(Vancouver)- The BC Lions ran right into a Winnipeg buzzsaw for the second time in three weeks. As soon as once more, the resurgent Blue Bombers rallied behind a stout operating recreation and a few massive performs via the air to stifle the hometown Leos 20-11 in entrance of 30,803 followers at Save-On-Meals Discipline at BC Place. The end result strikes Winnipeg simply two factors again of the 5-5 Lions with the tiebreaker now of their again pocket from right here on out. Now for some recreation takes.
Rourke Owns Up To It
Hindsight being what it’s, it might be truthful to recommend the return of Nathan Rourke was sure for a little bit of turbulence after a cross-country flight on Tuesday, three days of follow and proper into recreation motion towards a Winnipeg staff contemporary off of their bye week. Rourke completed 8/25 for 126 yards and a pair of interceptions, the second to Tyrell Ford led to a discipline aim and a 10-0 halftime lead for the guests. His first interception to Dietrich Nichols stalled some momentum when the Lions trailed by seven earlier in that second quarter.
At all times the consummate skilled, Rourke wouldn’t use any of the week’s craziness as an excuse and absolutely owned his mistake by making a post-game assertion earlier than his formal press convention started with questions. Here’s a snippet transcript of that assertion:
“I’d prefer to say one thing, and hopefully it solutions all of your questions. I need to take this second to publicly apologize. That was not my finest soccer proper there. , as a quarterback right here, and it’s by no means, by no means a one-person job, however it’s the place the place every thing you may have the ball within the hand, your palms each single play, and I didn’t make sufficient performs.
Clearly, I’m not going to take a seat right here and make excuses when it comes to it being a brief week and entering into the offence once more. And it’s positively a troublesome, tall activity if you play staff just like the Bombers, who’ve been so profitable. However I’m not going to make these excuses. I do know that I’m higher than this. I’m sorry to the staff who caught their necks out for me for getting me right here and allowed me to play the remainder of my teammates who, you understand, effort isn’t going to be a difficulty with this locker room that they fought proper till the tip obtained, battled and gotten to the tip zone in that final possession.
“, groups which have much less character, you understand, they’re not combating at the moment within the recreation. So I’m pleased with them. I’m sorry to the followers. I do know there was loads of pleasure going into this recreation and I didn’t ship.”
The lone Lions landing got here with two seconds remaining in regulation on a one-yard plunge from David Mackie. Chase Brice then related with Jevon Cottoy on the two-point conversion.
There have been definitely moments within the second half when Rourke and the offence had an opportunity to flip the change. The half began with a 3rd down cease by the defence when Chris Streveler failed to maneuver the chains on a 3rd down gamble. T.J. Lee’s first interception since getting back from damage appeared to be a giant second early within the fourth quarter with the rating 17-3. Neither second was capitalized on and that’s what the squad must get again to when engaged on their execution.
Mentioned head coach Rick Campbell on the defeat:
“Proper now, it doesn’t matter who our quarterback is, we’ve obtained to play higher as a soccer staff and as an entire offensive unit. I’ll at all times give the opposite staff credit score as a result of once we win, we did one thing proper. They’re taking part in very properly on defence and I feel they obtained in our heads a bit, as a result of man we have been struggling.”
It’s a brief week forward of a protracted journey to face the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Saturday evening. Nonetheless, it is going to be nothing just like the loopy turnaround for Rourke in his preparation for a primary street begin for the reason that 2022 Western Closing.
“I don’t know the way we flew throughout the nation and switched from four-down soccer to three-down soccer and a brand new playbook and all that,” added Campbell.
“His work ethic and his intentions are via the roof and he’ll simply proceed to get higher and extra comfy as he will get again into the swing of the CFL recreation.”
Key Numbers
109- a game-high in receiving yards for Nik Demski who scored the opening landing on Winnipeg’s first drive, one which was aided by a Pete Robertson roughing the passer name on second down inside Winnipeg’s personal territory.
102- yards from scrimmage for Oliveira with 78 approaching the bottom on ten carries. That’s a median of seven.8 yards per rush.
100– dashing yards for William Stanback to determine a brand new excessive in 2024 as a Lion.
31.6– the Lions’ conversion charge on second down on this contest as they completed 6/19.
4– it’s the Lions’ first four-game dropping skid for the reason that 2021 season the place they’d wind up dropping seven straight after a 4-2 begin earlier than lacking the playoffs.
Subsequent Up
We’re again on the street for a conflict with the 6-2-1 Ottawa REDBLACKS on Saturday, August 24. Kickoff at TD Place is 4:00 pm PT. Ottawa is coming off an exhilarating 31-29 win at Calgary and can enter week 12 in second place within the Jap Division. The identical groups will meet the next Saturday, August 31 in Landing Pacific at Victoria’s Royal Athletic Park.
Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com