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Running back Zander Horvath delivered one of the most dominant individual performances of the CFL season on Sunday night, rushing for 164 yards and four touchdowns as the B.C. Lions dismantled the Ottawa Redblacks 45-24. The win extended the Lions’ winning streak to five straight games and pushed their record to 6-5, while Ottawa’s misery deepened with an 0-11 mark that now represents the longest losing streak in the modern era of the CFL.
Horvath Carries the Lions Offence
Horvath was the clear catalyst for B.C., adding four receptions for 30 yards to complement his rushing output. He now leads the entire league with 13 touchdowns and ranks fifth in rushing yards with 625 on the season. Despite his standout numbers, the 27-year-old was quick to deflect credit after the game.
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“It’s never a one-man show, it’s about everyone doing their job out there,” Horvath said. “I think we executed on offence, defence, special teams and just locked in toward the end of the game.”
Lions head coach Buck Pierce credited the team’s depth at the running back position for keeping the ground game effective. Running back James Butler contributed 45 yards on seven carries, giving Ottawa’s defence two threats to manage throughout the night.
“I think him and James Butler make each other better,” Pierce said. “We’re able to mix it up a little bit to keep those guys fresh and you’ve got to credit the O-line too, and the receivers for doing a great job on some of those runs.”
Ottawa’s Struggles Continue to Mount
The contrast between the two teams’ running games told much of the story. While Horvath and Butler combined for well over 200 yards on the ground, Ottawa finished the game with minus-three net rushing yards. The Redblacks rank last in the CFL with just 548 rushing yards on the season.
Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie acknowledged the persistent problem. “If we can just get to second and six, if we just get four yards and then we can still have a run game available on second down,” he said. “It’s been a problem all year.”
Ottawa’s 17-game losing streak now stands as the longest in CFL modern era history. The Redblacks last won on September 5, 2025, and with a bye week ahead, they will not play again until September 12. Quarterback Jake Maier also entered the record books for the wrong reasons, becoming the first quarterback in league history to open a season with 11 consecutive losses as a starter.
“This is obviously challenging, you know, to the spirit of a man,” Maier said. “But we’re not gonna lay down and we’re not gonna quit. We’re just gonna continue to show up every day because that’s what a man is supposed to do and we believe in that.”
Rourke Overcomes Slow Start
Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke struggled early, throwing two interceptions in the first half. Ottawa’s Alonzo Addae recorded both picks and the Redblacks converted each turnover into points. Maier hit Ayden Eberhardt on a 10-yard touchdown pass to give Ottawa a 7-3 lead after the first interception. Addae’s second pick gave the Redblacks the ball at the Lions’ 35-yard line, and a horse-collar penalty moved them to the goal line, where Bryson Barnes punched it in to make it 14-3.
B.C. responded before halftime. Rourke connected with Butler from 10 yards out, and Horvath’s two-yard run gave the Lions a 17-14 lead. A 43-yard Brett Lauther field goal tied the game 17-17 at the break.
The Lions took control in the second half. A major unnecessary roughness penalty moved B.C. to Ottawa’s 18-yard line on their opening drive, and Horvath scored three plays later. Eberhardt briefly levelled the score at 24-24 with a spectacular 49-yard touchdown reception, spinning out of a tackle before racing to the end zone. From that point, however, Horvath added two more touchdowns and receiver Jevon Cottoy hauled in a 14-yard scoring catch to seal the result.
Rourke finished 22-for-25 for 355 yards and two touchdowns after settling in during the second half. “I’m so grateful for the other phases and other people on offence picking me up because I made some mistakes, made some bad decisions,” he said. “What happened in the first half is on me and I think we just played cleaner football in the second half.”
What Comes Next
The Lions travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes on Friday. Ottawa, meanwhile, sits idle with a bye week before visiting the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, September 12, looking to snap their historic losing streak.
