The B.C. Lions are headed to the CFL’s West Division final.
Sean Whyte hit a game-winning 43-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Lions to a thrilling 33-30 win over the visiting Calgary Stampeders in the league’s West semifinal Saturday at B.C. Place.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke tossed for 223 yards and led the Lions on their game-winning drive. He also rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown. Backup QB Jeremiah Masoli and kick returner Robert Carter Jr. also had TDs for the winners, with Whyte booting four field goals and three converts.
Former Lion Vernon Adams Jr. passed for 334 yards and two TDs for the Stamps. Jalen Philpot, Clark Barnes and Quincy Vaughn scored the Calgary touchdowns, with Rene Parades kicking three field goals and two converts. Parades also missed a crucial convert late in the game.
With the win, the Lions advance to meet the host Saskatchewan Roughriders next Saturday in the West final, with the winner advancing to the Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
Defence was the order of the day early. The teams traded field goals in the first quarter, with Whyte connecting on a 40-yarder on B.C.’s first drive and Paredes hitting from 50 late in the frame.
In the second quarter, Calgary took a 4-3 lead when punter Mark Vassett launched a 54-yard single into the end zone.
The Lions answered midway through the frame with a 12-play, 70-yard drive, culminating in Masoli’s one-yard QB sneak. Whyte’s extra point gave B.C. a 10-4 lead.
The kickers then exchanged field goals again, leaving the score at 13-7. Calgary was deep in B.C. territory late in the half, but could not produce another score as time ran out as the Stampeders took too long on their final play.
Things began to heat up the third quarter.
Rourke scored a rushing TD at 3:21, with Whyte’s convert upping the Lions’ lead to 20-7.
The Stampers responded three minutes later, when Adams found Philpot for a 29-yard major. Parades added the convert to make it 20-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, B.C.’s Carter took it back 95 yards to paydirt. Whyte’s conversion boosted the B.C. lead to 27-14.
ROBERT CARTER JR. TO THE HOUSE!
He goes 95 yards as this one continues to go back and forth!
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Calgary clawed back, as Adams found Barnes from two yards out with 2:29 left in the quarter and the convert pulled Calgary within six at 27-21.
In the fourth quarter, Vaughn capped a long Calgary drive with a one-yard rushing TD to pull Calgary even at 27-27. With a chance to take the lead, Parades missed the extra point.
The teams traded defensive stops and punts. B.C. had the ball again with just over two minutes to play, but Rourke was sacked and B.C. was forced to punt again.
Vassett boomed a 63-yarder to returner Erik Brooks, who fumbled and it was recovered by B.C.’s Kieran Poissant at the Calgary 32.
The Lions were unable to move the ball, but Whyte’s 39-yard field goal with 1:07 left gave B.C. a 30-27 lead.
On second down, Adams heaved a shot down the middle for Philpot, who somehow hung on for a 42-yard gain while taking a huge hit at the B.C. 31.
A pair of long incompletions brought on Parades, who tied it at 30-30 with a 38-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the quarter.
With three seconds left, Rourke tossed a perfect 28-yard pass to Justin McInnis, down to the Calgary 36.
As time expired, Whyte hit a walk-off 43-yarder to win it for B.C.
NOTES: B.C. has eliminated Calgary in three of the last four post-seasons… McInnis finished with four catches for 81 yards, while Philpot had seven grabs for 120 yards in a losing effort.