VANCOUVER- It was the type of gritty effort that is sometimes required for a team with playoff and championship aspirations. Any way you slice it, the 8-7 BC Lions have their first three-game win streak of the season after grinding out a 27-22 victory over the 5-10 Toronto Argonauts in front of 21,205 fans at Save-On-Foods Field at BC Place.
The result creates a bigger logjam in the middle of this West Division, as the Calgary Stampeders fell to 8-6 with a loss in Montreal earlier on Friday, setting up a massive showdown with the Leos next week. The 7-7 Winnipeg Blue Bombers play host to Hamilton on Saturday. Now for some Game Takes.
Bend, Don’t Break
The improved defensive effort was a far cry from the one that had allowed 52 points to be scored against them by the same Argonauts squad four weeks prior. Perhaps still feeling the effects of a calf injury suffered earlier this month, Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle couldn’t get into a rhythm for much of the night.
The Lion defence held them to five field goals until a touchdown strike to Makai Polk pulled them to within five with 5:50 to play. That’s as close as the visitors would come. The final dagger was a sack and forced fumble by Mathieu Betts that was scooped up by Josh Woods.
Nathan Rourke executed a huge quarterback sneak on 3rd down to lower the curtains. Not an oil painting, but a win nonetheless. Rourke finished 16/24 for 284 yards, two touchdown runs and a first-half touchdown strike to Justin McInnis and overcame three interceptions in the opening 30 minutes. He also reached two more key milestones in this win; details can be seen later on in the Key Numbers section.
“Not pretty, but sometimes good teams find a way. We’re showing right now that we’re playing good football as a team,” said the winning quarterback.
“When you’re struggling in one area, other parts can pick you up. Our defence did that tonight. Hats off to them, especially against a team that a couple of weeks ago put 50 on them; that’s a great response. A heck of a response.”
It was none other than rookie safety Jackson Findlay, making his first career start in place of the injured Cristophe Beaulieu, who set the tone with an early interception when the Argos were driving. It was the type of play that served as a reminder of why Lions brass was thrilled with the chance to move up and draft the Western product in round two in May.
“I’ve had a few of those in my career, but when that ball’s coming in slow motion, I probably could have stayed on my feet when I caught it, but it was a pretty cool moment. I went down with it, and my teammates surrounded me,” said Findlay on his big play.
The stadium went kind of quiet for a second and I thought maybe something had happened, but no. A pretty cool moment for sure. My family was here watching and I had some friends here watching as well. Cool moment for all of them. It was just one of those games where something happened on offence and we were able to rebound on defence. That was one of those moments. One of many moments where we were able to do that as a team.”
The play came as no surprise to any of those teammates.
“It was awesome. He’s been a little pest for me at practice, “added Rourke.
“He picked me off one too many times. So, he’s doing a really good job and he’s learning a lot. You can tell, like the way that he’s picking things up is good. I mean, it’s a big loss. When CriBo goes down, you never like to see that. It’s always good when someone else can step up for you and make some plays like he did. That’s a big one; we’ll be needing some plays from him.”
And they will rely on each phase picking each other up from here on in. The three-game streak comes at an opportune time.
“I like that. We’re just going to get back to work. That’s what I like,” said Buck Pierce.
“We talk about it every week, how do you win this next game, this next week? And really just dive into the work that’s ahead of us and enjoy the process of being together and putting a game plan together and trying to go out there next week. I think that’s really what we’re looking at. You can’t look too far ahead, and we’re definitely not looking too far behind. We’re just trying to stay where we are and focus on things we have to get better at and understand where we have to get to. And that’s the exciting part.”
Key Numbers
4- sacks by the Lions defence, three alone from Mathieu Betts, increasing his league-leading total to 13.
28– Toronto manages just 28 yards on the ground. The Lion defensive front is vastly improved with Betts’ re-established dominance and the additions of Bradlee Anae and Levi Bell.
27:58– The Lions didn’t control time of possession, yet still came out on top. A sign of a defence that was able to close it out.
10,054- Passing yards on the season for Rourke. He moved ahead of Gerry Dattilio for the second-highest career total by a Canadian. Dattilio’s total was 9,952. Hall of Famer Russ Jackson stands at the top with 24,593
Next Up
The Calgary Stampeders come to town for our third annual Gravy Bowl, which comes with huge implications in the West Division. The Lions can move ahead of Calgary in the standings, potentially an opportunity for second place, depending on how the Bombers fare in the next couple of weeks.
Upper bowl seating is open, with tickets starting at $19. Join us for a Thanksgiving-themed Backyard Party featuring a turkey menu (while supplies last), a pie-eating contest and a large beer garden.