VANCOUVER — Quarterback Nathan Rourke scored on a 70-yard run in the third quarter as the BC Lions erased an early deficit with 25 straight points in a 37-24 victory that knocked the Edmonton Elks out of the CFL playoffs on Friday.
Cornerback Robert Carter Jr. also returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown as the Lions won their fifth straight game, improving to 10-7 and moving into second place in the CFL West.
The Elks had a two-game winning streak snapped, falling to 7-10, last in the West and eliminated from the postseason stats. Edmonton led 10-2 midway through the second quarter.
Rourke completed 21 of 32 passes for 338 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Running back James Butler ran for a touchdown and converted the two-point conversion. He finished the night with 15 carries for 82 yards.
Senior Keon Hatcher caught a 17-yard touchdown.
Kicker Shaun White kicked field goals of 37 and 34 yards.
Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 19 of 34 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. He also scored on a 15-yard run in the final minute of the game.
Running back Javon Leake scored on a short run, while wide receiver Binjimen Victor caught a 12-yard touchdown.
Vincent Blanchard added a 45-yard field goal.
Earlier on Friday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 17-16. The West-ranked Riders are 12-5, while the Bombers improved to 9-8, leaving them fourth in the conference and in position to at least make the crossover playoffs.
The Lions struck early in the third quarter when Carter interfered with Fajardo's pass and returned it for a 17-10 lead. The Elks then turned the ball over on a failed third-down play that led to White's 36-yard field goal. That came courtesy of a 34-yard catch by running back Zander Horvath.
On the next series, Rourke faked a pass and attempted to pass. Not seeing anyone open, he pulled the ball and raced down the right sideline, where he passed several Elks and entered the end zone for a 27-10 lead.
With just 74 seconds left in the first half, Rourke marched the Lions 78 yards in eight plays with three consecutive first down passes. The drive ended with Butler's five-yard run. He also added a two-point conversion to make it 10-10.
The Lions scored their only points of the first quarter when linebacker Ben Hladlik sacked Fajardo in the end zone for a safety.
The Moose took the lead in the second quarter on Leake's six-yard run. The drive was aided by three catches by Curly Gittens Jr., including a 33-yard catch. Edmonton extended the lead to 10–2 on Blanchard's 45-yard field goal. The drive was aided by a 33-yard pass interference call on Lions cornerback Jackson Findlay.
BC's Butler totaled 1,178 yards on the season, breaking his personal season record of 11,116 set in 2023 with Hamilton. … Both teams had just three first downs in the first quarter. … In their two previous games this year, the Lions beat the Moose 31-14 at home on June 7 and followed that up with a 32-14 victory in Edmonton on July 13. … The Lions have back-to-back second-place finishes in the West in 2022 and 2023. … Hatcher is the first Lion receiver to top 1,500 yards since Emmanuel Arsenault had 1,566 yards in 2016.
Elks: Host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, October 24th.
Lions: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, October 25th.
