Lions 31, Elks 14: B.C. beats up on Edmonton team spiralling downward, clinches home playoff game
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The B.C. Lions lock up second place in the West Division by downing the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night. They will host the West semifinal in November.
Publishing date:
Oct 21, 2022 • 18 minutes ago • 12 minute read • Join the conversation 
The BC Lions’ James Butler (24) scores a touchdown against the Edmonton Elks during first half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Friday Oct. 21, 2022. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia Article content
There are times when one feels for an overmatched opponent, whose gritty effort doesn’t equate to points.
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The B.C. Lions are like Honey Badgers, though. They don’t give a … well, they didn’t show the woeful Edmonton Elks any mercy.
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The Lions went into Commonwealth Stadium, fell behind 7-0 after fumbling away the opening kickoff, then cruised to a 31-14 win over the Elks — their first in Edmonton since July 13, 2013.
The loss was the 17th straight home defeat for the Elks, extending their already record-setting run of futility.
Running back James Butler III had more yards of offence for B.C. than the entire Elks offence in the first half, as he became just the third Leo to go over 1,000 yards rushing for the season in a decade.
Butler had 141 yards and a touchdown. His 24 carries and yardage total were both his new high-water marks in his pro career, and was his second-straight 100-yard game.
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Article content NEXT GAME
Friday
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. B.C. Lions
5:30 p.m., IG Field, TV: TSN, Radio: AM730
Vernon Adams Jr., despite throwing his first interception in 146 pass attempts as a member of the Lions, had 211 yards passing, a touchdown, and an interception on 18-of-24 passing.
Canadian Tre Ford, starting under centre for injured Elks QB Taylor Cornelius, had a 28-yard scamper on his first dropback, and a seven-yard touchdown pass attempt, but couldn’t get it going against the teeth of the Lions D.
He had 242 yards, most coming in garage time in front of a smattering of fans at Commonwealth, on 22-of-35 passing. B.C.’s Marcus Sayles picked him off twice.
While the Elks were motivated to try to snap their losing streak in their final game of the season, B.C. also had a fire in the furnace, trying to clinch second place in the West Division.
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The win means the West Division semifinal on Sunday, Nov. 6 (1:30 p.m.PT) will be played at B.C. Place, when they host the Calgary Stampeders.
The Lions close out the season next week in Winnipeg, with nothing on the line when they face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In a similar situation, the Bombers rested a host of starters against B.C. last week.
The question now is how the Lions will approach it. Will there be a Nathan Rourke sighting in the regular-season finale? Will Lucky Whitehead and Bryan Burnham be healthy enough to play as well?
Questions abound, but Grey Cup hope is alive and well.
The Edmonton Elks’ quarterback Tre Ford (2) is tackled by the BC Lions’ Mathieu Betts (90) during first half CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Friday Oct. 21, 2022. Betts received a penalty on the play. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia FIRST QUARTER
13:20: A bad start for B.C. as Bruce Anderson fumbles the opening kickoff. Tre Ford only has to go 38 yards on four plays, capped off by a seven yard touchdown to Dillon Mitchell.
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12:32: A steady dose of James Butler to start their first series — just the tonic to settle things down. Four carries for 37 yards. They’re going to need plenty of Butler, who comes into the game just 87 yards shy of 1,000.
More importantly, Vernon Adams Jr. hits him on the checkdown — very important as he needs to work on his checkdowns.
Adams finds Keon Hatcher on a seven-yard touchdown to cap off a nine-play, 71-yard drive as the Lions even it up.
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5:05: TJ Lee comes up with a huge knockdown, getting his hands between the arms of Dillon Mitchell to rip away what would have been a 35-yard completion. It snuffs out the Elks first drive, and they punt.
3:58: The Butler watch continues, as he rips off an 11-yard run, using his hand on the ground to gain another four yards.
After a second-straight completion from Adams, this time to Dom Rhymes, Butler gets the hand off again. He appears to be bottled up in the backfield, but spins and somehow escapes through the entire front four to gain another seven yards.
He has 59 yards on eight carries.
0:55: It’s just funny at this point. Three Elks have Butler pinned in the backfield, but he still powers forward for three yards.
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15:00; Lions 10, Elks 7: Sean Whyte puts B.C. in front with a 32-yard field goal to start the second quarter.
12:40: B.C. forces the Elks into a second straight punt, but are pinned inside the 15 to start their third drive of the game.
11:53: Another nine yards for Butler on their first offensive play. Great blocking from the offensive line and Jevon Cottoy. He’s got 70 yards. Just 17 yards short of 1,000.
9:45: Adams’ first incomplete pass of the day — a well-defended knockdown by Avery Ellis — gets rescued by an illegal contact on a receiver flag on another receiver.
8:30: On the ensuing first down, Adams puts a strike on Hatcher for 28 yards and into Edmonton territory.
After he can’t connect on his first down pass to Rhymes on the sideline, Adams showcases his trademark elusiveness, buying time in the pocket before Rhymes comes open over the middle.
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6:10: Adams nearly has his head pulled off by a facemask penalty on Jake Ceresna, but still finds Butler on a checkdown pass. The gain and penalty puts the Lions first and goal from the two.
5:37; Lions 17, Elks 7: Butler then takes it in on second down to put the Lions up by 10, having scored 17 unanswered points. They went 85 yards on 11 plays that drive.
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4:38: Elks had more yards on penalties (15) than offence on that drive, and they kick it away after four plays.
3:57: And there it is for James Butler III — 1,000 yards. He goes around the left side and lowers the boom, netting 15 yards. He’s joins John White (1,004 yards, 2019) and Andrew Harris (1,039, 2015; 1,112, 2012) as the only Lions running backs to crack the 1,000 yard mark in the past 10 seasons.
Here’s what he had to say about it in the leadup to tonight’s game.
“(1,000 yards), it’s a big hallmark. It’s definitely be a great accomplishment. It’s probably been six years since I ran for that many yards in a season,” he said, referring back to his 2016 season with the Nevada Wolf Pack, when he averaged 111.3 yards per game on his way to a 1,336 yard season.
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“The guys who want it the most for me is probably my O-line. So, just trying to get them this milestone … and whatever I can do to help the team. Biggest thing though, is coming out of this game with a win.”
2:34: The Lions look to pick up a 3-and-1, but the O-line jumps without the ball. The penalty forces the first punt by B.C. tonight.
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1:58: Tre Ford lofts the ball on an out to Dillon Mitchell, overthrows him, and Marcus Sayles Hoovers it in and takes it 39 yards back to the Edmonton five.
1:26; Lions 24, Elks 7: Pipkin takes the QB sweep wide to the right, and dives over the cone to put the Lions up 23-7. Whyte hits the convert, and the Lions are cruising.
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Trash-talk interlude.
Stay in your lane, Lucky Whitehead. Leave me the live-blogging, at least
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Article content HALFTIME
The Manny Show is on one side. But everyone is watching the Butler Show tonight.
#BCLions running back @jamessbutler20 has 95 yards rushing in the first half, another 19 through the air. That’s 114 yards for the math-challenged.
The #Elks have 112 net yards of offence as a team.
— J.J. Adams (@TheRealJJAdams) October 22, 2022 Advertisement 15
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Adams has been back to that laser-efficient QB we’ve seen him be this season, going 9-of-10 for 127 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Edmonton’s Tre Ford has been off target since the first possession, and sits at 5/11 for 46 yards, a touchdown and pick.
Since giving the Elks the ball at their own 50, resulting in the opening-series touchdown, the Lions defence has forced five punts and a turnover. Lions lead 24-7 after 30 minutes, with just one punt on their end — a self-inflicted one, at that.
THIRD QUARTER
14:46: The Elks star the second half at their own 20, and Kevin Brown takes his fourth carry of the game three yards.
13:52: It ends in a two-and-out, the first of the game for the Elks, and B.C. gets the ball at the 55-yard line.
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13:00: Aaaaand there it is. The first interception in 146 attempts by Adams in B.C.
Donovan Olumba snags an errant pass and returns it to the B.C. 11, with Adams pushing him out of bounds to save the touchdown.
11:53: Garry Peters gets called for pass interference for holding on to Dillon Mitchell’s arm in the end zone. Elks get first and goal from the 2.
Ford scrambles out of the pocket and tries to get the corner, but TJ Lee comes up to stop him, with a tackle into the turf.
10:50; Lions 24, Elks 14: But Locksley takes the QB sneak in from the 1, and the Elks are back in the game.
Injured CB Delvin Breaux Sr., watching from afar, didn’t agree.
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10:08: Be interesting to see how Adams responds to his first INT as a Lion, as B.C. starts their drive at their own 20.
9:28: So far, so good. Converts a second-and-seven with an 11-yard pass to Alex Hollins.
8:10: Second straight first-down pass for Adams, this time going eight yards to Rhymes. 12/14 for 151 tonight.
6:50: A little magic from Adams as the Elks send the house, but he escapes the sell-out blitz to hit Scarfone for 18 yards and the first down.
5:52: A penalty backs them up 15 yards on a first down play, and Adams misses his first pass in five attempts.
5:05: The Lions are forced to punt, but Flintoft’s kick goes 67 yards into the end zone for the rouge.
4:36: On Kevin Brown’s first carry, he goes five yards before fumbling the ball. The Lions recover deep in Edmonton’s territory. First and 10 at the Elks 47 for B.C.
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4:25: Cottoy takes the screen pass 17 yards, and looks like he’s been halted, and the whistle blows before he muscles his way through and goes to the house. Keon Hatcher gets called for a crackback block, and moves them back 10 yards from the spot of the dead ball whistle.
3:40: Butler is unstoppable tonight. Another first down run, and he’s up to 124 yards on 20 carries. Both are season and pro career highs for the Lions running back.
2:41: The Elks send the house on a first and 15, and Adams forces a pass to Butler, and is lucky it isn’t picked off. Jamie Harry looks to have just missed out on the pick, but Chris Jones challenges the call.
The call on the field stands, and they lose a timeout and the challenge. Bullet dodged by B.C.
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1:29; Lions 27, Elks 14: The Lions can’t convert the long-yardage first down, and Sean Whyte comes out for a 36-yard attempt. It swerves right then comes back left, and splits the uprights.
1:02: Tre Ford escapes a five-man blitz, but Jordan Williams gets enough jersey to slow him down and then punches the ball out. B.C. gets another massive turnover, and the Lions are in business at the 50.
0:08: A James Butler run for a hard-earned, hard-nosed four yards puts the Lions at 2-and-6 at the Elks’ 30 to end the third quarter.
The broadcasters point out the Lions are 10-0 when leading after three quarters. It’s not promising for Edmonton, who have fumbled it away on two straight drives. They have 41 yards on offence in the second half.
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Article content FOURTH QUARTER
14:28; Lions 31, Elks 14: Rhymes is open, despite triple coverage, but Adams can’t hit him on the long fade route. Whyte comes on to smack home the 37-yard field goal.
13:50: The Elks go two-and-out. They can’t find any purchase on the ground, nor can Ford make any inroads through the air.
5:28: The Lions have gone two-and-out on their last two possessions as they try to play out the string. The Elks have punted once and turned the ball over on downs after a 42-yard drive, but have yet to be threatening.
3:50: The Lions have been blitzing hard to end the game, but this time they get burned as Tre Ford finds Derel Walker for a 24-yard completion.
But David Menard sacks him on the next play, dropping Ford for a nine-yard loss. They’re forced into a 3rd-and-15, and somehow, the Elks convert it. Walker pulls in a 28-yard catch over the middle as Marcus Sayles gets caught trailing.
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2:31: Elks get into the red zone, but can’t gain a yard on either of their first two plays. Ford pulls off another incredible Houdini act to escape the four-man rush, and rolls out to his right. He has Derel Walker open in the end zone, but can’t get it over Marcus Sayles, who makes his second interception of the night.
0:08: Ford drives the Elks down to the B.C. four-yard line on the final drive, but his final pass falls just out of the reach of Kai Locksley, and Edmonton turns the ball over on downs to end the game.
PRE-GAME (Kickoff at 6:45 pm)
One streak will come to an e, Elks nd tonight.
The B.C. Lions haven’t won in eight games at Commonwealth Stadium, a streak that dates back to July 13, 2013.
The Edmonton Elks have set pro football history with 16 consecutive home losses, and look to pick up where they left off with their last victory at home — over B.C. on Oct. 12, 2019.
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The Lions want to clinch second place in the West, and the home playoff berth that comes with it, with a win tonight. They don’t want to put their fate in the hands of Calgary, who would finish third if they lose Saturday to Saskatchewan, nor do they want to risk trying to do it on the final game of the regular season — away to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It’s another tough road game — haven’t won at IG Field since Oct 28, 2017 (0-3).
“Obviously, we’ve played this team twice now, we know what it entails,” said running back James Butler. “We know their record of not winning at home … so obviously they’re going try to protect their home turf, just as men and individuals. We know they’re going to be just as motivated as we are.”
The Lions want to clinch tonight, and while the responsibility doesn’t rest solely on his shoulders, Vernon Adams Jr. will be the most influential B.C. player tonight.
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He has been sacked 20 times in his six games with B.C., the most by any player in the CFL over that span. How important is that?
Consider this; coming into this weekend’s games, teams had allowed a sack on 326 of 1,953 possessions. When an offence doesn’t allow a sack, their touchdown drive percentage is 19 per cent — around one in five. Of those 326 drives where a sack happened, only 10 have resulted in touchdowns — about 1 one in 33 or three per cent.
Adams has held his hand up in a figurative ‘my bad’ and taken responsibility for those sacks, saying he has to find a way to get through his reads quicker.
“He understands what’s going on. He sees it, he just has to believe it,” said head coach Rick Campbell. “Remember … he’s a guy that came in here mid-year and is learning new terminology and playing with new players. That’s not an excuse, it’s just a reality.
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“We knew there was going to be some turbulence or ups and downs as he goes, but as he does, you hope he keeps progressing. The biggest factor for me is if we can win games with him.”
So far, that’s three wins in five games, including a tough road win over Calgary and taking down the defending champs without his two big-name receivers.
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BIG NUMBERS: Coming into the weekend, the Lions lead the CFL in both net offence (392 yards per game) and fewest net yards against (329). The last — and only other — time the Leos did that was in 2012.
STARTING TIGHT: While the offence has been struggling to find consistency to start games, the defence has been a wall. In seven of their last eight games, the Lions have given up just one first quarter touchdown (vs. Montreal, Sept. 22) and three points or fewer in the first quarter.
THE MANNY SHOW: Manny Arceneaux, who didn’t play CFL game for two seasons, is still balling out. He’s played in 12 games for Edmonton, making 37 catches for 482 yards and a touchdown.
He’s now passed Tony Gabriel for 24th all-time with 615 career receptions and is only 100 yards short of 9,000 for his career. He also has an active reception streak of 124 consecutive games.
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