On Friday night at BC Place, the BC Lions took on the Ottawa Redblacks for the second time this season. The Lions were looking to stay ahead of the Calgary Stampeders for second place. In their last meeting, the Lions narrowly beat the Redblacks 34-31 back in Week 4.
On the second play for the BC Lions, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. took off for a 24-yard run. Then, Adams threw a couple of passes, while running back James Butler had three carries for 20 yards, and a 17-yard run by Antonio Pipkin set the Lions up on the Ottawa’s 13-yard line. On the next play, Adams scrambled out of the pocket to find Keon Hatcher on his knees for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead with 8:10 left.
On the fourth play for Ottawa, running back Devonte Williams took off for a 19-yard run. The Redblacks reached BC’s five-yard line before kicker Lewis Ward made a 12-yard field goal, making it 7-3 with 3:11 left.
On the next Lions’ drive, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed three passes for 51 yards. Two plays later, Adams connected with running back James Butler, who made a one-handed catch and broke several tackles on his into the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown, extending BC’s lead 14-3 with 35-seconds left.
After Redblacks’ running back, Devonte Williams rushed the ball for 27 yards, which was called back due to a holding penalty on Ottawa. The Redblacks faced a first and 20 to begin the second quarter. In the second quarter, the Redblacks made it to the Lions’ 37-yard line but came away empty when Lewis Ward missed a 44-yard field goal, and Terry Williams returned it out of the endzone, preventing a single point.
Moving ahead into the action, BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed a 26-yard pass to Lucky Whitehead. Two plays later, Adams threw a 35-yard pass to Dominique Rhymes at the Redblacks’ two-yard line. BC backup quarterback Antonio Pipkin scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak for a 21-3 lead with 2:15 left in the second quarter.
Late in the second quarter, Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward made a 22-yard field goal, making it 21-6 with 15-seconds left, but BC got those points back on a 43-yard field goal by Sean Whyte for a 24-6 lead at halftime.
The BC Lions dominated the first half with 260 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was 11/12 for 207 yards, two touchdowns, and two carries for 32 yards. BC’s receivers Dominique Rhymes and Keon Hatcher combined for six catches, 128 yards, and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Ottawa had 146 yards on offense, and quarterback Nick Arbuckle was 11/15 for 108 yards.
In the third quarter, BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 54-yard pass to Lucky Whitehead. Running back James Butler had a couple of carries for 16 yards before kicker Sean Whyte made an 11-yard field goal for a 27-6 lead with 12:48 left.
For the rest of the third quarter, Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward made a couple of field goals, one for 19 yards and the other for 47 yards, trimming the Lions’ lead 27-12 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions’ offense took their time chewing up the clock. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a couple of passes for 14 yards while running back James Butler had two carries for 13 yards, and backup quarterback Antonio Pipkin had a carry for two yards to reach the Redblacks’ one-yard line. Then, Antonio Pipkin scored his second touchdown of the game with a quarterback sneak, making it 34-12 with 9:16 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Ottawa finally got into the endzone when quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tevaun Smith. The score was 34-19 with 1:54 left. Ottawa tried an onsides kick, but the Lions recovered the ball. Ottawa did get one more opportunity to get closer to the Lions but could not complete third down, and the Lions won their tenth game of the season with a 34-19 win. Meanwhile, Ottawa drops to 3-11.
BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. looked like his old self, going 17/22 for 305 yards, two touchdowns, and three carries for 38 yards. Running back James Butler had 16 carries for 89 yards, while wide receivers Keon Hatcher, Dominique Rhymes, and Lucky Whitehead combined for 11 catches for 237 yards and one touchdown.
BC’s defense allowed 431 yards, 51 tackles, two sacks, one pass breakup, and one interception. The Lions visit the Toronto Argonauts next Saturday at 4 pm on ESPN+.
Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle went 27/36 for 363 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for four yards. Running back Devonte Williams had 12 carries for 59 yards, while wide receiver Tevaun Smith had seven catches for 77 yards and one touchdown.
Ottawa’s defense allowed 455 yards, 47 tackles, five sacks, and three pass breakups. Ottawa visits the Montreal Alouettes next Monday at 1 pm on ESPN2.
