Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, leading the visiting B.C. Lions to a resounding 32-14 win over the Edmonton Elks in CFL action Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium.
Running back James Butler had 172 yards rushing and a touchdown for B.C. (3-3). Keon Hatcher added 130 yards receiving and Jevon Cottoy and Stanley Beryhill III each had receiving touchdowns. Kicker Sean Whyte booted three field goals and three converts.
Backup Cody Fajardo scored on a QB sneak for the Elks (1-4), and also tossed a late touchdown to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. Vincent Blanchard added a pair of conversions.
B.C. opened the scoring at 13:08 of the first quarter on a 33-yard Whyte field goal, following a nice drive set up after Garry Peters picked off a Tre Ford pass deep in B.C. territory. The field goal was the 23rd straight without a miss for Whyte.
In the second quarter, B.C. went up 10-0 at 4:45 when Rourke found Cottoy for a 16-yard touchdown, with Whyte converting.
Midway through the quarter, Edmonton defensive lineman Jake Ceresna intercepted a Rourke pass that bounced off another B.C. player香蕉视频直播檚 helmet. Three plays later, Fajardo scored from a yard out, with Blanchard adding the conversion to make it 10-7.
Butler to the HOUSE!
香蕉视频直播� BC LIONS (@BCLions)
BC | 17
EDM | 7
B.C. restored its 10-point lead at 13:41 of the quarter when Butler powered in from 15 yards out, with Whyte converting again.
After an Edmonton three-and-out, Rourke found Berryhill from seven yards out for another B.C. major with eight seconds to play in the half. Whyte香蕉视频直播檚 convert made it 24-7 B.C. at the break. Rourke finished with 243 yards passing in the first half, while Butler had 131 all-purpose yards.
In the third quarter, the Lions looked to increase their lead when Rourke found Hatcher for a 41-yard connection inside the Edmonton five, but the drive stalled and B.C. came up empty after Rourke was stopped on third-and-goal from the three-yard line.
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Midway through the quarter, the Lions moved ahead 26-7 on a safety, when Edmonton was penalized for holding in their own end zone.
Whyte香蕉视频直播檚 36-yard field goal with three minutes left in the frame made it 29-7.
In the fourth quarter, Whyte connected on a 31-yarder with just over four minutes to play to make it 32-7. Whyte is a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals for the year.
With 2:34 left to play, Fajardo, who replaced Ford at QB, found Gittens Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown, with Blanchard香蕉视频直播檚 conversion making the final 32-14.
The Lions host Saskatchewan on Saturday (4 p.m.). The Elks have a bye before visiting the Roughriders July 25.
NOTES: The Lions beat Elks 31-14 in the season opener for both teams at B.C. Place香蕉视频直播� Ceresna was taken off the field on cart after suffering an injury early in the third quarter香蕉视频直播� Ford was just 4-for-12 for 34 yards and an interception for the Elks香蕉视频直播� The Lions outgained the Elks 528-178 on the night and held the ball for nearly 43 minutes.
