The B.C. Lions (5-5) hosted the Montreal Alouettes (5-5) on Saturday night from B.C. Place Stadium to close out Week 11. Caleb Evans got the start at quarterback for Montreal as McLeod Bethel-Thompson was placed on the six-game injured list with an elbow injury. James Morgan was the backup to Evans.
The B.C. Lions were missing several players on defense, including defensive linemen Marcus Moore (elbow) and Tibo Debaillie (ankle), and defensive back Jalon Edwards-Cooper (knee).
First Quarter:
B.C.’s offense started on the 29-yard line. Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw five passes for 53 yards leading the offense to the 16-yard line. After the drive stalled, kicker Sean Whyte made a 23-yard field goal to put the Lions up 3-0 with 9:29 left.
Later, the Lions were on the 47-yard line. On the next play, B.C. Quarterback Nathan Rourke had pressure in his face. He scrambled out of the pocket before throwing the ball intended for Jevon Cottoy. Montreal defensive back Tyrice Beverette beat Cottoy to make the interception on the 34-yard line with 5:47 left. Montreal’s offense would go two-and-out.
Late in the first quarter, B.C. running back James Butler started the next drive with two carries for 11 yards. Then, quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two passes for 41 yards to the 22-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 30-yard field goal. The Lions led 6-0 with 1:27 left.
Montreal running back Stevie Scott III rushed for three yards. Next, B.C. defensive lineman Kemoko Turay was penalized for roughing Caleb Evans. Then, Evans threw two passes for 18 yards to the 20-yard line to end the first quarter down 6-0.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Montreal quarterback Caleb Evans was sacked by Sione Teuhema for a 13-yard loss. Evans was holding his right ankle after the play. On third down, kicker Jose Maltos made a 41-yard field goal. The Alouettes trailed the Lions 6-3 with 14:02 left.
Later, B.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 38-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 45-yard field goal. It was now 9-3 with 9:20 left.
On the next drive, Montreal’s offense moved the ball to the 13-yard line. Kicker Jose Maltos made a 21-yard field goal. The Alouettes trailed the Lions 9-6 with 5:36 left.
Late in the second quarter, B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two passes for 12 yards and rushed for 27 yards, while James Butler rushed for 26 yards to the five-yard line. On the next play, Rourke threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Justin McInnis for a 16-6 lead with 2:43 left to cap off a six-play drive for 65 yards.
Montreal quarterback James Morgan threw four passes for 44 yards, plus a roughing the passer penalty on B.C. placed the ball on the 12-yard line. Kicker Jose Maltos made a 20-yard field goal. The Alouettes trailed the Lions 16-9 with 1:17 left.
With under a minute left, Montreal defensive back Najee Murray stripped B.C. wide receiver Justin McInnis of the football, and Montreal recovered it on the 46-yard line. Quarterback James Morgan threw two passes for six yards short of the first down. The Lions led the Alouettes 16-9 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
B.C.’s offense had 252 yards (178 yards passing, 75 yards rushing, 1 yard lost), 15 first downs, 1 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized four times for 45 yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 16 of 23 passes (69.5%) for 178 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one carry for 27 yards.
Running back James Butler had eight carries for 46 yards. Wide receiver Keon Hatcher made five catches for 60 yards, while Justin McInnis made four catches for 54 yards and one touchdown. The defense made three sacks.
Montreal’s offense had 109 yards (112 yards passing, 24 yards rushing, 27 yards lost), 8 first downs, 0 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized one time for 10 yards. Before the injury, quarterback Caleb Evans completed 3 of 4 passes (75%) for 32 yards. Backup quarterback James Morgan completed 8 of 11 passes (72%) for 80 yards.
Running back Travis Theis had two carries for 14 yards and three catches for 41 yards. Wide receiver Charleston Rambo made three catches for 31 yards, while Tyler Snead made two catches for 18 yards. The defense made one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Montreal started on the 40-yard line. During the drive, B.C. got called for two penalties, and the offense moved the ball to the 16-yard line. On third down, kicker Jose Maltos missed a 24-yard field goal wide left.
Later, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw four passes for 88 yards to the eight-yard line. On the next play, Rourke scrambled out of the pocket before throwing a touchdown pass to Keon Hatcher. The Lions were in cruise control up 23-9 with 2:17 left to cap off a six-play drive for 100 yards.
Montreal quarterback James Morgan threw two passes for eight yards, and running back Travis Theis rushed for three yards to the 34-yard line. The Alouettes trailed the Lions 23-9 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Montreal kicker Jose Maltos made a 40-yard field goal. The Alouettes trailed the Lions 23-12 with 13:58 left. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke began the next drive by throwing a 49-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt to the 21-yard line.
After James Butler rushed for three yards, Rourke finished the drive by throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Keon Hatcher. The Lions extended their lead to 30-12 with 11:45 left to cap off a three-play drive for 70 yards.
Later, B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke’s pass intended for Keon Hatcher was incomplete. A defensive pass interference penalty on Montreal defensive back Lorenzo Burns placed the ball on the 29-yard line. Then, Rourke threw the ball right into the hands of Stanley Berryhill III for the touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the Lions led the Alouettes 36-12.
Late in the fourth quarter, Montreal running back Travis Theis rushed for four yards, and quarterback James Morgan threw two passes for 25 yards to the 35-yard line. On the next play, Morgan completed a pass to Tyler Snead, who scored a 35-yard touchdown.
They tried a two-point conversion, but did not get it. It was now 36-18 with 2:53 left to cap off a four-play drive for 64 yards. With the game out of reach, both teams did not do much, and the B.C. Lions defeated the Montreal Alouettes 36-18.
Final Stats:
B.C.’s offense had 491 yards (382 yards passing, 114 yards rushing, 5 yards lost), 25 first downs, 3 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized 12 times for 137 yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 26 of 34 passes (76.4%) for 382 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and two carries for 31 yards.
Running back James Butler had 16 carries for 81 yards. Wide receiver Keon Hatcher made 11 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Justin McInnis made five catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 37 tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, and one interception.
Montreal’s offense had 267 yards (243 yards passing, 51 yards rushing, 27 yards lost), 15 first downs, 0 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized six times for 94 yards. Quarterback James Morgan completed 20 of 33 passes (60%) for 211 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Running back Travis Theis had five carries for 26 yards. Wide receiver Tyler Snead led the receivers making five catches for 111 yards and one touchdown, while Charleston Rambo made five catches for 46 yards. The defense made 41 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Next week, the Montreal Alouettes host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday at 7:30 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+. The B.C. Lions visit Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at 3 pm on TSN, CTV, and CFL+.
