Lions leave it late to get past Tiger-Cats at home

VANCOUVER — Zander Horvath scored two touchdowns and Sean Whyte converted a field goal with 30 seconds on the clock to lift the BC Lions past the Hamilton Tiger-cats 27-24 on Saturday evening. Nathan Rourke returned to the field for the Leos after a three-game injury absence to make it back-to-back wins for BC as they try to climb the West Division standings.

Rourke orchestrated an 11-play, 69-yard drive to set up Whyte’s kick, delivering the football to Justin McInnis and Jevon Cottoy for key first-down pickups. Whyte did the rest from 24 yards out, leaving the Tabbies with a ton of work to do with just seconds remaining. Marc Liegghio had the chance to be the hero, but a 57-yard attempt would prove to be too tall a task for Hamilton’s kicker as the Lions edged it in the end.

In his first CFL start, Harrison Frost gave his team a chance until the very end. He finished the game 20-33 with 239 passing yards, one touchdown, and an interception. Kurleigh Gittens Jr. was on the receiving end of Frost’s touchdown pass in the second quarter.

A nifty flea flicker from Rourke went to Justin McInnis for a monster 82-yard touchdown to tie things up at 14 but a 47-yard boot from meant that it would be the visitors going into halftime with a slender lead.

The Ticats’ offence got off to a timid start in the second half however. Horvath scored the first points after the break thanks to a on a one-yard run, as the Lions’ back hit double digits for majors in 2026. It was Horvath who got the Lions on the board on the home team’s opening possession, catching a seven-yard pass from Rourke.

As the Lions looked to make it a two-score game, Jamal Peters picked off Rourke after the ball bounced off of the fingertips of Keon Hatcher Sr. The Ticats picked up their first first down of the second half off of the turnover and Frost aired it out to Myron Mitchell to set up Dolegala’s second score of the day, making it a can’t-miss finish.

SCORING PLAYS

• Nathan Rourke seven-yard touchdown pass to Zander Horvath (8:57, Q1) | BC 7, HAM 0
• Jake Dolegala one-yard touchdown run (2:14, Q1) | BC 7, HAM 7
• Harrison Frost five-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (9:00, Q2) | HAM 14, BC 7
• Nathan Rourke 82-yard touchdown pass to Justin McInnis (2:31, Q2) | HAM 14, BC 14
• Marc Liegghio 47-yard field goal (00:00, Q2) | HAM 17, BC 14
• Zander Horvath one-yard touchdown run (5:09, Q3) | BC 21, HAM 17
• Sean Whyte 33-yard field goal (13:38, Q4) | BC 24, HAM 17
• Jake Dolegala one-yard touchdown run (7:43, Q4) | BC 24, HAM 24
• Sean Whyte 24-yard field goal (00:30, Q4) | BC 27, HAM 24

NEXT UP

The Lions will hit the road to take on the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday, August 13. This will be the second meeting between the two West Division clubs after the Stamps were victors in Vancouver back in Week 4.

Wrapping up Week 11 will be the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Tiger-Cats on Saturday, August 15 from Hamilton Stadium. The Ticats will look to avoid a sixth straight defeat at the hands of the Riders.