Bombers 28, Lions 20: Rourke off night as BC season ends

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It turns out it was Nathan Rourke’s arm, not the leg, that the BC Lions needed to worry about.

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The Lions quarterback suffered an uncharacteristically inaccurate afternoon in the CFL’s Western Finals at IG Field on Sunday, missing the first five passes en route to a 19/36 for 299 yards and finishing 28. A touchdown in a -20 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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Roark, still recovering from his right foot from his Lisfranc sprain, missed receivers high, low and back, unable to find the rhythm that would lead to his single-season accuracy record (78.3) this year. His struggle was more apparent than in his third attempt in the fourth quarter and his 18th try, hanging flutteringly on his second interception of the game.

The Bombers’ defense had excellent coverage, allowing two deep completions before the Lions aired late, stifling the BC ground game and limiting James Butler to 4 yards on six carries.

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Keown Kutcher led the Lions with two straight receptions in the second game with six catches for 117 yards, while Alexander Hollins had three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown, but the other wides The receiver had not exceeded 3 catches or 42 yards.

Winnipeg will face the Toronto Argonauts in the Gray Cup on November 20th in Regina.

Zach Kolaros didn’t have big numbers for the Bombers, going 14/20 for 178 yards, touchdowns and interceptions, but he didn’t need it. Winnipeg-born Brady Oliveira was -6°C as he rushed 130 yards on the frozen turf of his IG field, where he rushed 20 times. Lion killer Jamarion Grant had his third kick-return touchdown against his BC this season. Marc Riegio scored his goals in his three field games for the Bombers, hitting from 44, 24 and 16.

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A big concern for Winnipeg is the condition of Corralos, who had to make way for Drew Brown after twisting his ankle in the second half of the fourth inning by Sione Teuhema.

Winnipeg forced the Lions to long second downs all night, and the results showed it — second down conversions were 2-of-19 (17%) and nine of their first 13 drives were 15-yards. It was below. Most of BC’s 302 yards came in the closing stages while Winnipeg was his 361.

The game started with turns and twists with enough momentum to last 60 minutes.

After TJ Lee set the tone defensively with a big tackle for a short gain on the game’s first play from scrimmage, Corralos headed a 42-yard pass to Nick Demski on the next play. The Bombers chewed up yards and a 74-yard drive ended with Dalton Shane’s waltz four minutes into the game without touching the end zone for the game’s opening score.

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Rourke missed the first two passes and forced a punt that was blocked by the Bombers’ Tanner Kadwallader, giving Winnipeg the ball at the 16-yard line. However, the command center reviewed the play and determined that he had hit Stefan Flinttoft’s leg, and imposed a penalty regardless of whether he blocked the kick.

But Rourke again missed two straight passes and had no two-and-outs against Calgary last week. Flintoft punted again. However, the ball bounced quickly sideways off the frozen IG field grass and hit Grant’s leg, allowing the Lions to recover at Winnipeg’s 2.

Pipkin showed strength in the end zone on the next play, and BC went from potentially 14 down to 7-6 up as Marc Liegio missed the extra point for a Winnipeg touchdown.

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The Lions dropped two possible interceptions in the first quarter before Marcus Sayles picked Corralos in the end zone to wipe out the Bombers’ drive.

BC again failed to handle the ball and Grant returned the ensuing punt 92 yards through the Lions defense for a touchdown.

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Lieggio scored two goals, including one at the end of the first half, to level the score at 19-8 just after 30 minutes into the game.

The second half started well, with Rourke hitting Hatcher, who was hiding below on a crossing route, but the gain was limited to 27 yards when the Lions receiver hit his heel into the choke. White hit from 42 two plays later, making the game 19-11.

But the Bombers chunked another impressive drive when Dakota Pulkop answered the call with a 1-yard sneak. Achieved. It was the first time in CFL playoff history.

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On the ensuing kickoff, the Bombers vented their frustration with fullback Mike Miller laying out Williams with a helmet-to-helmet hit. Williams appeared to lose his consciousness before hitting the ground and did not return to the game after a sideline concussion check.

Entering the third quarter, the disparity in the ground game between the two teams became noticeable. Butler, who left the game in the first quarter to check the tackle that caused the fumble with his shoulder, gained 4 yards on six carries on the Lions’ first 10 drives.

Oliveira, the Bombers’ Canadian running back, gained 83 yards on 14 artisanal carries and rushed just over 10 yards once (13). That final stat changed on the final play of the quarter, when the Bombers knocked on the end zone door again as they smashed a 26-yard run.