VANCOUVER –
Rookie quarterback Nathan Rourke proved he is a real CFL starter on Friday, main his BC Lions to a pivotal 43-10 win over the Edmonton Elks in Vancouver.
Victoria-born Rourke threw 359 yards and linked with a go landing and two interceptions on 23 of 34 makes an attempt. He additionally ran in three TDs in his second CFL begin.
However the College of Ohio alum nonetheless sees room for enchancment.
“It was under no circumstances an ideal achievement. There have been two interceptions and you’ll’t have that within the CFL, groups are too good. So you must study from it, ”stated Rourke.
“Nevertheless it’s good to know within the low season that I can play on this league, I confirmed it. I might help this staff win. However there’s nonetheless loads that I left there on the sector. And that is thrilling as a result of there’s a lot to do within the low season. And I’m motivated to try this. “
Friday’s recreation was a season finale for BC (5-9) and Edmonton (3-11), with each groups lacking the playoffs and ending the season in fourth and fifth place within the West Division, respectively.
Nevertheless, it was a much-needed consequence for a Lions staff that misplaced 4-2 after seven video games after the marketing campaign began.
“I am glad that we performed with a variety of dedication and fervour and that we have been heading in the right direction,” stated head coach and co-managing director Rick Campbell. “The season did not go the way in which we wished it to, however I believe there are a variety of actually good characters and gamers who can win a variety of video games for the BC Lions and we’ll work exhausting to enhance.”
The BC protection additionally confirmed a powerful efficiency on Friday with 5 interceptions, three passes and two sacks.
Halfback TJ Lee stated it was a “principally something” recreation.
“We name this a marketing campaign recreation you are selling the following yr,” he stated. “It is in regards to the future, it is about longevity. You play for a lot of issues, you play in your final identify. “
Elk’s quarterback Taylor Cornelius was changed in the course of the second quarter after throwing simply 27 yards and three interceptions. Dakota Prukop had 183 passing yards and threw a landing relieved, however had picked up two passes from the BC Protection.
In an enormous first half, the Lions took a 34-0 lead earlier than Edmonton may muster a single level.
The offense was quieter within the second, either side restricted themselves to area objectives.
Nick Vogel recorded 43 and 44 yard kicks for BC within the third quarter, then added a 24 yarder within the fourth quarter. Edmonton kicker Sean Whyte scored a 12-yard area objective early within the third, marking his staff’s last factors of the night time.
The Elks ultimately obtained seconds forward of the board within the first half after Prukop despatched an arcuate 45-yard bomb to Armanti Edwards throughout the sector, giving Edmonton a primary down on BC’s 13-yard line. Prukop topped the scoring drive with a three-yard throw at Jalen Toliver ultimately zone and Whyte made the convert.
“In a recreation like this, you must get out actually quick to get some adrenaline, some juice that may actually assist you. And we did not, ”stated Elks head coach Jamie Elizondo.
Edmonton celebrated a 13-7 win in opposition to the Toronto Argonauts on Tuesday, taking part in their third recreation in lower than per week. Elizondo admitted that his group was run by smoke.
“There is no such thing as a doubt that we struggled to get our legs below us. It confirmed up in missed tackles, it confirmed up in drops, it confirmed up in particular groups. So it confirmed up in plenty of totally different areas, ”he stated.
“However I am proud that these guys tried to do one thing that has by no means been executed in soccer. They got here out and tried to do their finest and on the finish of the day there was simply nothing left within the tank. “
Fortunate Whitehead recorded BC’s fifth landing of the night time in direction of the tip of the second quarter.
Simply minutes earlier, Lions defender Anthony Cioffi had put his staff in objective place when he performed a go from Cornelius and lined 25 yards.
Rourke adopted the interception with a 33-yard go to Dominique Rhymes and topped the drive with a two-yard run for his third TD of the night time.
It was the second time a Lions interception was a landing on Friday.
Early within the quarter, TJ Lee picked up a go and went for a 14-yard run. BC labored their approach down the sector earlier than Rourke sprinted 5 meters into the tip zone to present the house facet a 20-0 lead.
There have been some tense moments in the course of the second half when BC’s rookie returner Quadree Henderson went down with a critical leg damage. Gamers on each groups instantly knelt because the coaches stormed onto the sector and the previous Pittsburgh Steelers recipient gave a thumbs up when it was faraway from a stretcher.
By the tip of the primary quarter, the Lions had already taken a 14-0 lead.
Whitehead appeared to leap over the objective line in the course of the body to play a significant, however the recreation was reviewed and officers discovered he had been knocked out by contact. The ball was positioned on the Edmonton one-yard line as a substitute earlier than Rourke muscled it for a landing.
A trick recreation helped BC open the scoring. Vogel appeared prepared to try a 52-yard area objective in the course of the primary quarter, however participant Stefan Flintof as a substitute kicked it throughout the sector to Jevon Cottoy and gave the Lions a primary down on the Edmonton 30-yard line.
Rourke ended the 10-game, 77-yard scoring drive with a 10-yard throw at a large open Bryan Burnham ultimately zone.
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