Capping a wild finish, Sean Whyte booted a 44-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the visiting B.C. Lions to a 21-20 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in CFL action Saturday at Molson Stadium.
Whyte was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals for the Lions (2-3), who looked like they were about to drop their fourth straight game after a Jose Maltos field goal gave the Als (3-2) a 20-18 lead with 30 seconds to play.
Quarterback Nathan Rourke, returning from an oblique injury, was 22-for-36 for 352 yards and a touchdown for B.C., and drove the Lions into range for Whyte鈥檚 game-winner, hitting Jevon Cottoy for a key 13-yard gain with .2 seconds left. Rourke also had 43 rushing yards and a touchdown and receiver Stanley Berryhill caught a long TD for the Lions.
鈥淛ust to be a part of this team and win one is huge,鈥� said Whyte after the game. 鈥淲e needed this one.鈥�
SEAN WHYTE WALKOFF!!
鈥� CFL (@CFL)
WHAT A GAME!!
McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Montreal, with Tyson Philpot and Sean Thomas-Erlington adding receiving TDs. Maltos added two field goals and two conversions.
In the first quarter, the Lions were moving on a nice early drive but Rourke was intercepted in the end zone by Montreal鈥檚 Kabion Ento just over three minutes in.
The Als responded quickly with a three-play, 80-yard drive capped when Bethel-Thompson hit Philpot with a short pass, and he outran the defenders and went 45 yards for a touchdown. Maltos added the conversion to give the Als a 7-0 lead which they held after the opening 15 minutes.
Early in the second quarter, scored on a two-yard quarterback sneak to make it 7-6, with Whyte鈥檚 ensuing convert attempt blocked by Shawn Oakman.
On their next drive, the Als had a chance to extend their lead but Maltos, the league鈥檚 leading scorer heading into the game, hit the upright on a 44-yard field goal attempt.
The Lions took the lead with just under three minutes to play in the half. After Rourke had a six-yard scoring run called back due to a penalty, Whyte booted a 24-yard field goal to make it 9-7 B.C.
Montreal answered back immediately, with a nifty 10-play, 70-yard drive that culminated with 30 second left in the half with Bethel-Thompson hitting Thomas-Erlington for a 14-yard TD. Maltos added the conversion to give the Als a 14-9 lead.
WE. DON'T. LOSE. HERE. |
鈥� BC LIONS (@BCLions)
The only scoring in the third quarter was a 30-yard field goal from Maltos with 1:40 to play, extending the lead to 17-9.
B.C. pulled back within five points at the start of the fourth quarter, with Whyte鈥檚 38-yard field goal (after another stalled drive) making it 17-12.
With 4:52 to play, Rourke found a wide-open Berryhill down the right sideline for a 46-yard major to put B.C. ahead 18-17. An ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed.
A long kick return from James Letcher Jr. gave the Alouettes good field position, leading to the late field goal from Maltos, just ahead of B.C.鈥檚 stunning game-winning drive.
B.C. visits the Edmonton Elks on Sunday, July 13 (4 p.m.), while the Als host the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday, July 17.
NOTES: Heading into the game, the Lions were last in league at -8 in turnover differential, moving to -9 after Rourke鈥檚 interception鈥� Bethel-Thompson was shaken up briefly and replaced at QB by Caleb Evans in the third quarter, but returned to finish in the game鈥� The Lions were plagued by penalties, taking 11 for 146 yards鈥� B.C. wide receiver Justin McInnis had six catches for 109 yards鈥� After the game, the teams were involved in a brief skirmish on the sidelines.
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