The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-6) visited BC Place on Sunday night against the B.C. Lions (5-5) to close out Week 11 of the CFL season. This game marked the return of B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was making his first start in two years.
The last time he played a full game was the 2022 CFL Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers got a key piece of their offense back in wide receiver Kenny Lawler. This game had plenty of excitement in the beginning but by the end, it ended up being another one-sided game.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter, B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke completed two passes for 18 yards before the drive stalled and the Lions punted the ball to Winnipeg. On Winnipeg’s first possession of the game, quarterback Zach Collaros threw four passes for 62 yards plus a roughing the passer penalty on B.C. moved the ball to the Lions’ 16-yard line.
On the next play, Collaros was sacked by Sione Teuhema for a 6-yard loss. Then, Collaros threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nic Demski for a 7-0 lead with 7:58 left of the first quarter capping off an 8-play drive for 93 yards.
For the rest of the first quarter, it was defense. Winnipeg defensive lineman Willie Jefferson sacked Nathan Rourke for a 9-yard loss with 2:19 left, and Sione Teuhema sacked Collaros for the second time for a 6-yard loss with 35 seconds left.
On the final play of the first quarter, Winnipeg punter Jamieson Sheahan punted the ball 41 yards to B.C. returner Stanley Berryhill III. Berryhill III bobbled the ball before getting tackled on their 17-yard line and it was initially recovered by Winnipeg. After the command center reviewed the play, they determined that Berryhill III was down by contact. The Blue Bombers led the Lions 7-0.
Winnipeg had 110 yards on offense (118 yards passing, 4 yards rushing, 12 yards lost) and 7 first downs. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 7 of 10 passes for 118 yards, and one touchdown. B.C. had 43 yards on offense (28 yards passing, 24 yards rushing, 9 yards lost) and 4 first downs. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 3 of 7 passes for 28 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, B.C. running back William Stanback had four carries for 40 yards. On the next play, quarterback Nathan Rourke’s pass intended for Alexander Hollins was intercepted by Deadrick Nichols for a 19-yard return to their 53-yard line. An objectionable conduct penalty by B.C. wide receiver Keon Hatcher placed the ball on the Lions’ 47-yard line.
Winnipeg’s offense picked up 13 yards before the drive stalled. Kicker Sergio Castillo attempted a 42-yard field goal but hit the right upright and the score remained 7-0 Winnipeg with 10:03 left of the second quarter. The majority of the second quarter was dominated by both defenses.
In a funny moment for the CFL, B.C. punter Sean Flintoft punted the ball 38 yards before hitting the scoreboard resulting in a dead ball with 2:26 left of the second quarter. Head official Ben Major had fun after the play.
With 46 seconds left, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke’s pass intended for Alexander Hollins was intercepted by Tyrell Ford. He returned it for a 42-yard touchdown but an illegal blocking penalty on Winnipeg linebacker Tony Jones placed the ball on the Lions’ 41-yard line.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed a 9-yard pass to Kenny Lawler and running back Brady Oliveira rushed for a gain of two yards setting up kicker Sergio Castillo for a 38-yard field goal. He made the field goal extending Winnipeg’s lead 10-0 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Winnipeg had 176 yards on offense (157 yards passing, 31 yards rushing, 12 yards lost) and 11 first downs. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 13 of 18 passes (72%) for 157 yards and one touchdown. Running back Brady Oliveira had four carries for 27 yards and three catches for 23 yards.
Wide receiver Kenny Lawler made four catches for 54 yards, and Nic Demski made three catches for 51 yards and one touchdown. Winnipeg’s defense made one sack. They were penalized three times for 23 yards.
B.C. had 119 yards on offense (47 yards passing, 81 yards rushing, 9 yards lost), and 8 first downs. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 5 of 15 passes (33%) for 47 yards, two interceptions, and one carry for nine yards. Running back William Stanback had 10 carries for 72 yards and two catches for 12 yards.
Wide receiver Justin McInnis made two catches for 22 yards, and Ayden Eberhardt made one catch for 13 yards. B.C.’s defense made two sacks. They were penalized three times for 35 yards.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Winnipeg’s offense started their second possession from their 23-yard line. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw six passes for 82 yards to the Lions’ three-yard line.
Backup quarterback Chris Streveler rushed for a gain of two yards before finishing the drive scoring a one-yard touchdown with a quarterback sneak. Winnipeg extended their lead 17-0 capping off a 10-play gain for 87 yards eating six minutes off the clock with 2:28 left of the third quarter.
B.C.’s offense had the ball for the final 2:09 left of the third quarter. Running back William Stanback rushed for a gain of three yards before quarterback Nathan Rourke rushed for a gain of 15 yards and completed a 39-yard pass to Alexander Hollins.
On the final play of the third quarter, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke’s pass intended for Justin McInnis in the endzone was incomplete. McInnis needed one foot inbounds to score the touchdown but it went out of bounds. The Lions trailed the Blue Bombers 17-0.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, B.C. kicker Sean Whyte made a 23-yard field goal and the Lions trailed the Blue Bombers 17-3 with 13:55 left. The Blue Bombers’ defense did not allow any points for seven quarters until Whyte kicked the field goal. The field goal capped off a five-play drive for 57 yards.
On the second play for Winnipeg, quarterback Zach Collaros’s pass intended for Ontaria Wilson was intercepted by T.J. Lee at their 44-yard line with 12:33 left of the game. Winnipeg’s defense made quick work when Jamal Woods sacked Nathan Rourke for a 4-yard loss and Rourke’s pass intended for Justin McInnis was incomplete. Winnipeg’s offense started their next possession on their 36-yard line.
Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira had three carries for 38 yards before quarterback Zach Collaros threw him a one-yard pass short of the first down. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 43-yard field goal for a 20-3 lead with 7:39 left of the game.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke played one more series. He threw two passes for 39 yards, while running back William Stanback carried the ball twice for 13 yards. On third down, Rourke ran for three yards to pick up the first down to the Blue Bombers’ 17-yard line.
On third down, Rourke’s pass intended for Keon Hatcher was initially caught for a touchdown. However, after the command center reviewed the play, it was ruled an incomplete pass and Winnipeg took over on their 10-yard line with 4:08 left in the game.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 9-yard pass to Lucky Whitehead before running back Johnny Augustine and backup quarterback Chris Streveler took over combing for five carries for 29 yards before the drive stalled and they punted the ball back to B.C. with 1:12 left of the game.
Chase Brice was the new quarterback for the B.C. Lions. Brice led the team to a 6-play drive for 90 yards before fullback David Mackie scored a one-yard touchdown. Then, Brice threw to Jevon Cottoy for the two-point conversion on the final play of the game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the B.C. Lions 20-11. The Blue Bombers completed the season sweep and head coach Mike O’Shea earned his 100th career win. Meanwhile, the B.C. Lions lost their fourth straight game after starting the season 5-1.
Final Stats:
Winnipeg had 392 yards on offense (288 yards passing, 116 yards rushing, 12 yards lost), 1 for 2 in the red zone, and 22 first downs. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2%) for 288 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Brady Oliveira had 10 carries for 78 yards and four catches for 24 yards.
Wide receiver Nic Demski made 6 catches for 109 yards, and one touchdown, and Kenny Lawler made 4 catches for 54 yards. Kicker Sergio Castillo made 2 of 3 field goals with a long of 43 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made 33 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, and 8 tackles on special teams. They were penalized 4 times for 57 yards.
B.C. had 303 yards on offense (185 yards passing, 131 yards rushing, 13 yards lost), 1 for 3 in the red zone, and 20 first downs. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 8 for 25 (32%) for 126 yards, 2 interceptions, and 4 carries for 27 yards. Backup quarterback Chase Brice completed 6 of 6 passes (100%) for 59 yards.
Running back William Stanback had 15 carries for 100 yards and two catches for 12 yards. Wide receiver Alexander Hollins made 2 catches for 50 yards, and Ayden Eberhardt made 2 catches for 45 yards. Kicker Sean White made one field goal for 23 yards. B.C.’s defense made 44 tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss, one interception, and seven tackles on special teams. They were penalized 3 times for 35 yards.
Final Thoughts:
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke showed a lot of rust in his return to the CFL. He was holding onto the ball for way too long which cost him two interceptions. Remember, this was his first full game in two years considering he’s been on the practice squad and playing a few snaps in preseason games in the NFL.
It’s a risk that many CFL players take when they want a shot in the NFL and it can backfire on them. I’m not excusing his performance tonight, it was not good, but he also did not have a full week of practice and there are players he’s never worked with before.
I think the Lions should’ve kept Jake Dolegala but they released him. They could’ve had Chase Brice play this game and let Rourke get a week of practice to get to know the guys he’s never worked with and then play the next game. Hopefully, Rourke will be better in the next game.
For the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, this was their second straight win both against the B.C. Lions. They have been playing good football right now and the question is can they continue this run and get back into the West Division race? They are now tied for third place with the Calgary Stampeders.
Next week, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday at 8:30 pm on TSN and CBS Sports Network, while the B.C. Lions visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
