The B.C. Lions are once again looking to turn their fortunes around.
This time, though, the quest will take place in a unique locale as the Lions (5-6) host the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria on Saturday.
The Touchdown Pacific matchup at Royal Athletic Park 91裸聊视频� home to West Coast League baseball team the Victoria HarbourCats 91裸聊视频� will mark the furthest west a CFL game has ever been played.
91裸聊视频淥bviously it91裸聊视频檚 a little different for us, a little different rhythm than a regular home game,91裸聊视频� said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was born in Victoria. 91裸聊视频淏ut these are the type of moments that you might only be able to experience once or twice in your career. So to be a part of this one is cool. And hopefully it goes well and we can come back next year.91裸聊视频�
B.C. heads into the battle riding a five-game losing skid after dropping a 34-27 road decision to Ottawa (7-2-1) last week.
Down 17-12 at halftime, the Redblacks rallied for their sixth-straight undefeated outing.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e a good team. I mean, we saw that in film,91裸聊视频� Rourke said. 91裸聊视频淏ut they91裸聊视频檙e physical. They fly around. They91裸聊视频檙e very well coached. They do what they do, and they do it very well.91裸聊视频�
Rourke and the Lions showed signs of improvement in the contest but the squad once again failed to hold on to a lead. B.C. has not won a game this season when trailing in the third quarter.
The Lions had a knack for making game-winning plays in the fourth quarter early in the year when they leapt out to a 5-1 start, said Rick Campbell, the club91裸聊视频檚 head coach and co-general manager. That ability has evaporated since their last win back on July 13.
Little mistakes have cost the club dearly, Campbell said.
91裸聊视频淭he way this league is right now is you can91裸聊视频檛 get away with you can91裸聊视频檛 get away with too many negative things, particularly when the game91裸聊视频檚 on the line,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o it91裸聊视频檚 not like a team just blows someone out of the water. You91裸聊视频檝e got to be on point.91裸聊视频�
The Lions aren91裸聊视频檛 the only ones who91裸聊视频檝e struggled to hold a lead.
According to CFL stats, 73 per cent of games this season have featured comeback victories and 67 per cent of games were decided in the final three minutes.
91裸聊视频淚t was highlighted last week. Our game came down to the last series. The Montreal-Edmonton game came down to the last play,91裸聊视频� Campbell said.
91裸聊视频淚 know, for the coaches and players it91裸聊视频檚 stressful but everything just gets highlighted. So you need to make sure you91裸聊视频檙e doing everything you can in the fourth quarter to win.91裸聊视频�
The Lions may get some help Saturday with a pair of familiar faces expected to return to the lineup.
Rourke will likely be backed up by veteran quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who has been working his way back from a knee injury he picked up against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 2.
Star defensive lineman Mathieu Betts has also returned to B.C. after being cut by the NFL91裸聊视频檚 Detroit Lions earlier this week. The 29-year-old from Montreal is the CFL91裸聊视频檚 reigning top defensive player.
But Campbell said his players know they shouldn91裸聊视频檛 expect a white knight heading into Saturday91裸聊视频檚 game.
91裸聊视频淭he only people that are going to get it done are us. There91裸聊视频檚 no magic people coming in to do things,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚 always learn way more about people when things aren91裸聊视频檛 going right, and how they respond and how they react. It91裸聊视频檚 easy when you91裸聊视频檙e winning. And we have a lot of very, very capable and competent coaches and players that are going to ride through this.91裸聊视频�
OTTAWA REDBLACKS (7-2-1) AT B.C. LIONS (5-6-0)
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria., Saturday
HISTORY BOOKS: Ottawa91裸聊视频檚 7-2-1 start is the best the Redblacks91裸聊视频� history. It hasn91裸聊视频檛 quite matched the record for a football team in the nation91裸聊视频檚 capital, though 91裸聊视频� the Ottawa Football Club got off to a 9-2 start in 1987.
MILESTONE WATCH: Players on both sides are closing in on some big records heading into Saturday91裸聊视频檚 game. Redblacks defensive Adarius Pickett needs three defensive tackles to reach 250 in his career and Lions running back William Stanback is 67 rushing yards away from amassing 4,500 across his CFL career. His teammate Justin McInnis needs 46 receiving yards to hit 1,000 for the season.
MAKING MEMORIES: B.C.91裸聊视频檚 Christian Covington has fond memories of football games on Vancouver Island. The defensive lineman played high school football for Vancouver College and had a fierce rivalry with Mount Douglas in Victoria. 91裸聊视频淎ny time I could play against those Island boys, it was fun. It was always a battle,91裸聊视频� Covington said with a grin. 91裸聊视频淏ut for me, I think we came out on top.91裸聊视频�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2024.
