LIONS TAKE DOWN ESKIMOS ON FRIDAY NIGHT

VANCOUVER - Quarterback Jarious Jackson threw three first-half touchdown passes Friday as the B.C. Lions defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 40-34 to tighten the race in the CFL's competitive West Division.

The Lions scored four touchdowns in the opening half but still needed a Rolly Lambala one-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter to secure the win, B.C.'s first this season against a divisional opponent.

The victory allowed the Lions to share second place with Edmonton and the Calgary Stampeders, all with 4-3 records and four points behind the 6-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Jackson was sensational in the opening 30 minutes but wasn't around for the finish. He was lifted in the third quarter in favour of Buck Pierce after the starter threw an ill-advised pass picked off in the end zone by Siddeeq Shabazz of the Eskimos.

After an opening 30 minutes that saw the teams combine for 55 points, the Lions tightened their defence in the second half - holding Edmonton to seven points - and took advantage of critical Eskimo turnovers. The B.C. victory avenged a 35-24 loss last week at Edmonton, when the Eskimos scored 25 unanswered points in the second half.

Paul McCallum booted a 45-yard field goal, five converts and two singles for the victorious Lions.

Ricky Foley gave B.C. its first lead of the game late in the first quarter when he returned the Lions' second blocked punt of the season to the end zone. Foley also ended a late Edmonton drive by knocking down a second-down pass attempt by Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray.

Dante Marsh picked Ray off for the second time with 11 seconds remaining.

Ray, who was sacked three times by the Lions, threw two TD strikes to Kamau Peterson. He also had scoring passes to Kelly Campbell and Fred Stamps.

Kicker Noel Prefontaine completed the scoring with a 23-yard field goal, four converts and a single while McCallum conceded a safety.

Three special teams plays and a Tad Crawford interception led to four B.C. touchdowns and a 28-27 Lions lead at the half.

An 88-yard kick return by Ian Smart preceded Jackson's five-yard TD strike to Stefan Logan after the Eskimos opened up a 10-0 lead by scoring on their first two possessions.

Crawford helped set up the Lions' second major when he blocked Prefontaine's punt. Foley ran the ball 30 yards to the end zone for his first career TD and a 14-10 Lions advantage 1:46 seconds later.

Clermont gathered in a 19-yard scoring pass from Jackson after Jerome Dennis recovered Tristan Jackson's fumble on an attempted punt return.

The big slotback extended the Lions' lead to 28-17 after Crawford's interception defenders Jason Goss and Jonte Buhl collided on the coverage.

Ray piled up 279 passing yards in the first half, connecting on 18 of 26 pass attempts and firing scoring strikes to Campbell, Peterson and Stamps.

Campbell and Peterson both beat Lions defensive back Korey Banks for catches of 16 and eight yards. Stamps' 28-yard reception drew Edmonton to within 28-26.

Smart allowed Edmonton to get closer when he bobbled Prefontaine's missed 51-field goal try in the end zone and gave up a single point.

Notes: The 55 points scored by the two clubs in the first 30 minutes was the highest halftime score in any Lions game since 1994 ... B.C. guard Dean Valli returned to the lineup after injuring his back last week in Edmonton ... Lions tailback Joe Smith, replaced by Logan on the depth chart, got an early start on his bye week by flying to his home in Houston on Thursday ... the teams face each other twice more this season.