score. It was a great play for Burnham who struggled earlier in the game, dropping two passes.
“It was a great ball; easy catch,” he said after the game.
With just over a minute to go, the Esks’ Mark Dell fumbled at the Edmonton 5 after a huge hit from Ronnie Yell. Rookie LB Alex 
Hoffman-Ellis recovered the ball and returned it for 15 yards to give the Lions possession. Shott hit the winning field goal two plays later.
It was certainly a night of firsts for the corps of young rookies that made the trip to Edmonton. Travis Partridge nabbed his first complete pass, first rush and first touchdown as a pro, finishing the night 6 of 11 for 108 yards with 19 yards rushing.
Whitman Tomusiak recorded his first CFL catch on a 40-yard bomb from Partridge, easily beating his man to nab the long pass.
Not to be outdone, Stephen Adekolu had arguably the catch of the game, reaching far outside to nab a John Beck pass while keeping his feet just inbounds. The Bishops’ product finished the night leading all receivers with 5 catches for 78 yards.
For the defence, Yell and David Menard were pivotal. Yell recorded an interception off a Pat White pass, returning it for eight yards, while Menard finished with two sacks.
There’s a lot to be excited about with this group, but they’ll have to work hard to make their mark with the veterans as the Lions take on the Calgary Stampeders Friday June 20th at BC Place.