VANCOUVER (CBC) - Jarious Jackson threw for more than 300 yards in the second half Friday night to lead the B.C. Lions to a comeback 27-18 victory over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers on an evening that honoured the memory of team president Bob Ackles.

Jackson, who had just 76 yards through the air and an interception in the first half, hit Geroy Simon for the go-ahead score four minutes into the final quarter to key the win for the Lions (2-2).

Despite a defence that expended everything on this night, Winnipeg fell to 0-4.

The Lions came into the game heavy-hearted after the death on July 6 of Ackles, a man who started as a B.C. water boy five decades ago and rose to become one of the most influential executives in Canadian Football League history.

This was the first home game since the death and the field was painted with a Lions logo featuring the name BOB. The club also held a post-game ceremony for Ackles.

B.C. won both ends of the back-to-back series, having easily taken last week's contest in Winnipeg 42-24.

This time, the Bombers put up a fight, leading the game 18-11 at the start of the fourth quarter before the Lions scored 16 unanswered points for the victory.

Simon puts on a show

Trailing 18-14, Jackson brought the Lions into Winnipeg territory and had a first down on the visitors' 48 four minutes into the fourth.

On second and long, the quarterback found the veteran Simon wide open in the end zone and launched a big, beautiful arc that was on the wrong shoulder of the receiver.

Simon simply turned to run backwards so he could track the ball in mid-flight, then switched to his right to catch it, putting the Lions in front 21-18 with the convert.

After a Winnipeg punt, Jackson brought the Lions down again, keyed by a 16-yard run by Stefan Logan and a nice pass down the sideline to Simon that put the ball on the Bombers' 14.

Winnipeg's defence held, and B.C. settled for a Paul McCallum field goal (one of four on the night). He added a late one for the final margin.

Controversial non-call

An official's non-call took away what could have been a key drive for the Bombers late in the final quarter.

On second down deep in B.C. territory, Glenn put a sharp ball into the end zone for receiver Arjel Franklin. Just as he was reaching for the ball, defender Korey Banks ran into his back, knocking the Winnipeg pass catcher to the turf.

Banks intercepted the ball with no flag, though replays showed it should have been interference.

Jarious Jackson finished with 396 yards passing, 114 by Paris Jackson off six balls, and 117 by Simon off five catches.

Bombers quarterback Kevin Glenn went 18-for-28, 266 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw interceptions as giving the ball away for free continues to plague him.

Winnipeg running back Charles Roberts had 12 carries for 51 yards, while receiver Romby Bryant caught five balls for 146 yards.

Bombers had a chance

Jarious Jackson looked ready to toss this one away after an early third-quarter interception produced a go-ahead touchdown for Winnipeg courtesy of Cam Hall, who made a nice one-handed pickoff and ran it in from the 22, making it 18-11 with the convert.

But the B.C. quarterback went to the air again late in the quarter to find Paris Jackson deep down the left side, where the receiver had separation on the defender. Add on a roughing-the-passer call and the ball wound up on the Bombers' 12.

An interception and a Jackson run that went nowhere meant B.C. had to settle for a McCallum field goal to make it 18-14 early in the fourth quarter.

Winnipeg came ready

The Bombers came out much more prepared in this one and took the lead for the first time since week one.

Glenn hit Bryant down the left sideline for a 74-yard touchdown with seven minutes gone and he beat safety Tad Crawford for the score.

That was just the quarterback's second touchdown pass of the season and with the convert it was 7-0.

Defence steps up for B.C.

With the score 10-4 a little later, Lions finally got their opening touchdown, but not from an offence that had its hands full with a strong Blue Bomber defensive effort.

Glenn had the ball on his own 36 when he spotted receiver Derick Armstrong crossing in front of him but had the ball picked off by Banks, who took a chance and stepped up in front of the Winnipeg pass-catcher, picking off the ball and running it in for a major that gave B.C. the lead at 11-10 with the convert.

Serna got a single for the Bombers off a missed field goal for 11-11 into the half.

B.C.'s Corey Rogers left the game in the first half with a suspected torn knee ligament that could end the receiver's season. Winnipeg defensive star Barrin Simpson left late with what looked like a right arm injury.

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