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The B.C. Lions secured a playoff berth with a commanding 41-20 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night, capping a remarkable turnaround for a team that started the season with a 1-5 record. The win extended B.C.’s winning streak to four games and marked their ninth victory in the last 10 contests, firmly establishing the Lions as one of the CFL’s hottest teams heading into the postseason.
Lions Turn Season Around in Dramatic Fashion
Quarterback Nathan Rourke delivered another strong performance, throwing for 360 yards on 25 of 31 pass attempts with three touchdowns and one interception. His ability to move the ball efficiently kept Ottawa’s defence under constant pressure throughout the night.
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Running back Zander Horvath also played a key role. He rushed for 89 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns, including his 21st of the season. James Butler added 76 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own, further punishing the Redblacks on the ground.
Defensive linebacker Mathieu Betts acknowledged the significance of the milestone. “It’s big,” he said. “I mean, it’s step one for sure. We’ve got two weeks to get the best seed as possible. We’re well aware of that.”
Ottawa Makes It Close Before Lions Pull Away
The Lions jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. Rourke orchestrated an eight-play, 84-yard opening drive that ended with Keon Hatcher Sr. catching a pass under the uprights. Horvath then scored on a short-yardage run to extend the advantage.
Ottawa, however, refused to fold. The Redblacks cut the deficit to just three points in the third quarter, trimming B.C.’s lead to 21-18 after a series of field goals from Paul Geelen and a touchdown pass from McLeod Bethel-Thompson to Justin Hardy. At one point, Amani Bledsoe forced a fumble to give Ottawa possession in B.C. territory, briefly threatening a comeback.
Rourke remained composed under pressure. “I think we’ve faced a lot of adversity and certainly know how to respond when our back is up against the wall,” he said. He also credited Ottawa’s effort, adding that anyone who expected an easy game “was dead wrong.”
Despite Ottawa’s push, the Lions responded decisively. Horvath broke free for a 33-yard gain and then dove over the goal line for his second touchdown of the night. Shortly after, Casey Sayles sacked Bethel-Thompson, and Darnell Sankey recovered the fumble. Rourke quickly capitalized, hitting Jevon Cottoy with an eight-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 28-18.
Butler Seals the Win in the Fourth Quarter
B.C. put the game away in the fourth quarter with two big runs from Butler. He first broke loose for 55 yards before being brought down. He then accepted a handoff and dashed 14 yards for a touchdown, giving the Lions a 41-20 lead they would not relinquish.
Head coach Buck Pierce praised his team’s ability to adapt. “The way our defence is able to adapt and communicate and just continue to grow and get better as the game goes on — that’s what you want from your team,” he said. Pierce also highlighted the group’s composure when the game tightened. “I think the group believes the next time they take the field that they’re gonna be able to accomplish something great,” he added.
Redblacks Extend Losing Streak to 22 Games
For Ottawa, the loss extended a painful streak. The Redblacks, now 0-16 on the season, have not won a game in 22 consecutive contests dating back to last season. Bethel-Thompson completed 25 of 35 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown, but he was sacked five times and threw one interception.
Ottawa head coach Ryan Dinwiddie was direct in his assessment after the game. “We just didn’t make enough plays,” he said. “Offensively, we had some opportunities and just didn’t make them.”
Next up, the Redblacks host the Toronto Argonauts on Friday, October 16. Meanwhile, the Lions travel to Calgary to face the Stampeders on Saturday, October 17, with seeding implications on the line.
