High-flying B.C. Lions search to continue to be undefeated from rested Ottawa Redblacks

Nathan Rourke has grabbed the early headlines this CFL time — and not merely due to the fact he’s a unusual Canadian quarterback.

The 24-yr-aged from Victoria, B.C., run the B.C. Lions (2-) to a pair of lopsided victories to start the marketing campaign and, very last week, set a league file in the procedure. Rourke threw for 436 yards and strike a new single-match document for passing yards by a Canadian QB as the Lions thumped the Toronto Argonauts 44-3.

B.C. has scored 103 points this yr, matching the most any CFL club has put up in the 1st two game titles of a period (Toronto, 1992).

Although considerably of the interest has been on Rourke, the Lions’ defence has been sound, far too, supplying up just 18 points, which include a single touchdown.

B.C. will want both equally the offence and defence to click on as soon as all over again on Thursday as they get on the rested Redblacks in Ottawa.

Ottawa (-2) is coming off a bye soon after dropping a 19-12 decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 2 action.

Redblacks QB Jeremiah Masoli is attempting for a 3rd-straight video game with far more than 300 passing yards. He’s strike the mark in 6 of his final eight begins courting back again to his time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats very last yr.

Ottawa will add a potent piece to the lineup this 7 days with functioning again William Powell generating his period debut. The 34-year-outdated Kansas Point out product skipped the initially two online games with an Achilles injuries but was a whole participant in practice on Monday.

The Lions, in the meantime, will be with no star receiver Bryan Burnham, who was additional to the six-match wounded checklist soon after struggling fractured ribs in Saturday’s earn. He’ll be replaced in the lineup by Josh Pearson, a 25-year-outdated American who expended 2020 with the Tremendous Bowl-profitable Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Select: B.C.

Edmonton Elks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Friday evening)

It’s been a tough start out to the time for both the Elks (-3) and Tiger-Cats (-3). Hamilton’s Dane Evans sales opportunities the league in passing yards (884) but concluded just 25 of 42 tries in the Ticats 26-12 loss to the Blue Bombers previous 7 days. Edmonton appeared to be trending in the correct direction on Saturday, leaping out to a 10-position lead more than the Stampeders just before Calgary climbed back again for a 30-23 victory. Elks QB Nick Arbuckle threw for 226 yards with a landing and an interception in his return to Calgary, the metropolis in which he started off his CFL profession.

Decide on: Edmonton

Montreal Alouettes at Saskatchewan Roughriders (Saturday night)

The Roughriders (2-1) will seem to exact some revenge in the back 50 percent of this dwelling-and-home series. Past 7 days, Montreal’s Trevor Harris begun in put of Vernon Adams Jr. — who tested beneficial for COVID-19 — and threw for 262 yards and a TD, powering the Als to a 37-13 victory. Montreal (1-2) minimal Saskatchewan’s offence with eight sacks, 3 interceptions and 5 go knock-downs. Riders QB Cody Fajardo will want to bounce back right after connecting on 17 of 28 attempts for 191 yards in 7 days 3.

Decide: Saskatchewan

Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts (Monday evening)

The reigning Gray Cup-winner Blue Bombers (3-) are undefeated to commence the year right after submitting a 26-12 win more than the Ticats on Friday. Winnipeg defensive lineman Willie Jefferson experienced a dominant outing, with three tackles, a sack and a pick 6 — a efficiency that gained him a CFL major performer of the 7 days nod. The Argos (1-1), in the meantime, are hunting to get well from the unsightly 44-3 reduction they experienced in B.C. Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie referred to as his team’s efficiency “embarrassing.”

Select: Winnipeg

Last week: 3-1

Total record: 11-1

This report by The Canadian Push was to start with published June 29, 2022.

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