The B.C. Lions sent the crowd home happy Friday night in the regular-season finale in dominant fashion 43-10 over the Edmonton Elks.
BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke went 23/34 for 359 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, seven carries for 34 yards, and three touchdowns. He scored all of his touchdowns in the first half.
Rourke’s only touchdown pass happened in the first quarter. From the pocket with the offense collapsing, Rourke found Bryan Burnham for a ten-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 10:32 left. With 6:50 left, Rourke rushed for a one-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Rourke went up the middle for a five-yard touchdown run. A missed extra point made it 20-0 with 7:05 left. Rourke’s last touchdown run came with 1:50 left for two yards for a 27-0 lead.
Running back, James Butler had 18 carries for 109 yards. Dominique Rhymes led the receivers with four catches for 103 yards. Kicker Nicholas Vogel made three field goals, with his longest for 44 yards.
Wide receiver/returner Lucky Whitehead returned a 79-yard punt for a touchdown with 1:17 left in the second quarter for a 34-0 lead. However, the Lions lost Quadree Henderson, who had a devastating leg injury during a punt return. The defense recorded two sacks by Kevin Thurmon and five interceptions.
Edmonton Elks quarterback Dakota Prukop went 17/24 for 183 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and eight carries for 51 yards. His touchdown pass happened in the second quarter when he threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolliver, who had to jump to get it with a Lions defender on him. The Elks trailed the Lions 34-7 with two seconds left. Backup quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 4/11 for 27 yards and three interceptions.
Running back, Walter Fletcher had eight carries for 41 yards, and wide receiver Armanti Edwards led the receivers with four catches for 72 yards. Kicker Sean Whyte made one field goal for 12 yards, and the defense had one sack and two interceptions.
The B.C. Lions finish with a record of 5-9, while the Edmonton Elks finish with a 3-11 record.
