The B.C. Lions (10-7) hosted the Edmonton Elks (7-10) on Friday night at B.C. Place Stadium in their final meeting of the regular season. The Lions came into this game winning four straight and looking to get closer to hosting the Semi-Final game.
First Quarter:
Edmonton got the ball to start the game on the 40-yard line. Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 21-yard pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr., and Justin Rankin rushed for 12 yards to the 37-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Vincent Blanchard attempted a 44-yard field goal. He missed it wide right, and B.C. returner Seven McGhee returned it. He lost the ball after Eteva Mauga-Clements forced the ball out, but B.C. fullback Jacob Bond recovered it on the 11-yard line.
For the majority of the first quarter, it was a defensive battle with both teams going two-and-out. Later, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke completed a pass to Justin McInnis for 41 yards. Edmonton defensive back J.J. Ross ripped the ball out of McInnis’s hand, and Ross recovered it on the nine-yard line.
Two plays later, B.C.’s defense pressured Cody Fajardo, which resulted in B.C. linebacker Ben Hladik sacking Fajardo in the end zone for a safety. The Lions took a 2-0 lead with 5:43 left.
B.C.’s offense had 109 yards (79 yards passing, 30 yards rushing), and Edmonton’s offense had 46 yards (38 yards passing, 16 yards rushing), with the Lions leading the Elks 2-0 to end the first quarter.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo threw the ball three times to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. for 60 yards to the eight-yard line. After Cole Snyder picked up the first down, running back Javon Leake rushed for a six-yard touchdown. The Elks took a 7-2 lead with 10:12 left to cap off an eight-play drive for 69 yards.
B.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 48-yard line before the drive stalled. Edmonton took over on the 21-yard line. Edmonton running back Javon Leake had two carries for 11 yards to the 27-yard line.
On the next play, Cody Fajardo’s pass intended for Kaion Julien-Grant was incomplete, but a defensive pass interference on B.C. gave them a first down on the 43-yard line. Justin Rankin had two carries for seven yards before the drive stalled. Kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 44-yard field goal for a 10-2 lead with 2:56 left.
Late in the second quarter, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke completed three passes for 43 yards, two of which went to Stanley Berryhill III to the 35-yard line. Rourke threw another pass to James Butler for five yards. Butler rushed for five yards, and Rourke rushed for four yards to the 21-yard line.
Rourke completed another pass to Justin McInnis for 16 yards to the five-yard line. Butler finished the drive off by pushing his way into the end zone. Butler would also score the two-point conversion, and the game was tied 10-10 at halftime to cap off an eight-play drive for 78 yards.
First Half Stats:
B.C.’s offense had 220 yards (163 yards passing, 57 yards rushing), 11 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized three times for 54 yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 12 of 18 passes (66%) for 163 yards and one carry for four yards.
Running back James Butler had nine carries for 53 yards, one rushing touchdown, and four catches for 20 yards. Wide receiver Justin McInnis made four catches for 85 yards, while Keon Hatcher made two catches for 34 yards. The defense made four tackles for loss, one sack, and a safety.
Edmonton’s offense had 148 yards (104 yards passing, 52 yards rushing, 8 yards lost), 9 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized two times for 15 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 7 of 13 passes (53.8%) for 104 yards and one carry for four yards.
Running back Justin Rankin had eight carries for 30 yards, while Javon Leake had four carries for 16 yards and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. made four catches for 81 yards, while O.J. Hiliare had one catch for 13 yards. The defense had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, B.C. went two-and-out, and Edmonton had the ball on the 40-yard line. Quarterback Cody Fajardo’s pass intended for Binjimen Victor was intercepted by Robert Carter for a 50-yard pick-six touchdown. The Lions took a 17-10 lead with 13:18 left.
Later, B.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 30-yard line before kicker Sean Whyte made a 38-yard field goal for a 20-10 lead with 8:32 left.
Edmonton went two-and-out on their next drive and B.C. took over on the 22-yard line. Running back Zander Horvath rushed for three yards, followed by Nathan Rourke throwing a 15-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt to the 40-yard line. On the next play, Rourke was looking to throw the ball to someone before finding a hole and taking off. No one from Edmonton could catch him, and Rourke scored a 70-yard touchdown. It was now 27-10 with 5:23 left.
Late in the third quarter, Edmonton had the ball on the 39-yard line. Cody Fajardo led the offense down the field by completing six passes for 69 yards to the 12-yard line. On the next play, B.C.’s defense pressured Fajardo. Just before Fajardo got hit, he threw the ball to Binjimen Victor. Victor extended his arms to make the catch for the touchdown. The Elks trailed the Lions 27-17 to end the third quarter, capping off an 11-play drive for 71 yards.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw a 34-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt, and James Butler rushed for two yards to the 26-yard line. Edmonton’s defense brought pressure to Nathan Rourke. He scrambled and threw the ball to prevent the sack, but Edmonton defensive lineman Brandon Barlow intercepted it for a six-yard return to the 36-yard line.
Edmonton’s offense moved the ball to the 41-yard line. Then, they went backwards. B.C.’s defense pressured Fajardo, forcing a fumble, but offensive lineman Mark Korte recovered it on the 48-yard line. Then, Fajardo overthrew wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., and B.C. defensive back T.J. Lee made the interception for a 26-yard return to the 49-yard line.
Nathan Rourke did not waste time by throwing two passes for 44 yards, including a 33-yarder to Keon Hatcher to the 17-yard line. Two plays later, Rourke threw a touchdown pass to Keon Hatcher. The Lions were in control with a 34-17 lead with 7:35 left in the game.
B.C.’s defense quickly got the ball back when Cody Fajardo’s pass intended for O.J. Hiliare was intercepted by Jackson Findley on the 36-yard line. B.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 26-yard line. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 33-yard field goal for a 37-17 lead with 2:34 left.
Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo completed four passes for 46 yards to the 15-yard line. Two plays later, B.C.’s defense blitzed Fajardo. Fajardo escaped a tackle and took off for a 15-yard touchdown. The B.C. Lions defeated the Edmonton Elks 37-24.
With the win, the B.C. Lions have won five straight games and clinched a playoff spot, along with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders. Now, it is all about who will host the Semi-Final game. The Edmonton Elks are officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Final Stats:
B.C.’s offense had 506 yards (338 yards passing, 169 yards rushing, 1 yard lost), 22 first downs, 2 for 2 in the red zone, and the team was penalized six times for 89 yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 21 of 32 passes (65.6%) for 338 yards, one touchdown, one interception, three carries for 82 yards, and one rushing touchdown.
Running back James Butler had 15 carries for 82 yards, one rushing touchdown, and five catches for 23 yards. Wide receiver Keon Hatcher made five catches for 97 yards and one touchdown, while Justin McInnis made five catches for 96 yards. The defense made 42 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and a safety.
Edmonton’s offense had 303 yards (230 yards passing, 92 yards rushing, 11 yards lost), 19 first downs, 3 for 3 in the red zone, and the team was penalized three times for 25 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 19 of 34 passes (55.8%) for 230 yards, four carries for 38 yards, and one rushing touchdown.
Running back Justin Rankin had 11 carries for 36 yards, while Javon Leake had four carries for 16 yards and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. made six catches for 96 yards, while Kaion Julien-Grant made four catches for 47 yards. The defense made 39 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Next week, the Edmonton Elks host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday in their final game of the season at 9:30 pm on TSN and CFL+. The B.C. Lions visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+.
