Rourke, Lions defence shine as Leos roar past Riders
VANCOUVER – Nathan Rourke and the BC Lions defence shined in their 30-16 Week 12 victory over Trevor Harris and the Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Place Sunday.
The Lions got revenge after they dropped the first matchup 31-27 in Week 2 at Mosaic Stadium. The two teams will meet again in Week 17 for the season series rubber match back at BC Place.
Rourke surpassed 300 yards on the night with two touchdown passes and one interception. The Canadian quarterback had an efficient evening going 22-for-28 for 355 yards through the air, leading the Lions’ offence down the field with the run game not gaining much traction.
The BC Lions defence caused fits for Harris and the Riders’ offence all game long. T.J. Lee and Stantley Thomas-Oliver had the interceptions for the Leos’ defence with Deontai Williams forcing and recovering a fumble.
Both offences missed opportunities early with the teams driving and stalling in plus territory, alternating field goals before Rourke connected with Jevon Cottoy to break through a stout defensive battle for the first touchdown of the game in the second quarter.
Cottoy scored a first half touchdown early in the second quarter, handing the touchdown ball to his mother who was in the crowd for the first time at BC Place to watch the Canadian receiver’s first touchdown of the season. Cottoy would bring in all six of his targets for a game high 110 yards and the one score.
Keon Hatcher Sr. and Justin McInnis both added five plus receptions. Hatcher Sr. had the second touchdown score of the night as he racked up 60 yards receiving with McInnis adding 47 yards.
The Riders defence was dialled in on stopping a Lions’ backfield that had been rumbling through defences in recent weeks. The Green and White held Zander Horvath and James Butler to 57 yards on 13 carries with Rourke adding a 19-yard scramble, the longest run on the evening for the Leos.
Harris struggled to get going without his star wideout Kian Schaffer-Baker. The veteran signal caller still eclipsed 300 yards with a touchdown pass, but was picked off two times in the contest. Harris would finish the evening going 28-for-42 through the air generating 356 yards through the air.
Samuel Emilus made his return from injury for the Riders that had kept him out since Week 8. The six-foot tall receiver was Harris’ favourite target bringing in seven of his 11 targets for 66 yards. The Canadian wideout went down late in the fourth quarter, sparking more injury concerns for the Riders’ receiver room.
Dhel Duncan-Busby led the Roughriders passing attack bringing in four of his five targets for 85 yards and a touchdown reception. KeeSean Johnson added six catches for 79 yards.
Sean Whyte and Alex Hale both had perfect evenings going three-for-three on field goals.
Two crucial penalties erased Riders’ touchdowns on offence and special teams with another penalty negating a third quarter interception. BC won the turnover battle with two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a late turnover on downs, while Jackson Ford got an interception off Rourke for the only Rider generated turnover.
SCORING PLAYS
- Sean Whyte 44-yard field goal (12:09, Q1) | SSK 0 BC 3
- Alex Hale 24-yard field goal (08:00, Q1) | SSK 3 BC 3
- Sean Whyte 25-yard field goal (01:48, Q1) | SSK 3 BC 6
- Alex Hale 47-yard field goal (13:47, Q2) | SSK 6 BC 6
- Nathan Rourke 23-yard touchdown pass to Jevon Cottoy (11:46, Q2) | SSK 6 BC 13
- Nathan Rourke four-yard touchdown pass to Keon Hatcher Sr. (08:27, Q3) | SSK 6 BC 20
- Zander Horvath one-yard touchdown run (01:22, Q3) | SSK 6 BC 27
- Trevor Harris 32-yard touchdown pass to Dhel Duncan-Busby (12:10, Q4) | SSK 13 BC 27
- Sean Whyte 35-yard field goal (07:35, Q4) | SSK 13 BC 30
- Alex Hale 25-yard field goal (03:37, Q4) | SSK 16 BC 30
NEXT UP
The BC Lions head to the nation’s capital to take on the winless Ottawa REDBLACKS at TD Place Stadium in Week 13 action. This will be the first matchup of this season between the two teams and starts a run of three straight weeks for the Leos against East Division opponents.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders go into a Week 13 bye before hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 14 action. It will be the first meeting between the two West Division teams, who have a rematch in Week 15 in Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl.
