The B.C. Lions are again the place they began.
For his or her regular-season finale Saturday night time in opposition to the visiting Montreal Alouettes, the Lions have re-installed Vernon Adams Jr. at quarterback.
Adams bought B.C. off to a 5-1 begin earlier than the group hit the skids. Since then, the Lions are 3-8, together with an unsightly 39-8 loss final week at Saskatchewan that clinched a third-place end within the West. That can pressure them to go on the highway in two weeks for his or her first playoff sport.
Adams has thrown for two,544 yards this yr with 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions however has tried solely seven passes within the final 9 video games. Coach Rick Campbell went with Nathan Rourke in the midst of B.C.’s struggles.
Other than overpowering wins in opposition to Ottawa and Montreal in a seven-day span, Rourke hasn’t been the identical quarterback who starred for B.C. in 2022 after which earned NFL probabilities with 4 totally different franchises. Rourke has thrown for 1,781 yards in eight video games with solely 4 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
“We’ll roll with no matter provides us the most effective probabilities within the playoffs,” Campbell mentioned.
Whereas the Lions (8-9) search for momentum, the Alouettes (12-3-1) know they’re going to be the East’s high seed for the playoffs. All they need to do to play for a second straight Gray Cup is win the convention closing at house on Nov. 9.
Montreal is coming off a 19-12 win Monday in opposition to Ottawa that noticed backup quarterback Davis Alexander hit 14 of 24 passes for 208 yards with an interception. Alexander changed Cody Fajardo, who was in Nevada for the delivery of his second baby.
There is not any query that Fajardo is the starter when able to return however Alexander is greater than able to successful. He is received all 4 of his begins this yr, filling in throughout the summer time when hamstring troubles shelved Fajardo.
Alexander ran for a landing within the win in opposition to the Redblacks, however coach Jason Maas needs him to be extra prudent as time goes on when it comes to looking for contact when he runs.
“We’re by no means enthusiastic about him taking any hits like that,” Maas mentioned. “You’d want him to not be (hit).”
–Area Stage Media
