Nathan Rourke and Co. chase after a fourth straight win when Vernon Adams, Jr., and his Stampeder cohorts come to town Saturday<\/p>\n
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Published Oct 03, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Hjorth Road Park was in contention for happiest place on earth Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The B.C. Lions were raucous and rollicking through practice at the Surrey field. There was an especially boisterous uproar from the defence when back-to-back Nathan Rourke passes were picked off during drills.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n You can appreciate these being happy times in Lions Land. B.C. (8-7) heads into the their annual Gravy Bowl game with the Calgary Stampeders (8-6) on Saturday (4 p.m.) at B.C. Place<\/a> on a three-game winning streak.<\/p>\n A win clinches the Lions a playoff spot and the team is expecting a crowd in the 30,000 range.<\/p>\n There\u2019s still a chance the Lions could host the West Division semifinal game, depending on how their final three regular season games play out and how things go for the Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-7) down the stretch. It wasn\u2019t that long ago we were talking about the chances of the Lions missing the post-season altogether.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The run comes, too, at a good time in both the Lions\u2019 season and the sports\u2019 year. The Vancouver Canucks<\/a> are starting up. They take up so much of the oxygen on the scene. The Vancouver Whitecaps are making a run at first place in MLS as well. With this surge, the Lions are still grabbing for that share of the spotlight.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like winning is a good remedy in football in general,\u201d Lions defensive lineman Mathieu Betts said when asked about Thursday\u2019s collective mood with the club.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s also no secret that the better you practice, the higher energy you have. The more confidence you have within the group is all an upside on game day. It all goes together \u2026 it feels like we\u2019re trending in the right direction. It just about how we\u2019re going to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In regards to all the post-season possibilities for the Lions, Betts says: \u201cI know that. I feel like we know that.\u201d He also maintains that can\u2019t be front of mind and it has to belong to the Stampeders.<\/p>\n \u201cThe CFL is so unpredictable. I feel like it\u2019s worse this year but it\u2019s probably the same as last year and the year before,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s always like that, and that\u2019s why you have to focus on the task at hand. That\u2019s when good things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n The BC Lions’ offence is on fire, scoring over 30 points in most of their recent games. Their defence has also levelled up, with Mathieu Betts leading the charge. Plus, key players are returning from injury, making them a force to be reckoned with. @FarhanLaljiTSN<\/a> #BCLions<\/a> #CFL<\/a>\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/aROTC2G0jn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The SportsCage (@sportscage) October 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Betts and his defensive line cohorts have played a large role in this Lions\u2019 turnaround. Betts has a league-leading 13 sacks going into this week in the CFL. He\u2019s recorded nine of them in B.C.\u2019s past three games.<\/p>\n The Lions changed the mix of their defensive front in the past few weeks, too, adding free agents Levi Bell and Bradlee Anae. B.C. sits second in the CFL in sacks, with 35. They\u2019ve registered 17 of those in the past four weeks.<\/p>\n More pressure on opposing quarterbacks is making things easier on the secondary, and it\u2019s all leading to better numbers for the defence. The team has allowed 24 points a game in this three-game stretch. The two games before that were a 34-33 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks where B.C. gave up the lead in the fourth quarter, and a 52-34 shellacking at the hands of the Toronto Argonauts.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThe energy is very important. But the confidence, I felt like it was always there,\u201d Betts said. \u201cTo know that you can make the plays to help the team win and to be confident that we can win the games if we play well \u2026 just try to control what you can control.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s matchup also marks the first game back at B.C. Place<\/a> for quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr., since the Lions traded him to the Stampeders last November.<\/a><\/p>\n The Lions had both Adams and Rourke in their quarterback room last season when Rourke returned from the NFL midway through the campaign, and the club simply couldn\u2019t afford to go with both of them long term.<\/p>\n B.C. walloped the Stampeders 52-23 two weeks ago in Calgary, and Adams left the contest after a CFL spotter determined he had suffered a hit to the head. He played last week in a 38-20 setback to the Montreal Alouettes, which marked Calgary\u2019s third straight loss.<\/p>\n Adams told reporters in Calgary earlier this week<\/a>: \u201cYeah, we need confidence and that starts with me. I\u2019ve lost my confidence the last few weeks. I\u2019m not playing like myself and things like that. And, you know, I\u2019ve just come to realize this week, I just have to be me.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Rourke has thrown for 4,170 yards, with 23 touchdown and 12 interceptions. Adams has thrown for 3,189 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.<\/p>\n Rourke has run for 455 yards on 55 carries and scored nine touchdowns. For Adams, it\u2019s 240 yards rushing on 31 carries, with 2 touchdowns.<\/p>\n Rourke and Adams are both supporters of KidSport in their respective regions and they\u2019re challenging fans to see how much the can raise<\/a> by donating money in the name of their team\u2019s quarterback. Each donation of $20 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt and each donation will stay within their team\u2019s community to support local kids and their access to sport.<\/p>\n @SteveEwen<\/p>\n SEwen@postmedia.com<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Lions 27, Argos 22: Nathan Rourke leads B.C. victory over Toronto<\/p>\n![\"rourke\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/cp175035286_298981596.jpg\")
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke throws the ball during first half CFL football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Calgary, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Jeff McIntosh Photo by Jeff McIntosh \/The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.6.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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