Lions top RedBlacks in offensive shootout, improve to 9-4

Jonathon Jennings and the BC Lions prevailed in a quintessentially CFL shootout, outlasting the Ottawa RedBlacks 40-33 on Saturday.

In a game with a combined 1,004 yards of offence, the Lions used four touchdown passes from Jennings to take a precarious lead into the final minutes at BC Place. Slotback Terrell Sinkfield's 31-yard score early in the fourth quarter helped the Lions take a four-point lead, which stood up despite Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris carving up BC's defence for a season high 485 passing yards.

The Lions (9-4) inched closer to finishing second in the West Division, with a two-point lead and a game in hand over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-6), whom they face on Oct. 8.

Ottawa (6-6-1) remains first in the East since the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-8) also lost on Saturday.

Lions cornerback Anthony Gaitor sealed the win by returning an interception 37 yards for a touchdown with four seconds to play. Gaitor was also in coverage on Chris Williams when the Lions stopped an Ottawa drive at the 46 with 2:36 left. A 15-yard penalty on Ottawa's Nolan MacMillan for a chop block on the play took the RedBlacks out of field goal range and they did not regain possession until 19 seconds remained.

Jennings was an interception-free 20-of-25 for 348 and three touchdowns.

Shawn Gore had four receptions for a team-high 85 yards and Sinkfield added four for 84. Emmanuel Arceneaux and Chris Rainey each had TD catches, while backup QB Travis Lulay added a one-yard TD rush. Anthony Allen had 12 rushes for a game-high 82 yards.

Richie Leone was 2-of-2 on field goals and added a punt single, although he missed the convert after each of the Lions' fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Harris was 32-of-45 for 485 yards and two TDs with one interception. Williams (five receptions for 155) and Brad Sinopoli (8-73) each registered TD catches, while Ernest Jackson had six receptions for 122 yards. Running back Mossis Madu had his first touchdown for Ottawa. Chris Milo was 4-of-4 on field goals.

Following a 50-point first half, the highest scoring opening 30 minutes of the season, the pendulum swung to the defences in the third quarter. Ottawa ended the stasis with an eight-play, 54-yard drive that Madu topped off with a six-yard score on the final play of the quarter.

The Lions responded by taking just four plays to go 77 yards, with Sinkfield putting them ahead to stay.

The RedBlacks had a 543-461 edge in total offence. Ottawa was playing for the first time since left tackle SirVincent Rogers, the CFL's outstanding offensive lineman in 2015, suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Rookie Jason Lauzon-Seguin started in Rogers' spot.

Ottawa hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-10) on Friday. The Lions-Blue Bombers second-place showdown is in Winnipeg on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.