Lions 31, Renegades 13 The face of Renegades GM Eric Tillman was red late yesterday afternoon and he's been known to have a rivet or two pop loose with a couple of whistling jets of steam when things haven't been to his liking.

But yesterday his face was simply red from the gorgeous late summer sun. His reaction to his club's 31-13 loss to the B.C. Lions was one of grim resignation.

"Our season comes down to the next six weeks. We have to win four out of our last six for us to make the playoffs," Tillman said in the hallway outside the Renegades dressing room.

That is where the Renegades find themselves now after losing the eighth of their last nine games (and they were handed that lone win by Matt Dunigan and the Calgary Stampeders).

So, is there reason to believe this team that hasn't beaten a quality team since Canada Day will still be alive after Thanksgiving?

Sure there is. The Renegades play Friday against the Stamps in a game they must win as much for the points in the standings as for the boost in their confidence.

The Stamps stink. If the Renegades can't beat the Stampeders, then they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

It's that plain.

"It's amazing what a win can do for a team," said Tillman, "and this team needs a win. We need to taste victory."

After that, they play back-to-back games against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a team they might have to edge out for the opportunity to partake of the playoff crossover.

The Renegades get a bye between the games.

The Renegades then have games against Hamilton, Montreal and Hamilton to close out the season.

It's there for their taking, if you can overlook a wonky kicker, a defence that couldn't stop the run yesterday and an inability to take advantage of some opportunities deep in the Lions' zone. While he's looking around, Tillman didn't promise any changes yesterday.

"We're in control of our destiny," said Tillman, "and that's all we can ask for at this point."

That and four wins.

HEAR AND THERE: Hey, Pat Woodcock, welcome back ... The pass by Renegades QB Kerry Joseph to Jason Armstead for Ottawa's only touchdown was nice, but his most impressive move on the opening drive was hurdling the table at the Renegades bench after being pushed out of bounds. I hope Perdita Felicien was watching ... First-quarter visitors to the press box: The Gliebermen, Lonie and Bernie Glieberman. The latter was hanging around the Renegades dressing room post-game. I was hoping for a rant, for old time's sake. Current president Brad Watters wound up doing a fine job himself ... Of course it had to be Jason Clermont, a guy the Renegades passed on twice in the draft, who scored the touchdown to make it 31-13 and put the game out of reach. For the record, the Renegades took RB Mike Vilimek and OL Alexandre Gauthier instead.

JUST WONDERING: Who would have thought Armstead would be emerging as the Renegades' second-most valuable offensive player at this point in the season? With RB Josh Ranek less a part of the offence (just nine carries for 27 yards yesterday), Armstead's impact has been greater receiving and returning the ball. He had three punt returns for 75 yards yesterday and gave the 'Gades good field position ... Yesterday's win was a club-record seventh in a row for the Lions. Gee, wonder if the Stamps miss Wally Buono?

REVELATIONS: Nice to see some football atmosphere heading into FCS yesterday. There was some serious tailgating going on in the parking lot ... B.C. QB Casey Printers is the whole package. Just as impressive as his running ability is his touch. He dropped in some wonderfully soft passes yesterday. "I think you have to go back to the days of Warren Moon. I don't know of a young quarterback that's played better," said Tillman.

SPECULATIONS: First play of the game and B.C. kick returner Aaron Lockett gets hammered out of bounds at the Ottawa bench. He rolls up on the leg of offensive lineman Chris Burns. Now, the way things have been going for the Renegades' "O" line, you'd expect Burns to be out for the rest of the season, but he jumped up to his feet ... Woodcock dislocated the big toe on his left foot in the fourth quarter, but it popped back in. That sounds almost as painful as a football in the eye.

LEMME SAY THIS ABOUT THAT: Joseph continues to impress with his athletic ability. After Ottawa receiver Curtis Jackson fumbled on the B.C. 35, the ball was picked up by Lions LB Mawuko Tugbenyoh, who took off with a convoy. Joseph was the last man back, fought off three blocks and forced Tugbenyoh out of bounds at the Ottawa 25. It saved a touchdown ... Later, in the third quarter, Joseph made a nice play to break up what looked like a sure interception when he was the intended receiver off a trick play which saw Armstead put it up. Hmmm. Now Joseph is their best defensive player, too?

PARTING SHOT: "I think (Sandro) Sciortino should change his number. That's the problem," said one press-box resident, noting the struggling kicker wears 13. "How about changing feet?" was the retort.

chris.stevenson@ott.sunpub.com