On Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium, the BC Lions took on the Edmonton Elks for the final time of the 2022 season, as this was Edmonton’s last game of the regular season. BC needed to win this game to clinch a home semi-final playoff game.
The Lions beat the Elks twice this year in dominant fashion, and this game was no different. For Edmonton, this was a chance to make a case to suit up for Edmonton in 2023.
In the first quarter, BC Lions returner Bruce Anderson fumbled the ball, and Edmonton recovered at the Lions’ 50-yard line. Two plays later, Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford took off for a 28-yard run. He got an additional four yards before throwing a seven-yard touchdown to Dillon Mitchell for a 7-0 lead with 12:53 left.
On the Lions’ first drive, running back James Butler had three carries for 28 yards. Six plays later, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a seven-yard touchdown to an all-alone Keon Hatcher, tying the game 7-7 with 7:38 left.
Late in the first quarter, BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 27-yard pass to Dominique Rhymes, helping the Lions reach the Elks’ 28-yard line to begin the second quarter facing third down.
In the second quarter, BC kicker Sean Whyte made a 35-yard field goal to put the Lions in the lead, 10-7, with 15 minutes left. Later in the second quarter, BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw four passes for 70 yards. Two plays later, BC running back James Butler rushed in for a three-yard touchdown, making it 17-7 with 5:37 left.
Late in the second quarter, BC cornerback Marcus Sayles intercepted Tre Ford’s pass and took it for 39 yards. Two plays later, backup quarterback Antonio Pipkin scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak for a 24-7 lead with 1:03 left. Edmonton had one last shot at getting some points before halftime but punted the ball. BC led 24-7 at halftime.
BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was 9/10 for 127 yards and one touchdown, and running back James Butler had 15 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown as part of the Lions’ 240 yards on offense. Meanwhile, the Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford was 5/11 for 46 yards, one touchdown, and one interception as part of Edmonton’s 112 yards on offense.
In the third quarter, BC Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr’s pass was intercepted by Donovan Olumba and returned for 54 yards at the Lions’ 11-yard line. Five plays later, Edmonton quarterback and wide receiver Kia Locksley scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, cutting BC’s lead 24-14 with 10:26 left.
Late in the third quarter, BC punter Stefan Flintoft’s punt went 67 yards into the endzone for a single point, 25-14 with 5:05 left, and kicker Sean Whyte made a 36-yard field goal for a 28-14 lead with two minutes left.
On the second Edmonton play, quarterback Tre Ford had the ball knocked out of his hand by Jordan Williams, and BC recovered. The Lions made it to the Elks’ 34-yard line to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, BC kicker Sean Whyte made a 37-yard field goal for a 31-14 lead with 14:50 left. Edmonton had three long drives but were unable to come away with points, and the BC Lions beat the Edmonton Elks 31-14 to clinch a home playoff game in the semi-final. The Lions moved to 12-5 on the year, while Edmonton finished the season 4-14.
BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was 18/24 for 211 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for two yards. Running back James Butler had 24 carries for 141 yards, one touchdown, and three catches for 21 yards, while wide receiver Keon Hatcher had three catches for 49 yards and one touchdown.
BC’s defense allowed 350 yards, with 42 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, four pass breakups, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. BC wraps up the regular season next week against Winnipeg next Friday at 8:30 pm on ESPN+.
Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford went 22/36 for 242 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and eight carries for 72 yards. Running back Kevin Brown had seven carries for 20 yards, while wide receiver Dillon Mitchell had five catches for 60 yards and one touchdown.
Edmonton’s defense allowed 370 yards, with 55 tackles, two pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
