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