Week 11 CFL Wrap

BLUE BOMBERS 20 LIONS 11

There were no excuses, just an apology from Nathan Rourke.

A frustrated and downcast Rourke took the blame for the BC Lions’ lacklustre 20-11 loss against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian quarterback’s first game back in the CFL on Sunday.

“I want to publicly apologize,” Rourke said in a clear and steady voice. “That was not my best football right there. I didn’t make enough plays.”

The crowd of 30,803 who came to BC Place Stadium hoping to watch some Rourke magic instead saw the Victoria native complete eight of 25 passes for 126 yards plus throw two interceptions. He also was sacked twice and chased out of the pocket by an energized Bombers defence.

“There were some things out there that I wish I had done differently,” said Rourke, who returned to the Lions this week after spending the last 18 months pursuing a career in the NFL. “There were some throws I missed.”

The Lions, who were embarrassed 25-0 by the Bombers earlier this month, lost for the fourth consecutive game. They remain second in the CFL West Division with a 5-5 record, trailing the 5-4-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed 23 of 31 passes for 288 yards, a touchdown and an interception as the Bombers improved to 4-6 and moved into a third-place tie with Calgary in the West. Nic Demski had six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Backup quarterback Chris Streveller scored on a one-yard plunge, Sergio Castillo kicked field goals of 42 and 37 yards, and running back Brady Oliveira had 10 carries for 78 yards.

Rourke’s return to the CFL created a lot of noise, which the Bombers couldn’t help but hear.

“We just wanted to show him that we weren’t worried about him individually,” said defensive tackle Willie Jefferson, who had one of Winnipeg’s sacks. “They would have to beat us with their A game.

ELKS 47 TICATS 22

Different running back, same result for Jarious Jackson and the Edmonton Elks.

Justin Rankin ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns to power Edmonton to its third straight win, a 47-22 decision over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night. Javon Leake ran for 266 yards and four TDs on 33 carries (8.1-yard average) over the first two wins but was slowed by a hip ailment at Tim Hortons Field.

“I don’t know where (the rushing attack) has been but it’s here now and it’s here to stay,” said Jackson, Edmonton’s interim head coach. “When the weather starts to get cold and it gets later into the season, you’ve got to have a run game.

“Hopefully we can make it that far.”

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Edmonton (3-7) after enduring a season-opening seven straight losses. The Elks are 3-2 under Jackson, the team’s offensive coordinator who assumed coaching duties when head coach/general manager Chris Jones was fired July 15.

Edmonton hasn’t lost since dropping a 44-28 decision to Hamilton at home on July 28 and has its first three-game win streak since 2019.

“Guys are starting to believe,” Jackson said. “They understand if they’re the more physical team on game day, then a lot of times it helps us win games.

“It’s three in a row but we’re going to keep our head down and keep taking it one game at a time.”

ALOUETTES 27 ROUGHRIDERS 24

A little resilience went a long way for the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. 

In a game that featured six lead changes, the East-leading Alouettes topped the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-24.

Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander, making his third consecutive start, scored the game-winning touchdown on a 15-yard scramble with 30 seconds left on the game clock. 

“We never waver. We’re going to battle and compete until the final whistle blows,” said Alexander, who has been starting in place of the injured Cody Fajardo. 

The Als improved to 9-1-0 while the Riders — who sit atop the West — dropped to 5-4-1. 

Alexander’s game-winning touchdown was called into question, with the CFL command centre asked to determine whether he stepped out of bounds on the Saskatchewan seven-yard line.

After review, the call on the field of a touchdown was confirmed. 

Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther had a chance to tie the score on the final play, but missed a 48-yard field goal.

The errant kick capped a brutal night for Lauther, who missed four field goals, including one that cost his team dearly.

Four minutes into the fourth quarter, Lauther’s third miss was returned 128 yards for a touchdown by James Letcher Jr. The play gave the Alouettes a 20-17 lead, which they increased to 21-17 when the ensuing kickoff by Jose Maltos went for a single.

Lauther, who has been the Riders kicker since 2018, took responsibility for the result.

REDBLACKS 31 STAMPEDERS 29

Lewis Ward didn’t know how to feel when he saw his 51-yard field goal split the uprights with no time left on the clock.

Ward’s lengthy kick gave his Ottawa Redblacks a thrilling 31-29 win over the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Thursday.

“I had a split second there where I was completely emotionless,” said Ward, who finished the game with three field goals. “I saw it go through. I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t sad, I wasn’t surprised. I just didn’t know how to feel.

“It was a strange feeling, but then seeing everyone around me afterwards, then you get a little excited.”

Calgary kicker Rene Paredes hit a field goal from 48 yards with 2:23 remaining on the clock to put the Stamps up 29-28 before Ward’s heroics.

Ottawa coach Bob Dyce wasn’t surprised to see his kicker come through in the clutch for the Redblacks (6-2-1), who are unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1).

“We call him Money Lew, so we expect him to be successful in those situations and that’s what he does,” said Dyce.

Calgary coach Dave Dickenson even called a timeout to try to ice Ward. 

“It’s nothing surprising, nothing new to him. They can call a timeout if they want,” Dyce said. “His focus is so great that he’s going to take care of his process and then put the ball through the uprights. I can’t be prouder of him.”

Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 27-of-35 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown pass to Devonte Dedmon.

“Definitely too close for comfort, but we fought a good team,” Masoli said. “Those guys were battling hard out there. Close games in the CFL, you’ve got to find a way to win. We’re learning how to do that as a team.”

After dressing as the Redblacks’ third quarterback in Ottawa’s last two games, Masoli made his first start since suffering a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon in a 21-13 road loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 8, 2023.

Ryquell Armstead and Dustin Crum ran for touchdowns for Ottawa, while Richie Leone added a single.

Short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens ran for three touchdowns for the Stampeders (4-6), who lost for the first time at home this season in front of 17,692 fans at McMahon.

(Canadian Press)

CHRIS JONES RETURNS

TSN’s Farhan Lalji is reporting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have fired defensive coordinator Mark Washington and replaced him with veteran CFL coach Chris Jones.

Jones was fired as Head Coach & GM of the Edmonton Elks on July 15 following an 0-5 start. (They’ve gone 3-2 since).

Ticats head coach Scott Milanovich and Jones previously worked together on the 2012 Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts.