B.C. Lions use ground and pound attack to dump Winnipeg Blue Bombers 35-19

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Zander Horvath rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns, lifting the visiting B.C. Lions to a 35-19 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in CFL action Thursday at Princess Auto Stadium.

Quarterback Kaidon Salter made the most of his first CFL start for the Lions (2-5), rushing for 160 yards on 10 carries and passing for another 96 yards and a touchdown to Jermaine Jackson. Salter took over this week from Chase Brice, who was ineffective filling in for usual starter Nathan Rourke, who remains injured.

Sean Whyte kicked a pair of field goals and three converts for the winners. The Lions finished with a whopping 377 yards on the ground.

For the Bombers (4-4), QB Dru Brown (filling in himself for injured starter Zach Collaros) went 18-for-21 for 180 yards and a TD to Tim White before getting hurt in the fourth quarter. Kicker Sergio Castillo booted four field goals and a convert.

The first half was a defensive struggle.

Whyte missed a 52-yard field goal 5:11 into the first quarter. After an apparent touchdown was called back due to penalty, the Bombers took the lead 9:44 into the quarter when Castillo kicked a 16-yard field goal.

After a botched B.C. snap resulted in Winnipeg getting the ball on the Lions 34, the Bombers could again only manage a field goal, this time from 12 yards out and they led 6-0 after 15 minutes.

In the second quarter, Salter (who was just 3-for-9 for 27 yards through the air in the first half), began using his legs and the Lions started moving the ball more effectively.

With seven seconds left in the half, Salter made a nice dash to get to the Winnipeg one-yard line. As time expired in the half, Horvath bulled his way in for a B.C. touchdown and Whyte’s convert made it 7-6 B.C. at the break.

Salter finished with 79 yards on seven carries in the half.

The Bombers moved the ball well to open the third quarter, but the Lions defence stiffened and Winnipeg settled for another Castillo field goal, this time from 32 yards out, to take a 9-7 lead at 6:09.

B.C. got the ball back and Salter broke free on a 40-yard run well into Winnipeg territory. An incomplete pass and a sack later, the Lions were left with a field goal attempt, and Whyte connected from 43 yards out to put B.C. up 10-9 with just under seven minutes left in the quarter.

As the third quarter expired, the Bombers completed a five-play, 55 yard drive when Brown found White in the end zone from two yards out for Winnipeg’s first touchdown of the game. Castillo’s convert gave the Bombers a 16-10 lead heading into the fourth.

B.C. had just 29 net passing yards after three quarters.

On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Salter connected with receiver Keion Hatcher for 32 yards, his first catch on six targets. The Lions drove well into Winnipeg territory, but fizzled out after a sack and Whyte added a 42-yard field goal to draw B.C. within 16-13 with 10:26 to play.

The Bombers lost Brown to an apparent back injury and he was replaced by Taylor Elgersma. Castillo’s 49-yard field goal with 6:18 to play then gave Winnipeg a 19-13 advantage.

On the strength of big runs from Salter and Horvath, the Lions again drove deep into Winnipeg territory. They capped the drive when Salter (with his first CFL TD pass) found Jermaine Jackson for a 24-yard major with 4:51 to play. Whyte’s convert put B.C. back into the lead at 20-19.

With 2:46 to go, Horvath broke free and rumbled 58 yards to paydirt to give B.C. some breathing room. The Lions added a two-point conversion on a nifty trick play to go up 28-19.

With 2:18 to play, Elgersma fumbled and B.C.’s Woodly Appolon recovered at the Winnipeg 35-yard-line.

On the next play, Horvath scored again, this time galloping in from 35 yards out to cap off his huge day. Whyte added the convert to give B.C. a comfortable 35-19 lead and they cruised to the win.

NOTES: Salter’s cousin is former Lions starting QB Casey Printers… The late Cal Murphy, a legendary CFL coach, was inducted into the Winnipeg Ring of Honour, with his family on hand to accept the accolades… The Lions defence had three sacks, including the 50th in the career of Mathieu Betts, while Deontai Williams and Darnell Sankey led the way with eight tackles apiece… The Lions host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday, Aug. 8 (4 p.m.) at BC Place.