The BC Lions booked their ticket into the Western Final after defeating the Calgary Stampeders 33-30 on Saturday evening.

Calgary and BC traded field goals in the final minute of the quarter setting the stage for Sean Whyte to record a game-winning field goal in the dying seconds of game.

Nathan Rourke threw for 223 yards with a rushing touchdown in the victory while Vernon Adams Jr. had 334 yards with two passing touchdowns in the loss.

In an extra helping of drama in the fourth quarter, Adams led the Stampeders on their third touchdown drive of the half – capped off by a Quincy Vaughn touchdown run – but Rene Paredes missed the extra point, leaving the teams tied at 27-27 with fewer than eight minutes remaining in the game.

The second half looked a lot different than the first, as the sides traded two touchdowns apiece in their first five combined possessions in the third quarter. Adams Jr. found Clark Barnes wide open in the left flat for his second touchdown pass of the third quarter, cutting the Lions’ lead to 27-21.

The Stampeders got their first big strike on offence midway through the third quarter, when Adams found Philpot for a 30-yard touchdown on the right side to give Calgary their first touchdown of the game that cut the deficit to 20-14.

But BC stamped out any potential momentum on the following play, when Robert Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a score that restored the Lions’ two-score lead at 27-14.

Rourke used his legs to power the Lions’ offence at the beginning of the second half, as he carried twice for 51 yards – including a seven-yard major – on a quick four-play touchdown drive that extended the Lions’ lead to 20-7 early in the third quarter.

It was a defensive battle between the Western rivals at BC Place in the first half, as neither side exceeded 150 yards of offence in the first 30 minutes of action and the lone touchdown was scored by Lions quarterback Jeremiah Masoli on a QB keeper on third down.

The Lions will travel to Mosaic Stadium for the Western Final next week against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.