The B.C. Lions rolled out their new, younger quarterback tandem on a prime notice Friday night time as Nathan Rourke and Michael O’Connor mixed to supply a 20-18 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders because the CFL’s 2022 pre-season wrapped up.
Rourke logged 145 yards off 13-for-19 passing within the first part, together with one landing. O’Connor took over in the second one, completing with 130 passing yards and a landing of his personal.
Saskatchewan used all 3 of its quarterbacks at B.C. Position Stadium. CFL rookie Jake Dolegala took over halfway throughout the 3rd quarter and completed with 77 passing yards and one landing. Starter Cody Fajardo performed simply over 20 mins, passing for 64 yards and recording a one-yard speeding landing.
Mason High quality, who seemed in a single recreation for Saskatchewan final season, returned overdue within the fourth, and completed with 36 yards.
The primary quarter completed 3-3 as all sides attached on area objectives.
With 9:52 left earlier than halftime, Saskatchewan seemed to have recorded the primary landing of the sport when Fajardo discovered Duke Williams in any case zone. A video evaluate through the CFL’s command centre dominated the move incomplete. However then a Saskatchewan problem noticed the ball moved to the one-yard line after B.C.’s Jalon Edwards-Cooper used to be known as for move interference.
Fajardo gave his crew its first lead of the sport when he eased the ball over the target line. Brett Lauther’s convert strive used to be unsuccessful, preserving the ranking at 9-3.
With 1:24 last within the part, the Riders greater their result in 12-3 off a 27-yard area target from Lauther. Then, the Lions were given the gang roaring with 32 seconds left to play. Rourke hit Dominique Rhymes with a 45-yard bomb that introduced the house crew to the two-yard line. Bryan Burnham then stuck a move deep in any case zone for his first landing of the pre-season.
Whyte’s convert used to be a hit, and the Lions took a 12-10 result in the locker room.
Within the 3rd quarter, O’Connor took over at quarterback for B.C. High quality yielded to Jake Dolegala for the Roughriders with 8 mins to play.
3 mins later, the Lions registered their first interception of the sport at a an important second when Quincy Mauger picked off a protracted bomb at his personal target line. A series of defensive consequences, together with a negated interception, helped B.C. transfer the ball downfield earlier than Josh Pearson grabbed a 24-yard toss from O’Connor to push B.C.’s result in 17-12.
The Riders grabbed the lead with 10:37 left within the fourth quarter when Dolegala hit Justin McInnis from 5 yards out. This time, it used to be kicker Henry Nell who overlooked at the convert, preserving the margin at 18-17.
The Lions responded again with 5:05 to move, retaking the lead as Sean Whyte went 2-for-2 on field-goal makes an attempt.
B.C. completed its pre-season time table with a 1-1 document. They dropped a 41-6 choice in Calgary final week. The Riders completed 0-2, shedding 25-16 to Winnipeg on house turf.
The Roughriders and the Lions will meet thrice throughout the common season this 12 months, because the CFL time table returns to its common 18-game time table after simply 14 video games within the pandemic-shortened 2021 marketing campaign.
FOOT NOTES: With 2:47 left in the second one quarter, B.C.’s Phil Norman used to be disqualified from the sport for tough play, whilst Saskatchewan’s Anthony Lanier gained a penalty for roughness.