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Zander Horvath delivered one of the most dominant individual performances of the CFL season on Sunday night, rushing for 164 yards and four touchdowns to power the B.C. Lions to a commanding 45-24 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. The win extended the Lions’ winning streak to five games and lifted their record to 6-5, while Ottawa’s misery deepened as the team fell to 0-11 on the season.
Horvath Carries the Lions Offence
Horvath, who also contributed four receptions for 30 yards, now leads the entire CFL with 13 touchdowns this season. His 625 rushing yards rank fifth in the league. Despite the eye-catching stat line, the 27-year-old running back deflected personal praise 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 backfield depth for keeping both Horvath and fellow running back James Butler effective throughout the contest. Butler added 45 yards on seven carries.
“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 Historic Losing Streak Continues
The Redblacks’ defeat extended their losing streak to 17 consecutive games, the longest in the CFL’s modern era. Ottawa last recorded a victory on September 5, 2025. With a bye week next, the Redblacks will not play again until September 12, meaning they will go more than a full calendar year without a win.
The loss also placed quarterback Jake Maier in an unwanted piece of league history. He became the first quarterback in CFL history to open a season with 11 straight losses as a starter.
“This is obviously challenging, you know, to the spirit of a man,” Maier said. “I think everybody is in that boat right now in terms of like this is our reality. 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.”
Ottawa’s ground game continued to be a serious concern. The Redblacks finished Sunday’s game with minus-three net rushing yards. For the season, they rank last in the league with just 548 rushing yards. 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,” Dinwiddie said. “It’s been a problem all year.”
Rourke Overcomes Slow Start
Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke struggled early, throwing two interceptions in the first half. Safety Alonzo Addae collected both picks, and Ottawa converted each turnover into a touchdown. Maier hit Ayden Eberhardt on a 10-yard scoring pass to give the Redblacks a 7-3 lead. Addae’s second interception, returned to the Lions’ nine-yard line, set up a Bryson Barnes rushing touchdown that pushed Ottawa ahead 14-3.
B.C. responded with two quick touchdowns. Rourke connected with Butler from 10 yards out, then Horvath punched in a two-yard score to give the Lions a 17-14 lead. A 43-yard Brett Lauther field goal tied the game 17-17 at halftime.
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. Ottawa briefly tied the game at 24-24 when Maier found Eberhardt, who broke a tackle and raced 49 yards to the end zone. From that point, however, Horvath added two more touchdowns and receiver Jevon Cottoy hauled in a 14-yard scoring catch as B.C. pulled away decisively.
Despite the rough opening, Rourke finished the game 22-for-25 for 355 yards and two touchdowns. He was candid about his early struggles.
“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,” Rourke said. “What happened in the first half is on me and I think we just played cleaner football in the second half.”
What’s Next for Both Teams
The Lions will travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes on Friday. The Redblacks, following their bye week, will visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, September 12.
