The B.C. Lions (1-3) took on the Edmonton Elks (3-1) on Saturday evening from Apple Bowl Stadium for part two of Touchdown Kelowna. This was the 172nd meeting between these two teams, with B.C. sweeping the series last year. The Elks came in as the last unbeaten team in the CFL, while the Lions were winless.
Both teams got off to slow starts in the first quarter. B.C. had the ball on the 54-yard line. Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw five passes for 47 yards, plus an unnecessary roughness penalty on Edmonton that moved the ball to the one-yard line. Running back Zander Horvath scored the one-yard touchdown to put the Lions ahead 7-0 with 7:36 left on a seven-play drive for 56 yards.
After B.C.’s defense forced a two-and-out, Edmonton’s defense got the ball back when Nathan Rourke’s pass intended for Jermaine Jackson was leveled by Joel Dublanko and intercepted by Dariel Djabome for a 17-yard return to the eight-yard line. Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kaion Julien-Grant. Kicker Vincent Blanchard missed the extra point. The Elks trailed the Lions 7-6 with 4:10 left.
Late in the first quarter, B.C. running back James Butler had two big carries for 23 yards and 54 yards to the nine-yard line. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 16-yard field goal. The Lions led the Elks 10-6 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Edmonton moved the ball to the four-yard line. On the next play, Cody Fajardo threw a touchdown pass to a wide-open Kaion Julien Grant. They went for a two-point conversion, and Fajardo successfully got the two points when he threw the ball to T.J. Luther. The Elks led the Lions 14-10 with 12:57 left to conclude a seven-play drive for 70 yards.
B.C. had the ball on the 24-yard line. Nathan Rourke led the offense to the three-yard line, where running back James Butler ran to his left side for the touchdown. The extra point was blocked. The Lions led the Elks 16-14 with 7:29 left to conclude an 11-play drive for 86 yards.
On B.C.’s next possession, Nathan Rourke threw two passes for 40 yards to the 22-yard line. The Lions moved the ball to the four-yard line, where James Butler ran up the middle for the touchdown. It was now 23-14 with 2:37 left that took five plays for 62 yards.
B.C.’s defense got the ball back when Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo’s pass intended for Austin Mack was tipped by Adam Konar and intercepted by Jackson Findley. Findley returned it for 25 yards to the 31-yard line. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 33-yard field goal for a 26-14 lead with 1:49 left.
Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo threw three passes for 18 yards, plus a defensive pass interference penalty on B.C. moved the ball to the 24-yard line. Two plays later, Fajardo threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Austin Mack. The Elks trailed the Lions 26-21 with 41 seconds left. B.C. Sean Whyte concluded the first half with a 40-yard field goal. The Lions led the Elks 29-21 at halftime.
B.C.’s offense had 313 yards. Nathan Rourke went 18 of 24 for 210 yards and one interception. James Butler had a nice first half with seven carries for 86 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Edmonton’s offense had 139 yards. Cody Fajardo went 12 of 18 for 143 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Justin Rankin was quiet with four carries for -3 yards, and Kaion Julien-Grant made three catches for 23 yards and two touchdowns.
Edmonton got the ball to start the third quarter on the 32-yard line. Cody Fajardo threw two passes for 27 yards to the 51-yard line. On the next play, Fajardo’s pass intended for Kaion Julien-Grant was overthrown and intercepted by Robert Kent Jr. at the 22-yard line.
Later, B.C.’s defense came up with the football when Justin Rankin rushed for eight yards before Parker McKenna stripped the ball and it was recovered by Casey Sayles. Despite the two turnovers, B.C. was unable to get points. It was a scoreless third quarter. The Lions held on to a 29-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Zander Horvath for a 36-21 lead with 14:13 left that concluded an eight-play drive for 80 yards. On the kickoff, Edmonton returner Javon Leake gave the Elks great field position with a 54-yard run to the 45-yard line. Cody Fajardo threw a seven-yard pass to T.J. Luther to the 38-yard line. Kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 45-yard field goal. The Elks trailed the Lions 36-24 with 12:22 left.
Midway through the fourth quarter, B.C. had a chance to get the three points back, but kicker Sean Whyte missed a 43-yard field goal wide right. Late in the game, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke’s pass was bobbled by Justin McInnis before being intercepted by Joel Dublanko at the 45-yard line.
The Elks moved the ball to the five-yard line before Cody Fajardo’s pass intended for Austin Mack was intercepted by Darnell Sankey for a 27-yard run to the 27-yard line. The Elks were unable to find the endzone again, and the B.C. Lions finally picked up their first win of the season with a 36-24 win.
B.C.’s offense had 475 yards (320 passing yards, 162 rushing yards, 7 yards lost), 29 first downs, 4 for 5 in the redzone, and the team was penalized three times for 83 yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 27 of 36 passes (75%) for 320 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Running back James Butler had a nice game with 15 carries for 135 yards, two rushing touchdowns, and three catches for 27 yards, while Zander Horvath had six carries for 27 yards, one rushing touchdown, three catches for 18 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Keon Hatcher made five catches for 94 yards, and Jermaine Jackson made six catches for 50 yards. The defense made 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Edmonton’s offense had 416 yards (395 passing yards, 24 rushing yards, 3 yards lost), 27 first downs, 2 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized seven times for 80 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 34 of 51 passes (66%) for 395 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and one carry for three yards. Running back Justin Rankin had seven carries for 19 yards, and 10 catches for 100 yards.
Wide receiver Austin Mack made eight catches for 141 yards and one touchdown, while Kaion Julien-Grant made four catches for 32 yards and two touchdowns. The defense made 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
Next Thursday, the Edmonton Elks host the Ottawa Redblacks at 9 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the B.C. Lions are on a bye week.
