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Zander Horvath continues barrelling his way toward the CFL single-season touchdown record.
The bruising B.C. Lions running back found the end zone three times in Saturday’s 48-29 triumph over the Montreal Alouettes before an announced crowd of 23,083 at B.C. Place, giving him a league-leading 19 touchdowns on the campaign with five games remaining on the schedule.
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiving great Milt Stegall holds the CFL season mark with his 23 touchdowns in 2002. The Lions’ team record is 22, set by running back Cory Philpot in 1995.
Saturday’s hat trick for Horvath puts him on pace for 26 touchdowns.
The Lions (7-6) have a bye next week. They host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) on Sept. 25.
“I think he’s probably scored too many touchdowns at this point. Let’s give it to somebody else. Give someone else a chance to score,” B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke joked to reporters about Horvath after the game.
“But, yeah, he’s done a fantastic job answering the bell when we needed him in a lot of different ways and he’s certainly been a huge addition to the offence.”
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The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Horvath, who’s in his second year with the Lions, has been utilized as B.C.’s short-yardage quarterback this season. All three of his scores Saturday were one-yard runs in that manner.
On the night, he had 52 yards rushing on 19 carries and one catch for 17 yards.
Horvath has 16 rushing touchdowns this season as part of his 723 yards gained along the ground on 141 carries. He has three touchdown catches as part of his 24 receptions for 229 yards.
His touchdown total on the season already has him tied for eight best in CFL history with seven other players, including B.C. running back Larry Key, who scored 19 times in 1981.
Running back Jon Volpe totalled 20 touchdowns for the Lions in 1991 and is in a four-way tie for fourth all-time. Allen Pitts’ 21 scores as a Calgary Stampeder receiver in 1994 is the third-best total.
On Saturday, B.C. combined for 429 yards of net offence and dominated time of possession with a 36:59.
Rourjke was 24-of-33 for 317 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Rourke also ran for 77 yards on five carries, highlighted by a 14-yard touchdown run.
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