Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns, leading the B.C. Lions to a 36-18 victory over the visiting Montreal Alouettes Saturday at B.C. Place.
Keon Hatcher had a pair of receiving touchdowns and Justin McInnis and Stanley Berryhill one apiece for the Lions (5-5), with Sean Whyte kicking three field goals and three converts. Tyler Snead had the lone touchdown for Montreal (5-5), with Jose Maltos Diaz adding four field goals.
The Lions dominated much of the first quarter, possessing the ball for 10 minutes, but lacked finish, settling for a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes on a pair of Whyte field goals. Montreal avoided further damage thanks to Tyrice Beverette, who picked off a Rourke pass.
Montreal, already down to third-string QB Caleb Evans due to injury, suffered another loss at the position when he was hurt after attempting just four passes and replaced by James Morgan.
Maltos Diaz (two) and Whyte traded field goals to make it 9-6 B.C. before the game's first touchdown with just under three minutes to play in the second quarter. Rourke led the Lions on a six-play, 70-yard drive that ended with the B.C. QB scrambling to find McInnis for a four-yard major. Whyte's convert made it 16-6 Lions.
Montreal added another Maltos (who added 'Diaz' to his nameplate recently to honour his mother, who is recovering from surgery) field goal before the break to pull within 16-9 at the half.
With less than three minutes to play in the third quarter, Rourke found Hatcher for an eight-yard TD, with Whyte's conversion giving B.C. a 23-9 lead. A 40-yard pass from Rourke to Hatcher highlighted the scoring drive. Hatcher has four 100-yard receiving games on the year.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Als again moved the ball but were unable to find the end zone against the B.C. defence, settling for another Maltos Diaz field goal to make it 23-12.
B.C. immediately answered with a three-play, 70-yard scoring drive, with Rourke hooking up with Hatcher (who finished with 11 catches for 156 yards) for a 15-yard TD. Whyte's convert gave B.C. a 30-12 lead. A 49-yard connection between Rourke and Eberhardt opened the drive.
With just over six minutes to play, Rourke found Berryhill for a 29-yard touchdown to make it 36-12. The conversion attempt was blocked.
Morgan tossed his first-ever CFL touchdown late, hooking up with Snead from 16 yards out with 3:22 to play. A Morgan pass attempt for a two-point convert was picked off by B.C.'s Mica Awe, leaving the score at 36-18.
The Lions visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, Aug. 23 (noon). Montreal host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Thursday (4:30 p.m.).
NOTES: B.C. is 6-0 against the Als over the last three seasons... Montreal is 1-5 without starting QB Davis Alexander... Rourke has thrown for 352, 345, 337, 289, 408 and 382 yards in his last six games... Sione Teuhame (2) and Jonah Tavai had sacks for B.C., which turned in a solid defensive effort. Garry Peters had seven tackles and two passes defended ... On Oct. 4 versus Calgary, B.C. will retire No. 56 for Solomon Elimimian in a special halftime ceremony... Morgan finished 20-for-33 for 211 yards... The Lions will relocate two home games away from B.C. Place next year, due to the hosting of 2026 FIFA World Cup games in Vancouver.