VANCOUVER – It wasn’t his cleanest efficiency of the season, however Nathan Rourke nonetheless managed to make historical past on Friday, main the B.C. Lions to a 27-22 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
The Canadian quarterback threw for 235 yards and moved into second place on the CFL’s checklist of all-time passing yards by a Canadian quarterback. He handed Gerry Dattilio who amassed 9,952 throughout his profession.
Rourke related on 16 of his 25 makes an attempt on the evening with a landing cross and three interceptions. He additionally drove in a pair of short-yardage majors because the Lions (8-7) chalked up their third straight win.
Justin McInnis reeled in his sixth TD of the season whereas Sean Whyte made two discipline objectives and three converts.
Nick Arbuckle began underneath centre for the Argos (5-10) and put up 281 passing yards, going 28-for-38 with a landing and one interception.
Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made 5 discipline objectives, together with three 50-yard strikes, and one conversion.
Both groups struggled to get their offence going early, and Toronto opened the scoring with an extended discipline aim from Hajrullahu halfway via the primary quarter.
Minutes later, Rourke escaped from the pocket, obtained just a few steps in and lobbed a ball towards McInnis simply over the aim line, solely to see the cross picked off by Willie Drew.
The Argos suffered an identical destiny on the following possession. Arbuckle launched a rainbow from deep in Toronto territory and rookie Lions defensive again Jackson Findlay jumped as much as make the catch.
Related Videos
The interception gave B.C. a primary down on the Toronto 42-yard line.
Get breaking National information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
The house facet labored its approach up the sphere, however couldn’t get the ball into the tip zone, settling as an alternative for a 30-yard discipline aim from Whyte that knotted the rating at 3-3.
Toronto took again the lead earlier than the tip of the opening body with an 18-yard discipline aim from Hajrullahu.
Running again James Butler put the Lions again in scoring place halfway via the second with a 45-yard sprint up the sphere. Rourke adopted up with a dish to McInnis, who made the catch and, underneath stress, stretched into the tip zone for a landing. Whyte’s conversion gave the Lions a 10-6 lead.
The veteran kicker added to the cushion with lower than three minutes to go within the half, sending a 47-yard kick crusing via the uprights.
Toronto reduce its deficit to 13-9 on the finish of the primary half with one other 50-yard discipline aim from Hajrullahu.
The Argos kicker was referred to as on but once more 5 minutes into the third, this time for a 35-yard try. Hajrullahu made the kick, whittling B.C.’s result in a single level.
Rourke and the Lions pushed the ball up the sphere and elevated their benefit earlier than the tip of the quarter.
The QB lobbed an arching cross to Keon Hatcher Sr. ultimately zone, however Drew — draped over the vast receiver’s again — broke up the play. The Toronto defensive again was referred to as for cross interference, giving B.C. a primary down on the Argos’ one-yard line.
Rourke was fast to capitalize, muscling via site visitors for a one-yard main. Another further level from Whyte gave the Lions a 20-12 lead.
The Argos responded with a 50-yard discipline aim to cap the quarter.
Rourke added one other speeding TD two-and-a-half minutes into the fourth, discovering area alongside the skin of a pileup on the aim line and diving via the our bodies into the tip zone. Whyte’s single put the Lions up 27-15.
Toronto obtained a lift halfway via the quarter when Lions defensive lineman Levi Bell was handed a 25-yard penalty for roughing the passer after he caught Arbuckle within the head on a deal with.
Another expensive name got here minutes later when B.C.’s Bradlee Anae was referred to as for pointless roughness, giving the Argos a primary down on the Lions’ two-yard line.
Arbuckle despatched a seven-yard toss to Polk ultimately zone for the landing and Hajrullahu made the additional level to chop B.C.’s result in 27-22.
The Lions discovered some respiration room with lower than three minutes to go within the sport when Mathieu Betts sacked Arbuckle. B.C. linebacker Josh Woods recovered the ball and darted up the sphere.
NOTES: Toronto was restricted to twenty-eight speeding yards on 12 carries. … The Lions took 5 penalties for 49 yards within the first quarter. … Several B.C. gamers marked milestones within the sport, together with Butler (handed 1,000 speeding yards on the season), McInnis (handed the 1,000 receiving yards mark) and linebacker Micha Awe (handed 100 defensive tackles).
UP NEXT
Lions: Host the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Argos: Face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 4.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Sept. 26, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
