Rourke Reaches New Heights as Lions Destroy Fighting Moose – TSN.ca

VANCOUVER — Nathan Rourke threw for a staggering 477 yards on Saturday and led the BC Lions to a 46-14 breakup of the Edmonton Elks.

The rookie CFL quarterback completed 34 of 37 attempts with five touchdown passes and added a 14-yard rushing major.

Michael O’Connor came under center late in the fourth quarter for the Lions (6-1) but failed to record a shot as BC decided to end the game quickly.

Edmonton (2-6) brought Taylor Cornelius back into QB after Tre Ford was included in Friday’s six-game injury list, but struggled again against a BC side that clinched a 59-15 win in Week 1.

Cornelius threw for 183 yards on Saturday, hitting 15 of 26 attempts with a touchdown pass and an interception. He was fired five times.

Maleek Irons added a rushing major for the Elks, who were coming off a bye week.

Both sides stuttered to start the game, with the Elks turning the ball on their first two possessions.

The Lions capitalized on the second error. Rourke connected with Dominique Rhymes on a 2-yard touchdown pass and capped a six-game scoring drive for 49 yards that gave BC a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Edmonton responded, steadily working his way down the field before Cornelius escaped the pocket and fired a 19-yard ball at Kenny Lawler in the end zone. The seven-play 69-yard drive marked the Elks’ only points of the first half.

BC was far from finished.

The Lions began their next possession with a 49-yard pass from Rourke to Lucky Whitehead, who sprinted into Edmonton territory. The young QB followed up with a 16-yard throw to Keon Hatcher and then pinned a 14-yard run. Before the end of the opening frame, he sailed another ball to Rhymes for a major.

The pair reconnected midway through the second when Rhymes bounced up under pressure and rolled in a 15-yard throw for his third TD of the game, a play that increased BC’s cushion to 20-7.

Minutes later, Rourke found Whitehead open and the fast receiver rushed 37 yards down the field and passed Nafees Lyon for a 69-yard touchdown.

BC then scored on their fifth straight possession when Whyte hit a 47-yard field goal.

Rourke ended the half with another TD and found Bryan Burnham on the touchline in the end zone with six seconds remaining in the half. The veteran receiver made sure he had a foothold for the Major.

Saturday’s game marked Burnham’s return to the lineup after sustaining fractured ribs and a collapsed lung in a crushing strike from Toronto Argonauts defenseman Shaq Richardson on June 25.

Rourke finished the first half with 386 passing yards and five touchdown passes and BC went into the dressing room 37-7.

The club had even more to offer.

Early in the third game, Lions defenseman Mathieu Betts sacked Cornelius for the second time in the game. Edmonton recorded a four-yard loss and BC added two points for a safety.

Rourke showed he has more than just a good mid-frame arm. Seeing a hole, the 24-year-old Canadian sprinted seven yards and shook off a Duron Carter strike to add a seven-yard TD to fill his goal line.

The Elks seemed poised to end the scoring drought before the end of the quarter, but Sione Teuhema spoiled the party with a sack. It was the fifth time the Lions defeated Cornelius that night.

Irons eventually scored some points for the visitors early in the fourth by sprinting six yards into the end zone. The touchdown reduced Edmonton’s lead to 46-14.

The Lions will be back in action next Saturday when they face the Stampeders in Calgary. The Elks will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders later that night.

FOOTNOTES: Rourke broke his own record for passing yards through a Canadian quarterback in a single game. He hit the historic mark earlier this season. … Burnham hauled in six catches for 82 yards and moved up to fourth on the Lions’ list for all-time receiving yards. … Elks kicker Ryan Meskell made his CFL debut. … BC lineback Ben Hladik recorded his first interception of his career late in the fourth quarter.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 6, 2022.