The BC Lions will be looking to end a five-game losing streak when they host the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria on Saturday.
The Lions (5-6) hit rock bottom after winning five of their first six games of the season on July 13. The team’s steep decline continued with a 34-27 loss to the Redblacks (7-2-1) last Saturday in Ottawa.
Now the home-and-home series moves to Victoria, the hometown of BC quarterback Nathan Luke.
“Obviously it’s a little bit of a different rhythm for us than a normal home game,” Rourke said, “but this is a moment you only get to experience once or twice in your career, so I’m happy to be a part of this game and hopefully it goes well and I can come back next year.”
Last week against the Redblacks, Luke completed 22 of 31 passes for 234 yards and one interception, along with 63 yards on the ground. The Lions could have fellow quarterback Vernon Adams back on Saturday. Adams has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury Aug. 2 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
But Ottawa’s Dru Brown got the better of Luke, completing 28 of 37 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns.
The win for the Redblacks extended their unbeaten streak to six games (5 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw), but it came at a cost.
Starting wide receivers Jaylon Acklin (head) and Bralon Addison (hand) and linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox (knee) were injured in that game, and all three have not practiced this week and will be ruled out for Saturday’s game.
Wide receivers Andre Miller and Eli Staub and linebacker Davion Taylor are expected to be in the lineup.
Either way, Ottawa coach Bob Dyce will be hoping his team performs better away from the capital.
“We have a good record at home (5-0-1), but if we want to be a great team we have to win on the road,” Dyce told the Ottawa Sun.
–Field Level Media
