Lions game live: Latest news and analysis as BC takes on Calgary

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The B.C. Lions have their first win without star quarterback Nathan Rourke.

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The Lions (9-3), who had dropped their first two games after Rourke went down with what looks like a season-ending foot injury, edged the Calgary Stampeders (8-5) in overtime by a 31-29 count at McMahon Stadium on Saturday.

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Vernon Adams, who was B.C.’s fourth starting pivot in as many games, was 25-of-32 for 294 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. Running back James Butler scored a pair of touchdowns, including an 18 yarder in overtime, as part of his 83 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Antonio Pipkin had another major along the ground and a two-point convert.

Sean Whyte kicked three field goals.

Rourke was injured in a 28-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 19. Michael O’Connor started in his place in an Aug. 26 return match-up with Saskatchewan but was injured and gave way to Pipkin in what became a 23-16 Roughrider win. B.C. traded with the Montreal Alouettes to land Adams on Aug. 31 , and they gave Pipkin the start coming out of a bye week in a 31-10 loss to Montreal on Sept. 9. Adams did see some action that game.

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Calgary quarterback Jake Maier was 26-of-38 for 301 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Rene Paredes connected on 3-o-4 field goals but the miss was especially notable, as he was wide left on a 48 yarder with 23 seconds remaining and the score knotted at 23-23.

It was a penalty filled affair with the teams combining for 23 flags totalling 215 yards, with 12 and 128 yards assessed to Calgary.

Here’s how it looked from our game-day blog.

3:35 p.m. Loving the efforts put forth by the Lions social media crew on a regular basis.

Here’s their latest.

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3:38 p.m. May we offer up a look at the participants for today’s festivities and how they might line up? Don’t mind if we do.

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3:42 p.m. Always liked Natasha Staniszewski on TSN highlight shows. She’s working with the Stampeders now. She’s leading the way with this game preview.

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3:44 p.m. I get that sports betting is a big thing now, but I think my buddy Donna Spencer from Canadian Press might be going a bit too far. Or is she? Discuss among yourselves.

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3:48 p.m. JJ made a big deal in the game blog last week of him texting Rourke to see where Rourke was watching the game and how he was feeling. In a related move, I’ve texted the most famous person in my phone to see where he’s watching the game from.

JJ has not returned my text as of yet. I will keep you all updated.

4:01 p.m. Davis Sanchez and Matt Dunigan debating on TSN pregame show whether Adams has pressure.

Dunigan says there’s massive expectations but he should be excited to be a part of B.C.’s offence.

Dunigan said: “If I’m VA, Im licking my lips.”

FIRST QUARTER

15:00 Calgary’s Logan takes opening kickoff back 32 yards. Calgary penalty bumps it back, but B.C.’s coverage teams have been modest at best all season.

13:53 Quick two and out for Calgary. Lions should get decent field position to start with Adams.

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13:28 No yards penalty to Calgary on return has B.C. starting at the Calgary 45-yard line. First play is a handoff to Butler.

12:31 Illegal contact on B.C. receiver downfield gives the Lions another first down. Third Calgary penalty already. Will we see several B.C. penalties in a row or is that only a hockey thing?

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11:23 Butler rambles up the middle for a 10-yard touchdown. Start couldn’t go any better for the Lions. Five plays, 45-yard drive. Adams looks comfortable.

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8:16 Just heard back from JJ. He says he’s texting with Rourke.

6:51 Calgary drive stalls at B.C. 30-yard line. Paredes knocks one home straight down the middle. It’s 7-3 B.C.

5:45 Diving 16-yard grab by B.C.’s  Hatcher has highlight of the night potential.

1:19 Lions drive stalls at Calgary 31-yard line. Whyte books a 38-yard field goal to make it 10-3 for the Lions.

SECOND QUARTER

15:00 Calgary punting to start after another 2-and-out. Adams was 4-of-9 for 49 yards in the first quarter, with that 22-yard connection to Burnham his long so far. Maier’s 2-of-5 for 23 yards so far.

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11:54 Maier connects with Henry on a deep-ball post for a 77-yard touchdown. Add the extra point and we’re 10-10. Maier’s at 100 yards on just three completions.

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9:29 Any ideas for Skip The Dishes?

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5:08 A 28-yard pass-and-run connection with Burnham seems to have B.C. going. They are at the Calgary 21-yard line.

3:45 On a 2nd-and-10 from that Calgary 21-yard line, Adams scrambles left, gets pushed back and Judge forces a fumble that Calgary recovers. Felt like Adams was trying to do too much.

1:14 Adams misses check-down receiver in Butler and winds up getting sacked deep in B.C. territory. That’s as uncomfortable as he’s looked all half.

0:00 Paredes kicks a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the half. It’s 13-10 Calgary at the break.

Adam is 12-of-16 for 123 yards. Butler has run six times for 33 yards.

Maier is 8-of-13 for 152 yards.

Game has been penalty killed: B.C. six flags for 52 yards, Calgary six flags for 66 yards.

Article content THIRD QUARTER

12:58 Adams takes off, gets a great block from Rhymes and runs for 15 yards to get to the Calgary 25-yard line. Bad snap from Godber on next play, Adams dives on it to keep possession but B.C. loses seven yards.

11:09 Whyte kicks a 30-yard field goal for the Lions and it’s 13-13.

9:04 Rhymes dives, makes a catch, rightly realizes that he wasn’t touched by a Calgary defender and promptly rambles away for more yardage. It’s fourteen yards after the catch for a 23-yard reception, taking the ball to the B.C. 48-yard line.

3:07 Questionable PI call on a pass to Burnham in the Calgary end zone puts B.C. on the Calgary one-yard line.

1:18 After two unsuccessful tries, Pipkin scores on the one-yard sneak. With the extra point, it’s 20-13 for B.C.

Article content FOURTH QUARTER

10:12 Begelton 18-yard reception moves Calgary to the B.C. four-yard line. Running game helped set up drive.

8:41 After a stuffed run and an incomplete pass in the end zone, Calgary settles for a 13-yard chip shot from Paredes. Lions lead 20-16.

6:51 A 16-yard reception by Hatcher two plays after a 29-yard reception by Rhymes has B.C. on the move. They’re on the Calgary 23-yard line.

5:15 B.C. stalls deep in Calgary territory and settle for a 14-yard field goal from Whyte. Make its 23-16 for the Lions.

2:01 Calgary marches 74 yards in eight plays and ties the game at 23-23 on a touchdown toss to wide-open Hakunavanhu in the centre of the end zone, along with the ensuing extra point. 

1:56 Adams sacked. Puts B.C. in a hole.

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1:50 On a 2nd-and-16 from the B.C. 16, Adams connects with Cottoy for an 11-yard reception but it’s not enough. B.C. has to punt.

1:27 Calgary returns Flintoft punt to the Calgary 46-yard line.

0:40 Begelton makes nifty catch on a 2nd-and-eight from the B.C. 47. Send Paredes to kick field goal. It’s a 48-yard attempt. Paredes is wide left with 23 seconds remaining.

OVERTIME

B.C. starts on the Calgary 35-yard line. Butler scores an 18-yard touchdown on B.C.’s second play of OT. Calgary knocks down attempted pass to Rhymes on two-point convert. Calgary’s Lemon is called on the  offside, which means we’ll redo the convert. Pipkin keeps this time, he’s in and B.C. leads 31-23.

Philpot scores a TD on a pass from Maier on the 1st-and-goal from the four-yard line on Calgary’s fifth play from scrimmage. Maier tries to hit Begelton in the middle of the end zone on the convert, but it’s incomplete. Calgary throws a challenge flag, asking for a PI call, and the ruling on the field stands.

sewen@postmedia.com

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