The B.C. Lions regarded like a crew in full management on Sunday.
Nathan Rourke handed for 345 yards and two touchdowns because the Lions received the newest conflict of the Canadian quarterbacks, rising with a straightforward 32-14 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday.
“We did some good issues,” Rourke mentioned. “We positively want to complete drives just a little bit higher, however I feel we did a extremely good job actually giving it to them within the run sport, having some lengthy instances of possession and actually placing some drives collectively, that was good to see.
“It’s good to be taking part in good soccer and it’s additionally good to not have performed our greatest soccer but.”
James Butler additionally rushed for a career-high 172 yards and a landing for the Lions (3-3), who’ve received two straight.
Story continues beneath commercial
“I felt like I might have had extra,” Butler chuckled. “We have been speaking all week about placing 4 quarters collectively. We’ve had gradual begins. I believed we acquired out quick on this sport and stored on pushing.”
Quarterback Tre Ford handed for less than 34 yards as Edmonton was held to only 160 yards in internet offence on the night time, a lot of that coming when the sport was already out of attain.
“It was a tricky sport,” Ford mentioned. “Clearly we acquired beat up and lots of that was my fault. There was simply lots of missed throws at this time. It simply sucks as a result of I believed I used to be seeing the sphere rather well.
Extra on Sports activities
Extra movies
“It simply wasn’t our day.”
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and all over the world, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
The Elks dropped to 1-4.
There was no scoring till late within the opening quarter when Sean Whyte nailed a 33-yard discipline objective.
The Lions made it 10-0 5 minutes into the second quarter when Rourke accomplished a brief go to Jevon Cottoy and he danced out of the clutches of a defender and dove into the tip zone for a 16-yard landing.
Edmonton caught a break when a Rourke go went off a helmet on the road and was caught by defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, who promptly fumbled it earlier than teammate Tyrell Ford dropped on it on the B.C. 19. It could finally result in a one-yard TD plunge by backup quarterback Cody Fajardo.
Story continues beneath commercial
The Lions got here roaring again to revive their 10-point lead with two minutes left within the first half as Butler powered his manner via for a 15-yard speeding TD.
B.C. regarded to have prolonged its lead on an enormous 92-yard punt return landing by Seven McGee, however the play was nullified on an unlawful block name.
With simply eight seconds left within the second quarter, nevertheless, Rourke accomplished a seven-yard TD go to Stanley Berryhill III to take a 24-7 lead into halftime.
Trending Now
WestJet passengers evacuate on slides after engine hearth at Vancouver airport
Canadian musician Matthew Good cancels U.S. exhibits to protest Trump tariffs
Of their first 5 video games this season, the Lions had managed solely three factors within the first quarter and had been outscored a mixed 72-32 within the opening half.
“Early execution was key for us and we’ve been missing that the final variety of weeks,” mentioned Lions head coach Buck Pierce. “So, to have the ability to come out and begin just a little sooner was good to see.”
After gaining two factors on a security on Edmonton’s earlier possession, Whyte kicked a 36-yard discipline objective with 3:24 remaining within the third.
Whyte added a 31-yard discipline objective with 5 minutes left within the fourth.
Fajardo changed Ford at QB late within the fourth and accomplished a 31-yard landing go to Kurleigh Gittens Jr.
Story continues beneath commercial
NOTES
It was the second sport this season that includes a pair of Canadian beginning quarterbacks, as the primary sport for each squads this season additionally had Ford going in opposition to Rourke, with the Lions profitable that encounter 31-14. Earlier than this season, the final time there was an all-Canadian quarterback matchup additionally featured these identical two groups, going down manner again in August 1968 (the Lions’ Pete Ohler in opposition to Edmonton’s Frank Cosentino). … The 2 groups will meet a 3rd time on Oct. 17 in Vancouver, the second-last week of the common season … Ceresna suffered a leg damage within the third and was carted off the sphere.
UP NEXT
Lions: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, July 19.
Elks: Go to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, July 25.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
