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VANCOUVER — Every so often, defensive end Cameron Wake slips a DVD into his computer to watch a highlight reel of James (Quick) Parker sacking quarterbacks.
But the second-year B.C. Lion is finding there's not much more to learn from the man who set the CFL season record of 26.5 sacks as he prepares to face the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday.
It's the first of back-to-back games that could define either club's season.
"Watching a guy like that ... the fundamentals are still the same, the same kind of moves," Wake, who has a CFL-leading 19 sacks, said Thursday. "You look at the styles . . . football is football. Guys get off the line, beat the guy across from him and get to the quarterback."
Hamilton Tiger-Cats' quartertback Quinton Porter is sacked by BC Lions' Otis Floyd last month. The Lions hope to apply the same pressure to the Eskimos Friday. (Andy Clark/Reuters)
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One thing that has changed is the league no longer awards half-sacks as it did when Parker set the record in 1984, the first of five years in a Lions uniform. The six-foot-three, 257-pound Wake was a two-year-old at the time back in Beltsville, Md.
"It's cool to watch, how it was back 20 years ago," Wake said after a workout. "He's a little smaller . . . but he's quick. He's got that name for a reason."
The 9-5 Lions, who have won five straight and are runaway leaders with 55 sacks, can take sole possession of first place in the wild West Division for at least two days by beating Edmonton.
Saskatchewan visits Calgary on Monday and both clubs also have 9-5 records. Edmonton is fourth at 8-6 in the tightest division race in years.
"There's nobody out of first place and there's nobody out of crossing over to the East (for a playoff position)," Lions coach Wally Buono said of the game's importance.
Wake faced multiple double-teams in last week's 24-20 win in Toronto but he has plenty of sack help from Brent Johnson (10) and Aaron Hunt (8).
"It comes with the territory," Wake said of the extra attention that held him to one sack. "But you look at our front four, we're one, two, three in sacks.
"Whether you pay attention to me or Brent or Hunt or Ty (Williams), we're going to get there. Pick your poison."
Edmonton coach Danny Maciocia already has.
"When it comes to quickness, Cameron Wake is in a league of his own," Maciocia said.
But left tackle Garrick Jones, who will line up opposite Wake, isn't fazed by the challenge.
"I'm just looking to get out there and trade punches, man. That's what I do, that's what I get paid for."
Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray is wary of the Lions' pressure defence even though his offence scored 69 points in the clubs' previous two meetings — a 35-24 win in Edmonton on July 31 and a 40-34 loss here Aug. 8".
"They're not one of those defences which just lines up and you can kind of expect what they're going to give you," Ray said. "They mix things up quite a bit and as a quarterback playing this team you've got to be ready for everything."
The Lions also lead the CFL with 24 interceptions and fewest yards allowed but they have been burned by big plays, something that contributed to their 4-5 start.
"We've learned from our past mistakes early in the season and we feel we're a different team now," said middle linebacker Javier Glatt, who noted Ray's pocket poise helps avoid turnovers.
"But he's just like any other quarterback," Glatt said.
"You've got to get people in his face, get hits on the quarterback. No one likes getting hit even though he has a rare ability to sit in there and take a shot."
On the other side of the ball, the Lions will have slotback Geroy Simon facing the Eskimos for the first time this season.
He's the CFL receiving yards leader despite missing those two games with a hamstring injury.
"He's very definitely a vertical threat and this year he's doing some different routes as well," Edmonton middle linebacker Agustin Barrenechea said of Simon. "You're used to seeing him just stretch the field but he's breaking them off inside."
NOTES: The Lions will wear orange helmets with a black paw honouring Bob Ackles, the club president who died suddenly last summer. . . . B.J. Tucker, a native of Sierra Leone, will make his CFL debut, primarily on Lions special teams and as a backup defensive back.
