June 30, 2022

Rourke leads undefeated Lions past REDBLACKS

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke led the BC Lions past the Ottawa REDBLACKS for a 34-31 win on Thursday night to kick off Canada Day weekend in the nation’s capital.

The 24-year-old from Oakville, Ont., bounced back from three turnovers in the back-and-forth battle to power BC to its third straight win. The REDBLACKS made it a three-point game with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the ensuing onside kick attempt was unsuccessful as they dropped their third straight game.

Rourke completed 23 of 31 passes for 359 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also added 87 rushing yards, including a 50-yard touchdown, with one fumble on five carries.

Lions’ Keon Hatcher led all receivers with 166 yards and a touchdown on seven catches, while running back James Butler racked up 129 total yards and two touchdowns as BC moved to 3-0 for the first time since 2007.

Ottawa defensive back Monshadrik “Money” Hunter made a big impact with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, as the REDBLACKS generated 17 points off turnovers.

Running back William Powell made his Ottawa return after missing the first two games with an achilles injury, carrying the ball 11 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 13 of 26 passes for 159 yards while also adding a rushing touchdown in the loss.

RELATED
» ‘This team can find a way’: Rourke bounces back as Lions overcome turnovers
» Box Score: REDBLACKS, Lions by the numbers
» Through the Lens: Lions at REDBLACKS
» Watch: Rourke shows off his speed for a TD
» Watch: The Next One: Canada’s Great QB Hope

 

Rourke got things rolling in the first quarter with a 23-yard completion to Hatcher, and he found the end zone two plays later on a 50-yard touchdown run around the left edge that silenced the home crowd. The BC pivot left multiple Ottawa defenders in his wake as he accelerated up the sideline, and Sean Whyte booted the extra point for the early 7-0 lead.

Ottawa responded with a 35-yard field goal from Lewis Ward early in the second quarter, but Rourke answered right back on the ensuing drive by engineering a quick 55-yard touchdown drive.

The record-setting Canadian completed a 14-yard pass to Lucky Whitehead before connecting with Hatcher again for a 34-yard gain that moved the ball to Ottawa’s three-yard line. Rourke finished the drive off with a short screen pass to Butler for the touchdown, and Whyte added the extra point to give BC a 14-3 lead.

Ottawa’s offence managed to reach the red zone late in the second quarter, but BC’s secondary proceeded to clamp down and force the REDBLACKS to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Ward.

Lions defensive lineman Tim Bonner sacked Masoli with under a minute left to help close out the half.

Rourke’s hot streak was derailed early in the third quarter when he threw an interception under pressure to Hunter, who returned it 11 yards inside BC territory. The turnover led to a five-yard touchdown run from Powell, which Caleb Evans followed up with a QB sneak for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14 points apiece.

Hunter picked off Rourke again on the Lions’ next drive, jumping the route and returning the interception 56 yards down the sideline to set Ottawa up with great field position inside BC’s 10-yard line. Masoli moved the ball closer with a six-yard run before finding the end zone on a one-yard QB sneak. But Ward’s extra point attempt went wide, leaving Ottawa with just a six-point lead.

Rourke bounced back from the pair of interceptions by finding Hatcher for a 71-yard touchdown on the very next drive, with Hatcher gaining 43 yards in the open field after making the grab. BC took a 21-20 lead on the extra point from Whyte.

 

The Canadian gunslinger maintained momentum by leading a 60-yard scoring drive near the end of the third quarter that ended with a five-yard touchdown run from Butler to extend the lead. Whyte’s extra point put BC up 28-20.

Defensive back Justin Howell stripped the ball from Rourke as he rushed the ball in the fourth quarter. Masoli capitalized on the opportunity by completing a 34-yard strike to Darvin Adams, which led to a 38-yard field goal from Ward — cutting BC’s lead down to five points with under 10 minutes to play.

Whyte added field goals of 32 and 15 yards late in the quarter, but Ottawa responded with a quick 34-yard scoring drive in the final minute. Evans found the end zone with a one-yard touchdown run before completing the two-point conversion pass to Adams to make it a three-point game.

BC killed the clock for the win following the failed onside kick.

Ottawa will next face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina on Friday, July 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET, while BC will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to close out Week 5 on Saturday, July 9 at 7 p.m. ET.

The comment system on this website is now powered by the CFL.ca Forums. We'd love for you to be part of the conversation; click the Start Discussion button below to register an account and join the community!