Five members of the B.C. Lions were named to the All-CFL team this past week with quarterback NathanRourke, offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, receivers Keon Hatcher Sr., and Justin McInnis and defensiveend Mathieu Betts earning honors.
We could go on and write about their exploits but we will leave that to others.
Instead, we are going to point out some members of the Lions that won’t get all-star nods but should berecognized.
Sean Whyte, kicker
For some reason, Toronto’s Liram Hajrullahu got the nod as the All-CFL kicker. The Argo veteran had a good season going 57-for-64 in field goals but voters must have been suffering from Lions fatigue.
Sorry but 39-for-41 is actually better percentage-wise with three of those field goals being walk-offs to win games. At 40 years of age, Whyte just continues to do his thing and defy Father Time.
This choice was perplexing to me.
Patrice Rene, defensive back
Rene has been a demon on special teams all season long, recording 21 tackles, which was good for sixth in the league.
The 27-year-old native of Haiti has been a leader on the punt cover unit, which had the second-best net yardage in the CFL at 38.4 yards per punt.
As much as people want to talk about the improved defensive play in the last couple of months, the special teams have taken their game to the next level as well and Rene is spearheading that charge.
Robert Carter Jr., defensive back
Yes, you have seen the highlight reel interceptions, the monster hits and the kickoffs returned for touchdowns but that’s only part of the story.
Those plays are great but what about the other 95% of the snaps that Carter plays on defense?
I recently asked Lions defensive coordinator Mike Benevides who were some of the highest-graded players in executing their assignments over the course of the season and Carter was one of his answers.
To use some modern-day football vernacular, the guy’s a dude.
Andrew Peirson, offensive lineman and emergency receiver
Okay, emergency receiver is a bit of a stretch but Peirson did catch two passes last year running routes as an end.
Unfortunately, his ‘game-changing’ ability has been ignored by new head coach Buck Pierce this season but we’re going to give him some love regardless. Every team needs that glue guy with character and Peirson is that guy with the Leos.
He simply goes about his job in a workman-like manner and gets everything he can out of his physical abilities which his teammates respect.
He is also the Lions nominee for the Tom Pate Memorial Award which is given to a player with outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team and his community.
The Practice Roster Players
You might not know who Jordan Terrell, Devin Richardson, Tyran Hunt, Ross Bolger and Jeremy Lewis are but they have been with the team since training camp in Kamloops yet only Lewis has managed to play in a single game.
There is no glory and certainly no worthwhile financial compensation for being a member of the practice roster. For months, they have just been grinding and preparing for that opportunity that may not come.
Their commitment should be recognized.
Paul Charbonneau, Offensive Line coach
If there was a CFL award for assistant coaches, Charbonneau would be an odds-on favorite to win it.
He took over a unit that was much maligned last year and turned it into a group that allowed the fewest sacks in the league (20) while allowing Rourke and the rest of the ‘O’ to put up league-leading numbers in several categories.
Did we also mention that the o-line has had more combinations this season than a Lotto Max $20 quick pick?
Derek Oswalt, Special Teams Assistant and Video Coordinator
Better known as Coach “O”, Oswalt is responsible for getting all the game video sliced and diced to the point that when the coaches and players get on the charter after a road game, the IPads are already being passed out to individuals so that they can get instant feedback on their performance.
It’s a lot of work and a thankless job but one that needs to be done.
Tyler Gammon, Football Operations Manager
Who? Gammon isn’t a household name but an important individual when it comes to making sure everything goes smoothly on the road.
Whether it’s setting up and communicating itineraries to the travelling party, booking team buses or formulating a rooming list for hotels, Gammon makes sure everything goes smoothly when the Lions travel.
OVERTIME
* This will be the Lions 25th division final in their storied history with a 10-14 record in their previous appearances. B.C. will be appearing in their third Division Final in the last four seasons dating back to 2012. The Lions have lost five consecutive Division Finals appearances with their last win coming in 2011.
* The 2025 Western Final will mark the fourth time that the Lions have played the Roughriders in the penultimate game. Ironically, the previous three games came within a four-year span from 2004 through 2008. In 2004, the Lions prevailed 27-25 at B.C. Place. Two years later in 2006, the Lions drubbed the Riders 45-18 in Vancouver while the following year the Riders came out on top 26-17 in Regina.
* The Lions enter the Western Final (Saturday 2:30 pm; TSN; CKNW 730) as three-point underdogs against the Riders with the total set at 53.5.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob “the Moj” Marjanovich writes about the B.C. sporting scene for Black Press Media. This column is brought to you by:
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