VANCOUVER - The B.C. Lions honoured the memory of Bob Ackles in a way he would have appreciated Friday with a comeback 27-18 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in an emotional CFL game.

The Lions needed a 48-yard touchdown pass from Jarious Jackson to slotback Geroy Simon to take a 21-18 lead in the fourth quarter. It was the Lions’ second victory in eight days over the Bombers as B.C. evened its record at 2-2. Winnipeg, the defending East Division champions, sunk to 0-4.

A tribute to Ackles, 69, the club’s iconic president who died suddenly this month, was held after the game. It was the Lions’ first home date since his July 6 heart attack.

Simon was alone in the end zone to gather in Jackson’s throw when cornerback Jovon Johnson fell on a second-and-20 play. It was the only TD of the game for the Lions’ offence.

B.C. got its other points from a Korey Banks interception return while Paul McCallum booted four field goals, a single and a pair of converts.

Banks, a standout on defence all night, preserved the win by intercepting quarterback Kevin Glenn in the end zone when he bumped receiver Arjei Franklin and grabbed the ball. Banks also had two quarterback sacks.

Cam Hall had given 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 quarterback Glenn for an 81-yard TD. Alex Serna added a field goal, two converts and a single.

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.

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

Fans received a commemorative button of similar design that contained his motivational quote to staff, “Be the best that you can be.” Some of the 37,174 fans chanted “Bobby, Bobby” after the victory.

While B.C. dominated last week, the teams left the field tied 11-11 after 30 minutes.

Banks gave the Lions an 11-10 lead when he dived in front of receiver Derick Armstrong to pick off Glenn’s pass and got up to run 37 yards to the end zone.

While the Lions’ offence couldn’t get into the end zone in the first half, the Bomber defence snuffed out two dangerous drives.

Tailback Stefan Logan was stuffed twice when B.C. had a first down on the Winnipeg three yard line. Jason Nugent picked off a Jarious Jackson pass in the end zone when the receiver fell.

Winnipeg didn’t have a first down when Bryant scored his first CFL touchdown by grabbing a Glenn aerial behind safety Tad Crawford on a second-and-16 play.

Notes: Fans also 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.