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 含羞草研究社� home to West Coast League baseball team the Victoria HarbourCats 含羞草研究社� will mark the furthest west a CFL game has ever been played.
含羞草研究社淥bviously it含羞草研究社檚 a little different for us, a little different rhythm than a regular home game,含羞草研究社� said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was born in Victoria. 含羞草研究社淏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.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e a good team. I mean, we saw that in film,含羞草研究社� Rourke said. 含羞草研究社淏ut they含羞草研究社檙e physical. They fly around. They含羞草研究社檙e very well coached. They do what they do, and they do it very well.含羞草研究社�
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 club含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淭he way this league is right now is you can含羞草研究社檛 get away with you can含羞草研究社檛 get away with too many negative things, particularly when the game含羞草研究社檚 on the line,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淪o it含羞草研究社檚 not like a team just blows someone out of the water. You含羞草研究社檝e got to be on point.含羞草研究社�
The Lions aren含羞草研究社檛 the only ones who含羞草研究社檝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.
含羞草研究社淚t was highlighted last week. Our game came down to the last series. The Montreal-Edmonton game came down to the last play,含羞草研究社� Campbell said.
含羞草研究社淚 know, for the coaches and players it含羞草研究社檚 stressful but everything just gets highlighted. So you need to make sure you含羞草研究社檙e doing everything you can in the fourth quarter to win.含羞草研究社�
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 NFL含羞草研究社檚 Detroit Lions earlier this week. The 29-year-old from Montreal is the CFL含羞草研究社檚 reigning top defensive player.
But Campbell said his players know they shouldn含羞草研究社檛 expect a white knight heading into Saturday含羞草研究社檚 game.
含羞草研究社淭he only people that are going to get it done are us. There含羞草研究社檚 no magic people coming in to do things,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淚 always learn way more about people when things aren含羞草研究社檛 going right, and how they respond and how they react. It含羞草研究社檚 easy when you含羞草研究社檙e winning. And we have a lot of very, very capable and competent coaches and players that are going to ride through this.含羞草研究社�
OTTAWA REDBLACKS (7-2-1) AT B.C. LIONS (5-6-0)
Royal Athletic Park, Victoria., Saturday
HISTORY BOOKS: Ottawa含羞草研究社檚 7-2-1 start is the best the Redblacks含羞草研究社� history. It hasn含羞草研究社檛 quite matched the record for a football team in the nation含羞草研究社檚 capital, though 含羞草研究社� 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 Saturday含羞草研究社檚 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.含羞草研究社檚 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. 含羞草研究社淎ny time I could play against those Island boys, it was fun. It was always a battle,含羞草研究社� Covington said with a grin. 含羞草研究社淏ut for me, I think we came out on top.含羞草研究社�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2024.
