The B.C. Lions defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 30-16 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver on Sunday. Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two touchdown passes and completed 22 of 28 passes for 355 yards. The Lions' defence forced several key turnovers, with T.J. Lee and Stantley Thomas-Oliver both having interceptions and Lorenzo Mauldin sacking Trevor Harris twice. This article focuses on the B.C. Lions' win, highlighting their strong defensive performance and Rourke's passing stats, but also quotes Rourke expressing disappointment in his own play.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
VANCOUVER – T. J. Lee knew the exact mindset the B.C. Lions defence needed against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
asserted
defence → know → Roughriders
“Grit,” said the veteran defensive back.
asserted
back → say → ?
Quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two touchdown passes and the B.C. defence forced several key turnovers for a 30-16 victory over the Roughriders on Sunday.
asserted
defence → throw → Sunday
Lee and Stantley Thomas-Oliver both had interceptions.
asserted
Lee → have → interceptions
Defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin sacked ‘Riders quarterback Trevor Harris twice, while defensive tackle Casey Sayles also had a sack.
asserted
Sayles → sack → sack
“Our biggest thing with the front seven was put pressure on (quarterback) Trevor Harris,” said Mauldin, who came out of retirement last month to join the Lions.
asserted
who → put → Lions
“Be able to understand he likes to get the ball out quick, so we need to be able to collapse the pocket and make sure he doesn’t step up.
asserted
step → understand → pocket
“If we do our job, everybody will come out with a win.”
asserted
everybody → do → win
Lions head coach Buck Pierce praised his defence for making big plays at the right time.
asserted
Pierce → praise → time
“One of the best things about them is they’re able to stay in the moment, refocus after a big play,” said Pierce.
asserted
Pierce → ’re → play
“To take the ball away like they did and continue to work.
asserted
they → take → ball
It’s a group that’s hungry to be great.”
asserted
that → ’ → ?
Rourke finished the night completing 22 of 28 passes for 355 yards and one interception.
asserted
Rourke → finish → yards
He threw a 23-yard touchdown to Jevon Cottoy and a four-yard toss for a major to Keon Hatcher Sr.
asserted
He → throw → Sr
Running back Zander Horvath also scored on a one-yard plunge.
asserted
Horvath → score → plunge
The touchdown was Horvath’s seventh in the last four games, with six of them coming on the ground.
asserted
six → come → ground
Cottoy finished the night with six catches for 110 yards.
asserted
Cottoy → finish → yards
Get breaking National news
A crowd of 30,083 at BC Place Stadium watched the Lions win their fourth straight game to improve to 5-5 and move into a third-place tie with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL’s West Division.
asserted
Lions → get → Division
Sean Whyte kicked field goals of 25, 35 and 44 yards.
asserted
Whyte → kick → yards
Rourke was happy with the win, lauded his defence, but was disappointed with his own play.
asserted
Rourke → laud → play
“Our defence is playing incredible,” said last year’s Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian.
asserted
Player → play → ?
“I think we owe this one to them.
asserted
we → think → them
I don’t particularly feel like I played the way I know I’m capable of playing.
asserted
I → feel → way
Our defence made a ton of great plays to keep us in it.
asserted
defence → make → it
I just feel like I’ve got to be better in this stretch.”
asserted
I → feel → stretch
A brilliant catch by Stanley Berryhill set up one of the Lions touchdowns.
asserted
catch → set → touchdowns
Berryhill caught the ball between two Saskatchewan defenders, took a big hit, and still managed to turn the play into a 58-yard gain.
asserted
Berryhill → catch → gain
Harris completed 28 of 42 passes for 356 yards, one touchdown and the two picks.
asserted
Harris → complete → yards
He connected with Dhel Duncan-Busby on a 32-yard scoring play in the fourth quarter.
asserted
He → connect → quarter
Alex Hale hit on field goals of 47, 25 and 24 yards.
asserted
Hale → hit → goals
It was the second consecutive loss for the defending Grey Cup champion Roughriders, who remain in second place with a 6-4 record.
asserted
who → defend → record
The Riders were their own worst enemy, giving up turnovers and taking costly penalties.
asserted
Riders → give → penalties
Saskatchewan was flagged for seven penalties for 72 yards.
asserted
Saskatchewan → flag → yards
In the second quarter Saskatchewan was moving the ball on the possession after the Lions first touchdown when Harris looked for slotback KeeSean Johnson in the end zone.
asserted
Harris → move → zone
The pass was underthrown, allowing Lee to record his third interception of the year.
asserted
Lee → underthrown → year
Later, Saskatchewan looked to have tied the game but a 49-yard pass and run to Quali Conley was called back due to an illegal block penalty.
asserted
pass → look → penalty
On the next series Harris hit Johnny Johnson III for a 36-yard gain, but Lions defensive back Deontai Williams stripped the ball away.
asserted
Williams → hit → ball
Early in the third quarter the Riders thought they had recovered a fumbled punt for a touchdown, but the play was called back for a no-yards penalty.
asserted
play → think → penalty
“Turnovers hurt us,” said Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace.
asserted
Mace → hurt → us
“We took three costly penalties.
asserted
We → take → penalties
…and 2 more, not listed.
