On Thursday night at TD Place, the BC Lions (3-0) held on to a 34-31 win over the Ottawa Redblacks (0-3) to remain undefeated.
BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke went 23/31 for 359 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions and led the rushers with five carries for 87 yards and one touchdown. Rourke’s first touchdown happened in the first quarter on third-and-one. The Lions were going for a quarterback sneak, and Rourke scrambled to his left and took off for a 50-yard touchdown, putting the Lions up 7-0 with 10:33 left. The score remained 7-0 heading into the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward made a 35-yard field goal that cut the Lions’ lead 7-3. On the next Lions possession, Nathan Rourke took the offense down to the three-yard before throwing a touchdown pass to James Butler, extending the lead 14-3 with 11:26 left. Late in the second quarter, Lewis Ward made his second field goal for 28 yards, and the Redblacks trailed the Lions 14-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Monshadrik Hunter intercepted Nathan Rourke’s pass and got it to the Lions’ 16-yard line. Then, Ottawa’s offense pushed through, resulting in a William Powell five-yard touchdown run. They went for a two-point conversion and got it, tying the game 14-14 with 10:15 left. William Powell led the Redblacks rushers with 11 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Ottawa’s defense came through again on the next series when Monshadrik Hunter intercepted Nathan Rourke again and took it down to the Lions’ seven-yard line. Jeremiah Masoli took care of the rest by sneaking in for a touchdown. However, Lewis Ward missed the extra point, and the Redblacks led 20-14 with 6:42 left. Jeremiah Masoli went 13/26 for 159 yards and was second in rushing with four carries for 18 yards and one touchdown.
The Lions needed a response. On second-and-three, Nathan Rourke threw to a lonely Keon Hatcher, who blew by a Redblacks’ defender for a 71-yard touchdown, putting BC back up 21-20 with 5:18 left in the third quarter. Then, just before the third quarter ended, James Butler rushed for a five-yard touchdown, extending BC’s lead 28-20, heading into the fourth quarter. James Butler had a good night with 19 carries for 63 yards, one touchdown, five catches for 66 yards, and one touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, the Redblacks’ defense came through again when Nathan Rourke took off running for 13-yards before Justin Howell knocked the ball out, and it was recovered by Monshadrik Hunter. Ottawa’s defense allowed 509 yards, 52 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Unfortunately, the Redblacks could only get three points out of it on a 38-yard field goal by Lewis Ward, his third of the night. Ottawa trailed 28-23 with 8:48 left in the game.
BC Lions kicker Sean Whyte made two field goals, making it harder for Ottawa to come back now trailing 34-23. Then, with less than a minute left in the game, Jeremiah Masoli attempted a pass to Darvin Adams that went incomplete.
However, a pass interference penalty on the Lions moved the ball to the one-yard line, and backup quarterback Caleb Evans scored the touchdown. The Redblacks converted a two-point play, and it was a three-point game 34-31 with 33-seconds left in the game. The Lions’ defense allowed 253 yards, 43 tackles, two sacks, and six pass breakups.
The Redblacks attempted an on-side kick, but the ball went out of bounds, and a penalty was called on them, giving the ball to the Lions, who went into victory formation and won the game 34-31.
This was a close game, but Ottawa made too many mistakes that could’ve gotten them their first win of the season. The Redblacks were lucky they did not lose two of their players for game misconducts. Despite the loss, the Redblacks are improving, and if they make adjustments for their next game, they might get their first win of the season. The Redblacks take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders next Friday at 9:30 pm on ESPNEWS.
Meanwhile, the Lions continue to make headlines in the CFL. Their ability to score more points than last year is a nice turnaround. Now comes the real challenge. Next Saturday, the Lions play the defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 7 pm on ESPNEWS. If they beat Winnipeg, we might be looking at a team that could win the West Division.
