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Running back Zander Horvath delivered one of the standout individual performances of the CFL season on Sunday night, rushing for 164 yards and four touchdowns as the B.C. Lions defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 45-24. The convincing road victory pushed the Lions to 6-5 on the season and extended their winning streak to five consecutive games.
Horvath Powers Lions to Dominant Win
Horvath was the engine of the Lions’ offence throughout the contest. He found the end zone four times, capping his night with a one-yard plunge that pushed the score to 45-24 with under three minutes remaining. His performance gave the Lions a comfortable cushion they never relinquished in the final quarter.
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Quarterback Nathan Rourke also had a strong showing, completing 22 of 25 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns. It marked his fourth consecutive game surpassing 300 passing yards. Rourke did throw two interceptions, both hauled in by Ottawa’s Alonzo Addae, but he recovered well each time to keep the Lions moving forward.
Jevon Cottoy added a 14-yard touchdown reception late in the game, while James Butler caught a 10-yard scoring pass from Rourke in the second quarter. Jermaine Jackson also made a key contribution, bobbling a reception before regaining control and racing 41 yards to set up one of Horvath’s touchdowns.
Redblacks Extend Historic Losing Streak
The loss pushed Ottawa’s record to 0-11 on the season and extended their losing streak to 17 straight games. That streak now stands as the longest in the CFL’s modern era. The Redblacks last won on September 5, 2025, and with a bye week ahead, they will not play again until September 12.
Ottawa quarterback Jake Maier finished 19 of 33 for 291 yards and two touchdowns. With the defeat, he became the first quarterback in CFL history to lose 11 consecutive starts. Despite the grim milestone, Maier showed flashes of competence, including a productive final drive in the first half that set up a Brett Lauther 43-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17 heading into halftime.
Ottawa Led Early Before Lions Rallied
The Redblacks actually controlled much of the first half. Addae’s first interception, picked off at the B.C. 10-yard line, led directly to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Maier to Ayden Eberhardt, giving Ottawa a 7-3 lead. Addae struck again early in the second quarter, returning an interception to the Lions’ nine-yard line. A horse-collar penalty then moved Ottawa to the goal line, and Bryson Barnes punched it in to extend the lead to 14-3.
The Lions clawed back. Rourke connected with Butler for a 10-yard score, then found Jackson on the play that set up Horvath’s go-ahead touchdown, putting B.C. ahead 17-14. Ottawa answered with Lauther’s field goal to level the score at 17-17 at the break.
Lions Pull Away in Second Half
B.C. wasted no time after halftime. A major unnecessary roughness penalty against Ottawa, worth 25 yards, placed the Lions at Ottawa’s 18-yard line. Three plays later, Horvath scored his second touchdown of the night to give the Lions the lead for good.
Ottawa briefly tied the game at 24-24 when Eberhardt spun out of a tackle and raced 49 yards for a touchdown after Maier converted on a third-and-one play. However, Rourke responded immediately, driving the Lions back down the field. Horvath scored his third touchdown to restore B.C.’s lead at 31-24, and the Lions never looked back.
The Lions travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes on Friday. The Redblacks, meanwhile, head to Toronto to play the Argonauts on Saturday, September 12, following their bye week.
