Courtesy Edmonton Journal:

A smile crept across quarterback Ricky Ray’s face as he was asked the question.

Queried if he was aware that heading into Week 3 of the Canadian Football League season that he was the Edmonton Eskimos’ leading rusher, he let out a chuckle.

“No I wasn’t, and that’s not a good sign because I’m not a running quarterback,” Ray said.

With 34 yards on six carries, Ray leads Arkee Whitlock’s 29 yards and Calvin McCarty’s 27. Both running backs have had 12 carries.

That’s not a good sign for a football team that based a lot of its off-season on developing a ground game.

“We just have to find a way to do it. It’s not going to happen overnight because we haven’t been a very good run team for a while here,” Ray said. “It’s just something that we have to continue to work at, continue to stick with and not just go out there and wish and hope it happens. We have to go out and make it happen.”

The B. C. Lions, 0-2, will make sure that rookie running back Martell Mallett gets his touches against the Eskimos when the teams square off tonight at Commonwealth Stadium.

Mallett is the fourth-highest rusher in the league with 145 yards and the sixth-best producer in combined yardage at 292 yards.

“He’s a slasher, he’s a runner and he can go the distance,” Eskimos head coach Richie Hall said of the six-foot, 195-pounder.

“He’s also a fair-sized back, so he has all the dimensions you want in a running back in one person and, so far, he’s done a pretty good job for them.”

Mallett was surprised to get off to such a good start.

“Expectations, I think I’m living up to them. But I still have goals that I want to reach,” he said.

TIME TO BUCK UP

It hasn’t been a great start for either the Esks or the Lions and, in particular, B. C. QB Buck Pierce.

“We have to start to get going. That’s the main goal, to win,” he said of the key West Division matchup.

“The last couple of games, we haven’t been able to get it done. It’s a big game for both teams. It’s early, yeah, but both teams need the win.”

NUMBERS GAME

Starting off slow is nothing new to the 0-2 Lions. Last year, they were 0-2 to begin the season and finished 11-7. In 2002, B. C. went 0-3 to begin the campaign and finished 10-8.

In fact, the last time the Leos missed the playoffs was 1996, when they managed just five victories.

TURNOVERS A KEY

It’s no surprise that both the Eskimos and Lions have struggled with turnovers. The 1-1 Esks are a CFLworst minus-eight, having not created a takeaway in two games. The Lions are even, but have recorded eight turnovers on both sides of the ledger.

“When you look at the games, the thing that is critical is if you minimize your turnovers, you probably have a better chance of winning,” said B. C. head coach Wally Buono. “Right now, the teams that are giving turnovers are the ones losing. That’s certainly something we have to improve on.”

THEY SAID IT:

“Good, I like new guys.”–Esks defensive tackle Dario Romero on the Lions bringing in Daren Heerspink at left offensive tackle.

THIS ‘N’ THAT

-Heerspink is not B. C.’s only lineup change. Rookie kicker Sean Whyte replaces injured punter-kicker Paul McCallum and Rufus Skillern starts ahead of Ryan Grice-Mullen at wideout. The Esks will add fullback Mathieu Bertrand and offensive lineman Adam Rogers to replace linebacker Greg Whelan and injured offensive lineman Greg Wojt, respectively.

-The Eskimos are expecting their 10-millionth fan tonight at Commonwealth Stadium. The lucky spectator will be presented with a jersey and prize package and will be the honorary captain for the evening.

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