Justin McInnis Dominates as Lions Beat Saskatchewan Roughriders

VANCOUVER — Justin McInnis caught 14 passes for 241 receiving yards as the BC Lions held off a strong comeback from the Saskatchewan Roughriders to earn a 35-20 victory at BC Place on Saturday.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. also had a great day, throwing for 451 passing yards and a major while adding a rushing score, leading the Lions passing offense to once again dominate.

The defense contributed with an interception, with defenseman Adrian Greene and veteran kicker Sean Whyte making a perfect seven of seven to lift the Leos to a 5-1 lead.

The Roughriders tried valiantly to come back in the fourth quarter after running back AJ Ouellette scored his second major of the day to make it 22-20. Ultimately, however, they could not match the explosive performance of the Orange and Black.

Quarterback Shea Patterson threw for 278 yards and connected twice deep with receiver Samuel Emilus, who finished with 161 receiving yards. Defensive backs Rolan Milligan Jr. and Deontai Williams added two interceptions off Adams Jr. as the Riders lost their first game of the season, 4-1.

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The game opened with some patented Adams Jr. magic. The pivot ran on second down to prevent what looked like a certain sack and found a streaking Ayden Eberhardt for a 54-yard gain. The Riders got to the quarterback on the next play, though, forcing second-and-15 from the 20-yard line. A short completion to Stanback on second down wasn’t enough to move the chains, and the Leos settled for a 3-0 lead on a short Sean Whyte kick.

The next drive featured the Lions defense executing a play where Greene ignored a pass from Patterson on second down to bring Adams Jr. and the offense back onto the field, but the Saskatchewan defense forced a quick two-and-out to prevent the worst.

Patterson’s next appearance was also a quick two-and-out, giving the home team a chance to extend its lead midway through the first quarter. BC did just that, converting a third down with a trick play from Adams Jr. to McInnis for 38 yards to get things started. A couple more completions to No. 18 made it first-and-goal from the five-yard line, and the receiver capped a perfect drive by catching a five-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 10-0 with the point coming.

Saskatchewan responded with an explosive drive of their own. Mario Alford got things started with a 41-yard return and Patterson connected with Emilus for 51 yards to knock on the Lions’ door. From there, Ouellette drove the ball in to cut the lead to 10-7 with a three-play, 62-yard scoring march.

The home team came roaring back to add points to the scoreboard. Adams Jr. started the drive with a 14-yard scramble before throwing a deep pass to Stanley Berryhill III under pressure for 27 yards. A sack by Micah Johnson pushed the Leos back on the final play of the first quarter and Whyte converted a 50-yard field goal to make it 13-7.

The Adams Jr.-McInnis connection came to the fore again in the second quarter, with the pivot finding the receiver wide open over the middle for a 30-yard gain before moving the chains again using his legs. A roughing penalty pushed the Leos further into Saskatchewan territory, but the visiting defense forced Rick Campbell’s team to bring Whyte up on third down again. The veteran kicker delivered again to make it 16-7 with 8:58 left in the first half.

Photo: Jimmy Jeong

Saskatchewan had a connection of their own to match the Leos when Patterson-Emilus took the ball to the five-yard line once again with a 50-yard connection. BC’s defense also closed the door on the Riders, forcing Brett Lauther to come up the field for his first field goal of the afternoon.

The Lions extended their lead with another field goal from Whyte with the clock showing less than two minutes left in the quarter.

McInnis finished the first half with nine catches for 148 yards and a major.

The third quarter started with a missed field goal by Lauther, followed by a pair of points by both teams, before a stingy Saskatchewan defense showed its turnover-forcing side again. Milligan Jr. jumped on a pass from Adams Jr. and took it all the way back to the Lions’ 43-yard line. Patterson brought it closer with connections to Emilus and Shawn Bane Jr., but the Riders couldn’t find the end zone and sent their kicker out for a short field goal attempt. The veteran split the uprights to cut the lead to 19-13 midway through the third quarter.

The next drive saw McInnis catch a 26-yard pass to go over 200 receiving yards on the afternoon and put BC back in Whyte’s reach. The kicker made it 22-13 with his fourth field goal of the day.

The Green and White struck back with a long scoring drive. Patterson connected with Kian Schaffer-Baker who battled his way to a 49-yard gain before Emilus pushed the ball to BC’s five-yard line. A sack by Bo Lokombo pushed the Riders back and Patterson scampered 10 yards to make it third-and-goal from the one. The Lions pulled up the wall and held Saskatchewan out of the endzone before a crucial turnover on downs with 12:42 left in the game.

Corey Mace’s defense came up with another big play in the fourth to keep the Riders in the game. Deontai Williams intercepted Adams Jr. near the end zone and Patterson passed the ball to Ouellette for his second score of the day.

The Riders then pulled another trick out of their sleeve by calling for an onside kick to steal another possession from the Lions. However, BC’s defense would not allow it to score, as Emmanuel Rugamba recovered a fumble from Emilus to halt Saskatchewan’s momentum.

Alexander Hollins further gave the Leos an advantage by catching a 47-yard pass from Adams Jr. all the way to the 14-yard line. The pivot finished it off with a scramble into the end zone to extend the lead to 29-20 with 7:30 left in the game.

Adams Jr. and McInnis were not to be deterred. The duo roared once more on the next drive with connections of 16 and 24 yards on another field goal march for the Leos to extend the lead to 32-20.

Whyte connected on his seventh field goal of the day after a turnover on downs by the Riders for the game’s final score. It was the veteran’s 39th consecutive field goal, tied for the second-longest streak in CFL history.

Offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick was stretchered off the field after suffering an injury while running in the third quarter and did not return to the game.

The Riders now return home to host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, July 19, while the Lions travel to Calgary to take on the Stampeders on Sunday, July 21.