Nathan Rourke dissects Saskatchewan Roughriders as B.C. Lions take regular-season CFL series (& other thoughts)

Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/BC Lions.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were sliced and diced by Nathan Rourke as he delivered the death blow in the fourth quarter to lead his Lions to a 31-24 win at BC Place.

Rourke outduelled Trevor Harris, especially in the red zone, as B.C. took the season series over the Green and White two games to one. The Leos improved to 8-6, matching the Riders, but due to owning the tiebreaker, now sit second place in the West Division. That upper hand for B.C. could be critical in determining a home playoff game.

The Lions have won seven of their last eight games and are the hottest team in the CFL. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan has gone 2-4 in their last six following a 6-2 start.

No Rourke kryptonite 

Head coach Corey Mace said during the practice week leading into his team’s matchup against the reigning CFL M.O.P. there’s not a lot of kryptonite that can be used against Rourke — he was right.

Mace wanted to try and force Rourke into some bad decisions, but that did not happen. He recorded over 300 passing yards for the fifth straight regular-season game versus the Roughriders. In 48 career regular-season starts, the 28-year-old has 31 games with 300-plus passing yards, 64.6 percent, the highest in CFL history. (Doug Flutie ranks second at 58.3 percent.)

Rourke’s backbreaking play in the fourth quarter all but did in the Riders. Facing a three-man rush with James Vaughters spying, he broke Caleb Sanders’ tackle attempt in the backfield, eluded Mike Rose and Vaughters, then threw a strike to Justin McInnis for 59 yards.

No. 12 for the Lions finished 22-of-28 passing for 375 passing yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He added three rushes for 37 yards to total 412 yards of offence.

His ability to escape the pocket off the edge when possible, such as Derick Roberson taking an inside path towards the QB, and change the tempo kept the Roughriders guessing throughout the game, plus forced a penalty. Roberson couldn’t sprint off the field fast enough late in the second quarter, which drew a too many men flag, as Keon Hatcher Sr. scored his second touchdown in the opening 30 minutes.

Goalpost and red zone issues

Saskatchewan lost the game in the red zone; the Riders went two-for-five and B.C. four-for-five.

Harris had a pass intended for Kian Schaffer-Baker in the end zone hit the right upright the first time in the red zone. Mathieu Betts dropped AJ Ouellette for a loss the second time in the score zone. Dawson Hodge made 27-yard and 31-yard field goals on those drives.

Most surprisingly, Tommy Stevens was stopped short on third-and-two from the Lions’ nine-yard line on the final play in the third quarter. The replay centre automatically reviewed the play and confirmed Stone Cold was stonewalled by B.C. That proved to be a critical snap.

It should be noted, Harris entered Week 17 with a league-high 41 completions in the red zone on 57 attempts (71.9 percent), 19 touchdowns and one interception. He added red zone touchdown pass number 20 to Dylan Djete late in the second quarter.

Harris completed 26-of-33 passes for 297 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, but could not do enough in the red zone to lead the Green and White to victory.

Brace for Thor

A.J. Ouellette returned after missing seven games due to a lower-body injury with a brace on his right knee.

The 31-year-old was ready for his full workload. He carried the football a season-high 19 times for 77 yards with one touchdown along the ground, his first major in 2026. The 31-year-old was stout in pass protection, helping keep Harris upright and clean from a sack perspective.

His presence will help the Riders’ offence through the final four regular-season games.

Ouellette drops to 21-9 when he’s in the lineup since he signed with the team as a free agent entering the 2024 season.

Ring the Bell

Corey Mace called on rookie cover man Malcolm Bell to make his first career CFL start in British Columbia.

After being selected in the first round, ninth overall, during the 2026 CFL Draft, the six-foot-two, 190-pound defensive back dressed for his team’s first 13 regular-season games and saw some action on defence. He showed enough development through training camp, preseason games, and practice to earn the nod at field cornerback.

Bell started the game strong with a pass breakup on Nathan Rourke’s first throw, which was intended for Jermaine Jackson. In the second quarter, it appeared as though he missed his assignment on Keon Hatcher’s 19-yard touchdown. Overall, No. 12 looked comfortable in his first extended action in the three-down league.

Reports from practice indicate CFL all-star cornerback Tevaughn Campbell has been working his way towards recovering from a forearm injury sustained in Week 9 against the Edmonton Elks. Bell could be a viable starter in the secondary and provide options plus depth for Saskatchewan down the stretch.

Dink and Dunks

– KeeSean Johnson recorded his sixth 100-yard receiving game in 2026 with nine receptions for 119 yards.
– Johnny Johnson III, I see you with a full layout for a 13-yard catch.
– Zander Horvath was held to 28 yards on 10 carries as Saskatchewan made BC one-dimensional on offence. Trouble with that is Nathan Rourke can win a game on his own.
– Justin McInnis keeps catching seam balls for chunks against the Roughriders. He posted three grabs for 111 yards.
– Corey Mace threw a questionable challenge flag looking for offensive pass interference in the third quarter.
– 40-year-old T-Mobile ran for six yards and a first down to keep a drive alive on second-and-four.
– Trevor Harris had three turnover-worthy plays in the fourth quarter. Stantley Thomas-Oliver III nearly intercepted his pass intended for Dylan Djete, defensive lineman Hayden Harris got his hands on a ball going to A.J. Ouellette, and T.J. Lee read a hook route to perfection but dropped the football, which was aimed for KeeSean Johnson.
– James Vaughters recorded his team-leading seventh sack by bull-rushing six-foot-six, 310-pound right tackle Tyran Walker-Hunt and taking Nathan Rourke down to the turf.
– Logan Ferland and Mathieu Betts getting physical post-whistle in the fourth quarter was entertaining.
– DaMarcus Fields led his team with six tackles, but at least half came on plays where he was beaten in coverage — not good.
– Antoine Brooks Jr. looked like his old self, flying around, making plays, and notching five tackles.
– Canadian kicker Dawson Hodge played well in his first professional game in his home province, making three-of-three field goals and one extra point.