Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Fred Reid runs for a 52 yard touchdown during second half CFL action against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday August 21, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe Canadian Press
Running back Fred Reid scorched the B.C. Lions for over 250 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns Friday night to lead the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 37-10 victory.
Reid, the league's top rusher, had career highs of 260 yards and 26 carries as the Bombers embarrassed the Lions while snapping a two-game losing skid.
The five-foot-nine, 189-pound Tampa, Fla., native was as elusive as he was fast. He was able to duck under tackles, then turn on the speed when he found the open space.
Just when the Lions thought they had him, he'd squirt lose for another long run.
The last player to rush for over 200 yards against the Lions was Mike Pringle, then of the Baltimore Stallions, who had 216 yards in a game back in 1994.
The CFL record for rushing yards in a game is 287 set by Ronnie Stewart of the Ottawa Rough Riders against Montreal on Oct. 10, 1960.
Reid's second touchdown of the night, a 52-yard gallop in the third quarter, started a trickle of fans from the crowd of 27,983 at B.C. Place heading to the exits. That turned into a flood after Javan Johnson picked off a Jarious Jackson pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown.
Reid also scored on a one-yard run while Terrence Edwards hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Bishop.
Reid had a 24-yard run and a touchdown erased by penalty in the fourth quarter. He had returned to the game after suffering an injury but had sat out only two plays instead of three.
Jackson threw a 38-yard touchdown to Emmanuel Arceneaux. The Lions quarterback left the game in the fourth quarter after having his head slammed into the turf while being hit by two Bombers.
He finished the night completing 15-of-24 passes for 185 yards and three interceptions.
The Lions didn't score a point in the second half.
Alexis Serna added field goals of 44, 35 and 39 yards for the Bombers, who led 20-10 at half time.
The win improved the Bombers' record to 3-5. The Lions, who had a two-game win-streak broken, dropped to 3-5.
Reid and backup running back Yvenson Bernard were a one-two punch that staggered the Lions. After Reid left the game briefly in the second quarter with a leg injury, Bernard came in and ripped off runs of 23 and 27 yards to help set up a Winnipeg touchdown.
The Bombers rushed for over 364 yards on the night, a team record
When Reid wasn't ripping holes through the Lions line, Bishop was picking apart the B.C. secondary with some clutch passes.
With the game tied 10-10, the Bombers were facing a second-and-17 on the Lions' 23-yard-line. Bishop scrambled out of trouble and found Edwards, who had gotten open between three Lion defenders, for an easy touchdown.
Jackson was given his first start of the season due to Buck Pierce being sidelined with a concussion. He looked good on the opening drive, firing crisp passes to Paris Jackson and Arceneaux.
The drive was helped by a Winnipeg pass interference call and ended with Arceneaux making a pretty one-hand catch in the end zone.
After that Jackson's hot hand cooled. He tried to strong-arm the ball down the field and seemed to ignore the short game.
Reid was the workhorse on the first Winnipeg touchdown. He dashed and dived for runs of 17 and 23 yards. Wide receiver Brock Ralph also made a key 30-yard catch.
Reid finally scored on a short run.
The Lions had won five of their last six games against Winnipeg
Bomber defensive end Fred Perry left the game in the second quarter, clutching his arm in obvious pain. He went directly to the dressing room and didn't return to the game.
Perry was injured on a play where he sacked Jackson and recovered a fumble.
Notes: B.C. now heads into a bye week before back-to-back games against Montreal . ...The Lions swept their series last year against Winnipeg by a combined score of 69-42. ...Slotback Geroy Simon didn't make his first catch until late in the third quarter.