Nathan Rourke handed for 375 yards and his B.C. Lions held off the Saskatchewan Roughriders for an important 31-24 victory on Friday.
The Canadian quarterback related on 22 of his 28 makes an attempt with 4 touchdowns because the Lions (8-6) climbed into second place within the CFL’s West Division.
The end result noticed B.C. win the three-game season collection between the 2 sides 2-1, and might be the tiebreaker if the Lions and Riders end the season with equivalent information.
Keon Hatcher Sr. reeled in a pair of TD passes, whereas Jevon Cottoy and Jermaine Jackson additionally discovered the tip zone, and Sean Whyte made a 14-yard area purpose.
The Riders (8-6) obtained some key items again on Friday, together with operating again A.J. Ouellette, who amassed 77 speeding yards and a TD in his return from a knee damage that noticed him sidelined for seven video games.
Trevor Harris put up 302 passing yards, throwing a landing to Dylan Djete within the second quarter. Kicker Dawson Hodge chalked up three area targets for Saskatchewan, together with a 32-yard strike.
The Riders regarded harmful on their first possession of the sport, with Harris working his means up the sector.
Seeking to join with a teammate in the long run zone, the QB despatched a go off of the upright and Saskatchewan settled for a 27-yard area purpose to open the scoring.
The Lions responded swiftly.
Rourke lobbed an enormous go up centre area to Stanley Berryhill III for a 56-yard acquire, then adopted up with a toss to Hatcher in the long run zone. Whyte’s single-point convert gave the house aspect a 7-3 lead.
A 31-yard area purpose from Hodge minimize Saskatchewan’s deficit to a single level early within the second quarter.
The Lions labored their means again into the pink zone, however took a penalty for a time depend violation and turned to Whyte for a 14-yard area purpose.
With simply over two minutes to go within the quarter Harris noticed Djete alone close to the sideline and hit the unencumbered vast receiver with a 13-yard go. Djete darted over the purpose line and Hodge made the one to place the Riders again on high by a rating of 13-10.
The lead did not final till halftime.
Rourke made 5 passes up the sector to place B.C. at Saskatchewan’s 19-yard line, then tossed a brief ball to Hatcher, who averted a sort out from Mike Rose en path to the tip zone for his second main of the night time. Whyte’s convert gave the Lions a 17-13 lead with 16 seconds to go within the first half.
Hatcher registered 66 receiving yards on the night time and hit 1,015 for the season. It is the fifth season in his CFL profession that the American receiver has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark.
The Lions boosted their benefit halfway by the third after Rourke got here up huge with an enormous go to Justin McInnis that gave the house aspect a primary down within the midfield.
Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace challenged the play for offensive go interference however after video evaluate, officers decided the decision on the sector would stand.
Rourke continued to push his crew up area and capped the drive with a go to Cottoy simply above the purpose line for one more TD. One other single-point conversion from Whyte gave B.C. a 24-13 lead.
The ultimate play of the third quarter noticed the Lions’ defence stymie Harris and his aspect deep in B.C. territory. The Riders’ quick yardage crew tried to increase the drive however as a substitute turned the ball over on downs.
Saskatchewan continued to push however struggled to interrupt by the Lions’ again finish. One other area purpose from Hodge — this time a 32-yard kick — made it 24-16 for B.C. halfway by the fourth quarter.
The gang at BC Place jumped to their toes late within the last body when Rourke scrambled out of the pocket beneath strain, sprinted up area and delivered a protracted bomb into the arms of McInnis.
The Canadian receiver was hauled down, however Rourke discovered Jermaine Jackson for one more main on the subsequent play to present the Lions a 31-16 lead.
With simply over two minutes left on the sport clock, Saskatchewan lastly made its means again into the tip zone with a two-yard plunge from Ouellette.
The Riders gave themselves hope when Tommy Stevens made it by the fray for a two-point conversion that left the rating 31-24.
At the very least one provincial politician made room in his busy election marketing campaign schedule to attend the sport. Newly minted B.C. Conservative chief Lorne Doerkson was noticed at area degree with former B.C. Premier Christy Clark earlier than kickoff.
Riders: Host the Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 2.
Lions: Go to the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 3.
