B.C. Lions: New starting QB Nathan Rourke struts stuff in pre-season finale

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B.C. takes on Edmonton in regular season opener Saturday at B.C. Place, coming off a preseason win over Saskathchewan on Friday at the downtown dome

Nathan Rourke was pleased with the B.C. Lions’ final dress rehearsal ahead of opening night.

The Lions kick off the CFL regular season next Saturday, hosting the Edmonton Elks at B.C. Place. The Leos closed out the pre-season at the downtown dome on Friday, beating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 20-18.

The starters, including second-year quarterback Rourke, played the opening half. The first series with Rourke at the controls went a tidy 15 plays and 70 yards, wrapping up with an 18-yard Sean Whyte field goal. Rourke’s final drive went 70 yards in seven plays and a mere 56 seconds, featuring a 45-yard strike down the right side to Dominque Rhymes that set up a two-yard touchdown toss to Bryan Burnham in the left corner of the end zone 32 seconds before halftime.

All told, Rourke went 13-of-19 for 145 yards, with that one TD. 

“I’m happy with how we started. I’m happy with how we finished. There are things to learn from obviously,” said Rourke, 24, who was given the keys to B.C.’s offence by the Lions’ brass when veteran pivot Michael Reilly retired in the off-season. “It’s never going to be perfect, but I was happy with the mindset and the effort the guys gave.”

Rourke talked afterwards about how he felt comfortable throughout the game and was able to get through his receiver progressions. He pointed specifically to an 11-yard reception by Jevon Cottoy on a second-and-10 on that first series where Cottoy was Rourke’s third option on the play.

Saskatchewan sacked him twice. He seemed pressured another couple of times. That was a tribute to the efforts of the offensive line, and to the poise of Rourke. 

He, like the rest of the starters, didn’t take part in B.C.’s pre-season opener, a 41-6 loss on the road to the Calgary Stampeders on May 28.

“I missed some throws here and there (Friday). We’ll clean that up,” Rourke continued. 

B.C. head coach Rick Campbell added: “I’m a big Nathan fan. I think he’s going to continue to grow. He’s a young guy and the more playing time he gets he is going to continue to improve.” 

Rourke, who was born in Victoria and grew up largely in Oakville, Ont., before playing collegiately at Ohio, turned the QB controls at halftime Friday over to former UBC Thunderbirds’ standout Michael O’Connor and the Orleans, Ont., native spearheaded a comeback from a 12-10 deficit. 

O’Connor, 26, who had backed up with the Stamps and the Toronto Argonauts before signing with B.C. as a free agent in the off-season, went 13-of-15 for 151 yards on Friday, and his 24-yard TD pass to receiver Josh Pearson in the third quarter, coupled with the ensuing Whyte convert, put B.C. up 17-12.

Saskatchewan got a touchdown from receiver Justin McInnis early in the fourth quarter that they missed the convert on to go up 18-17, but Whyte booted a 17-yard field goal after that to seal the win.

On Tuesday, the Lions signed QB Antonio Pipkin, 26, a Gary, Ind., native who has four years’ experience in the CFL to compete for the backup spot. The Leos had lost another pivot, Kevin Thomson, to injury in the Calgary game.

“Ultimately, it’s a business. We only had two healthy quarterbacks so you have to bring somebody in,” O’Connor said. “At the end of the day, you just have to compete every day. I’ll do my best and I’ll do whatever I can to help this team win a Grey Cup. Whatever role that is, I’ll do it. 

“I’m really confident with Nathan, and that he’s going to take this team in the right direction.”

The Lions lost left tackle Joel Figueroa to an undisclosed injury midway through Friday’s game. Campbell said afterwards that he hoped it was minor. Left guard Phillip Norman was thrown out of the game in the second quarter after a scuffle.

“I thought the offensive line as a whole fought their butts off. I loved the effort,” Rourke said. “I thought we dictated the tempo … that comes from the O-line.”

sewen@postmedia.com

@SteveEwen

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