B.C. Lions rally for Bob Ackles in 27-18 win over Winnipeg Blue Bombers

It took a fourth-quarter touchdown catch by slotback Geroy Simon to forge a 21-18 lead and a controversial end zone interception by standout defensive back Korey Banks to preserve the victory.

"What a way to honour Mr. Ackles ... fighting to the end and pulling it out in the end," said Simon who caught a 48-yard bomb from quarterback Jarious Jackson.

"It was a great win because we struggled so much on offence. Our defence held us in there."

B.C., which led the West Division with a 14-3-1 record last year, evened its record at 2-2. Winnipeg, the defending East Division champions, sunk to 0-4 with a second loss to the Lions in eight days.

Ackles, 69, the club's iconic president who died suddenly this month, was enshrined after the game in the club's ring of honour between the first and second decks of B.C. Place Stadium.

A circle with BOB in the centre of the Lions' original paw print logo was painted at midfield.

The 37,174 fans in attendance received a commemorative button of similar design that contained Ackles' motivational quote, "Be the best that you can be."

In the fourth-quarter, Simon found himself alone in the end zone after defensive back Jovon Johnson fell.

"Jarious just threw the ball so far," said Simon who led B.C. receivers with five catches for 117 yards. "Both of us expected that it would come out earlier but he has such a big arm, he put it out there and (Johnson) got tripped up."

It was the only TD of the game for the B.C. offence which saw tailback Stefan Logan stuffed twice on the three yard line and Jackson picked off in the end zone in the first half.

"It wasn't so much what they were doing, we were kind of stopping ourselves," said Simon.

Banks not only kept the Lions in the lead but he intercepted Winnipeg pivot Kevin Glenn in the first half and returned the pick 37 yards for a touchdown.

"Korey is a guy that's just coming into his own," head coach Wally Buono said of Banks who also sacked Glenn twice.

Bomber players, including Ryan Donnelly who yelled at officials as they left the field, complaining Banks illegally interfered with receiver Arjei Franklin on his second interception. Banks said he cut Franklin off and went for the ball.

"That play, they'd never call that," said Banks who called the victory a great experience.

"We know Bob, we know his family and we miss him but we had to win for him," said Banks. "Whatever it takes to win, we'll do it."

Paul McCallum completed the B.C. attack with four field goals, a single and a pair of converts.

Cam Hall gave the Bombers an 18-11 lead in the third quarter when he intercepted Jackson and had nobody between him and the 22 yards to the end zone.

Romby Bryant staked Winnipeg to a 7-0 lead when he hooked up with Glenn for an 81-yard TD. Alex Serna added a field goal, two converts and a single.

Franklin said the non-call was hard to accept.

"You don't want to leave it in the hands of the officials," he said. "The refs have got a tough job."

Bomber linebacker Barrin Simpson said he isn't discouraged by the 0-4 start but the offence has to contribute.

"We're definitely going to come back," he said. "They've got to keep throwing the ball. They've just got to make some plays near the end of the game."

Ackles' 35-minute ceremony, was viewed from owner David Braley's suite by his widow Kay, who wept and blew kisses to the thousands who remained. Sons Scott and Steve and their families were also present.

Commissioner Mark Cohon said the best way to remember Ackles is to celebrate the CFL.

"He's passed the torch to all of us," Cohon said as fans ended the ceremony with a chorus of the Lions' fight song.

Ackles started with the Lions as a waterboy and was associated with the franchise for more than 50 years. He is in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder and is credited with reviving the B.C. franchise when he returned here in 2002.

Notes: Fans observed a moment of silence in honour of Ackles prior to the opening kickoff ... B.C. offensive tackle Rob Murphy was back in the lineup after being in Florida where his wife gave birth to triplets ... Lions fullback Lyle Greene and defensive end Brent Johnson are in their seventh season without missing a game ... slotback Milt Stegall, the CFL's all-time touchdown leader, remained out of the Bomber lineup with a knee injury.