BC @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2017 ) Ottawa 30, BC 25

The BC Lions look to build off their memorable Week 5 win when they travel to the nation's capital to face the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. Ty Long kicked a 16-yard field goal on the final play as the Lions erased a 17-point third-quarter deficit en route to a 20-17 victory against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Travis Lulay's first start at quarterback in nearly 10 months, and they hope to notch back-to-back wins for the first time in a year.

"This should be a great confidence builder," Lulay told reporters. "It could be a big win for us, but it's up to us to see how we respond to it." Ottawa is left to pick up the pieces following a 27-3 home loss to the Calgary Stampeders. The Redblacks were held without an offensive touchdown for the first time since Nov. 1, 2015 and hope to stay in the thick of the East Division race by earning their first victory in three meetings with the Lions. "It never feels good when you get your butt whipped and we did," Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "You have to have a short term memory and move on because the games are just going to keep getting bigger and bigger."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN Plus

ABOUT THE LIONS (2-2): Lulay hadn't played since suffering a knee injury against Montreal on Sept. 8, 2017, but looked like his old self as he threw for 326 yards and a touchdown en route to earning one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week honours. Jeremiah Johnson, who leads the team in rushing yards (222), gained 26 on three carries before leaving the contest in the second quarter with an ankle injury and is doubtful for Friday's clash. Chris Rainey accounted for 114 yards from scrimmage in Johnson's absence and will be the feature back on Friday while All-Star linebacker Solomon Elimimian was placed on the six-game injured list with a fractured wrist.

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (2-2): Trevor Harris was limited to 93 yards on 14-of-22 passing while William Powell, who rushed for a season-high 138 yards in the Week 4 win against Montreal, was held to 17 on eight carries in the loss to Calgary last week. Ottawa released cornerback Josh Johnson, who appeared in eight games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, and signed defensive backs Dejuan Butler and Tafon Mainsah on Tuesday. Offensive lineman Evan Johnson suffered a lower-body injury in the fourth quarter against the Stampeders, but is expected to recover in time to play on Friday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. BC has lost seven of its last eight road games.

2. Redblacks WR Greg Ellingson has caught at least one pass in 31 consecutive games.

3. Lions short-yardage QB Cody Fajardo has rushed for a touchdown in three straight games.

PREDICTION: Redblacks 27, Lions 23