Surging Lions roll past Roughriders 30-16

VANCOUVER – Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two touchdown passes and the B.C. Lions defence created some key turnovers during a 30-16 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

Rourke finished the night completing 22 of 28 passes for 355 yards and one interception. He threw a 23-yard touchdown to Jevon Cottoy and a four-yard toss for a major to Keon Hatcher Sr.

A crowd of 30,083 at BC Place Stadium watched the Lions win their fourth straight game to improve to 5-5 and move into a third-place tie with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL’s West Division.

The Riders were their own worst enemy, giving up turnovers and taking costly penalties. Saskatchewan was flagged for seven penalties for 72 yards.

Riders quarterback Trevor Harris completed 28 of 42 passes for 356 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He connected with Dhel Duncan-Busby on a 32-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter.

It was the second consecutive loss for the defending Grey Cup champion Roughriders, who remain in second place with a 6-4 record.

The Lions took control of the game with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns.

B.C. went ahead 20-3 with just over six minutes gone in the quarter when Rourke found Hatcher alone in the end zone. The touchdown was set up after a scrambling Rourke threw to an open Horvath on the sideline for a 33-yard gain.

A brilliant catch by Stanley Berryhill set up the next Lions touchdown. Berryhill caught the ball between two Saskatchewan defenders then rambled 58 yards. Horvath’s touchdown was his seventh in the last four games, with six of them coming on the ground.

The Lions scored the game’s first touchdown with just over three minutes gone in the second quarter. Running back James Butler started the drive with a bruising 13-yard ramble. Cottoy made a 24-yard catch before Rourke spotted him alone in the end zone for a 13-6 lead.

Turnovers and penalties cost the Riders at least two touchdowns in the second quarter.

Saskatchewan was moving the ball on the possession after the Lions touchdown when Harris looked for slotback KeeSean Johnson in the end zone. The pass was underthrown, allowing T. J. Lee to record the interception.

Later, Saskatchewan looked to have tied the game but a 49-yard pass and run to Quali Conley was called back due to an illegal block penalty.

On the next series Harris hit Johnny Johnson III for a 36-yard gain, but Lions defensive back Deontai Williams stripped the ball away, giving B.C. another turnover.