The B.C. Lions are once again looking to turn their fortunes around.

This time, though, the quest will take place in a unique locale as the Lions (5-6) host the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria on Saturday.

The Touchdown Pacific matchup at Royal Athletic Park B次元官网网址� home to West Coast League baseball team the Victoria HarbourCats B次元官网网址� will mark the furthest west a CFL game has ever been played.

B次元官网网址淥bviously itB次元官网网址檚 a little different for us, a little different rhythm than a regular home game,B次元官网网址� said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was born in Victoria. B次元官网网址淏ut these are the type of moments that you might only be able to experience once or twice in your career. So to be a part of this one is cool. And hopefully it goes well and we can come back next year.B次元官网网址�

B.C. heads into the battle riding a five-game losing skid after dropping a 34-27 road decision to Ottawa (7-2-1) last week.

Down 17-12 at halftime, the Redblacks rallied for their sixth-straight undefeated outing.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a good team. I mean, we saw that in film,B次元官网网址� Rourke said. B次元官网网址淏ut theyB次元官网网址檙e physical. They fly around. TheyB次元官网网址檙e very well coached. They do what they do, and they do it very well.B次元官网网址�

Rourke and the Lions showed signs of improvement in the contest but the squad once again failed to hold on to a lead. B.C. has not won a game this season when trailing in the third quarter.

The Lions had a knack for making game-winning plays in the fourth quarter early in the year when they leapt out to a 5-1 start, said Rick Campbell, the clubB次元官网网址檚 head coach and co-general manager. That ability has evaporated since their last win back on July 13.

Little mistakes have cost the club dearly, Campbell said.

B次元官网网址淭he way this league is right now is you canB次元官网网址檛 get away with you canB次元官网网址檛 get away with too many negative things, particularly when the gameB次元官网网址檚 on the line,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 not like a team just blows someone out of the water. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to be on point.B次元官网网址�

The Lions arenB次元官网网址檛 the only ones whoB次元官网网址檝e struggled to hold a lead.

According to CFL stats, 73 per cent of games this season have featured comeback victories and 67 per cent of games were decided in the final three minutes.

B次元官网网址淚t was highlighted last week. Our game came down to the last series. The Montreal-Edmonton game came down to the last play,B次元官网网址� Campbell said.

B次元官网网址淚 know, for the coaches and players itB次元官网网址檚 stressful but everything just gets highlighted. So you need to make sure youB次元官网网址檙e doing everything you can in the fourth quarter to win.B次元官网网址�

The Lions may get some help Saturday with a pair of familiar faces expected to return to the lineup.

Rourke will likely be backed up by veteran quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who has been working his way back from a knee injury he picked up against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 2.

Star defensive lineman Mathieu Betts has also returned to B.C. after being cut by the NFLB次元官网网址檚 Detroit Lions earlier this week. The 29-year-old from Montreal is the CFLB次元官网网址檚 reigning top defensive player.

But Campbell said his players know they shouldnB次元官网网址檛 expect a white knight heading into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game.

B次元官网网址淭he only people that are going to get it done are us. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no magic people coming in to do things,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 always learn way more about people when things arenB次元官网网址檛 going right, and how they respond and how they react. ItB次元官网网址檚 easy when youB次元官网网址檙e winning. And we have a lot of very, very capable and competent coaches and players that are going to ride through this.B次元官网网址�

OTTAWA REDBLACKS (7-2-1) AT B.C. LIONS (5-6-0)

Royal Athletic Park, Victoria., Saturday

HISTORY BOOKS: OttawaB次元官网网址檚 7-2-1 start is the best the RedblacksB次元官网网址� history. It hasnB次元官网网址檛 quite matched the record for a football team in the nationB次元官网网址檚 capital, though B次元官网网址� the Ottawa Football Club got off to a 9-2 start in 1987.

MILESTONE WATCH: Players on both sides are closing in on some big records heading into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game. Redblacks defensive Adarius Pickett needs three defensive tackles to reach 250 in his career and Lions running back William Stanback is 67 rushing yards away from amassing 4,500 across his CFL career. His teammate Justin McInnis needs 46 receiving yards to hit 1,000 for the season.

MAKING MEMORIES: B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Christian Covington has fond memories of football games on Vancouver Island. The defensive lineman played high school football for Vancouver College and had a fierce rivalry with Mount Douglas in Victoria. B次元官网网址淎ny time I could play against those Island boys, it was fun. It was always a battle,B次元官网网址� Covington said with a grin. B次元官网网址淏ut for me, I think we came out on top.B次元官网网址�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2024.