The young Canadian general is compared to some of the best of all time in the league, and while it may be too early to give him the crown, he has certainly made an impression leading the Lions to a third consecutive CFL victory. Rourke completed the game at TD Place Stadium completing 23 of the 31 passes for 359 yards, two passes, one rushing TD and two interceptions, the first of his career. “I have never met anyone with more self-confidence,” said the Lions running behind James Butler. “He is a great leader and an even better man and there is no other general I want to play for.” A lot was done for the short week for the Lions, who played last Saturday against Toronto and made the cross-country trip, while the Redblacks were saying goodbye for a week. “It is a huge victory for us to fly across the country,” said Lions head coach Rick Campbell. “Ottawa is a good team, so to beat these guys on the road, I’m really proud of our kids … we played enough games to win the game.” The same cannot be said for the Red and Blacks as they threw their third consecutive game. “You know, we probably made a lot of mistakes against a good football team,” said Redblacks coach Paul LaPolice. “You can not leave the edge, you can not drop the cover. You have to be a little more consistent offensively, we had a lot of two and out “. There were some positives as Ottawa managed to score three touchdowns after passing nine quarters without reaching the red zone, but the moral victories have started to sound hollow. After throwing for more than 700 yards in his first two games, Ottawa general Jeremiah Masoli was 13 to 26 for 159 yards with a rushing TD tonight. Masoli knows he needs to get better if his team hopes to get into the winning streak. “I was fine,” Masoli admitted. “I missed a few shots in the beginning; for the most part we had a lot of things there, we just didn’t execute.” The Red and Blacks lost the difference with 14-6 at halftime, but thanks to two cuts by Money Hunter they managed to lead 20-14. Hunter took Rourke and ran the ball back to the Lions’ 16-yard line. Three games later, William Powell, who played his first game of the season, ran into a five-yard touchdown and two penalties and three two-point attempts later were 14-14. In the next BC possession, Hunter made another cut, running the ball 56 yards back to the Lions’ seven-yard line. Ottawa completed the route as Masoli drilled into a one-yard TD. Lewis Ward had a rare goal in the conversion and Ottawa led 20-14. Ward has lost just six of his 46 career conversion attempts. With three cuts this season, Hunter has had a top career, but has admitted that the only mentality that will go to Saskatchewan next week may be victory. “Come play and come win,” Hunter said of next week’s match in Regina. “It’s the only message you can give to everyone right now. “Everyone needs a (victory) just to raise their head.” While some young generals may have struggled after takeoff, Rourke returned immediately, connecting with Keon Hatcher for a 71-yard TD pass and regaining the 21-20 lead with the converter. Rourke credits his teammates that they were able to bounce. “I’m human and I make mistakes, but I have an amazing team around me,” Rourke said. “I’m telling you for the last three weeks, it ‘s not just me and you did not believe me. “I think we showed tonight that it is a very good team and I just happen to play in it.” BC never looked back as Butler added another touchdown to make it 28-20, and Sean Whyte had 32 and 15 yards to complete the Lions score. Ward added a 38-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the quarter and in the final minute of the game the Redblacks managed to get off the field and reach the one-yard line, thanks to a pass-through call, and Caleb Evans hit a TD. A two-point conversion made it 34-31 with 29 seconds left. Having not had a single two or two last week, the Red and Blacks gave Rourke his first in the first move, but then showed why people are so excited about his game. In BC’s next possession, in a third and short bet, Rourke ran for a 50-yard touchdown and the Lions took an early 7-0 lead. Rourke connected with Hatcher in the second quarter and led the Lions to the three-yard line in Ottawa. Butler then ran on an eight-yard TD to make it 14-3. The score of the first half of Ottawa came from a goal of 35 and 28 yards by Warda. FOOT NOTES: The Lions next game is against defending Gray Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 9 at BC Place. The undefeated Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats will compete in Hamilton on Friday. The Montreal Alouettes (1-2) will meet in Regina on Saturday to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-1) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-0) will play the Argonauts (1-1) in Toronto on Monday. This Canadian Press report was first published on June 30, 2022
