Rourke throws 436 yards in record-setting rout of Argos

Even after setting a CFL record, B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke saw room for improvement.

The 24-year-old native of Victoria, B.C., threw for 436 yards on Saturday, powering the Lions to a dominant 44-3 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.

It was the most passing yards a Canadian quarterback has ever put up in a CFL game, eclipsing the 427-yard mark set by Gerry Dattilio in 1981.

“I’m just a distributor of the football out there. Those guys are getting in the right positions and they’re making big plays,” Rourke said after the win.

“There were a couple throws today, especially the first half where I wasn’t nearly as accurate as I need to be. But those guys made some plays for me and made me look good out there.”

Rourke completed 39 of 45 passes on Saturday, including four touchdowns. He was sacked once.

Dominique Rhymes hauled in two majors for B.C. (2-0), while Bryan Burnham and Jevon Cottoy each had one. Fullback David Mackie scored a rushing TD late in the fourth quarter. Kicker Sean Whyte chipped in with three field goals, including a 50-yard strike.

B.C.’s defence smothered the Argos (1-1), holding McLeod BethelThompson to 178 passing yards. The Toronto quarterback connected on 15 of 21 attempts, threw one interception and was sacked twice before being replaced late in the fourth quarter.

Chad Kelly came on in relief and threw for 26 yards, completing two of four attempts. He was sacked once and threw one interception.

The Argos’ only points of the night came off a 23-yard field goal from Boris Bede early in the second quarter.

“I’m totally embarrassed. That was a horrible display of football,” said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “That was a tough loss. It sucks. I hate it. But we can’t let it ruin our season. We’ve just got to go back to work and find ways to get better.”

The Lions were coming off of a bye week but showed no rust early in Saturday’s game, kicking it off with an eight-play, 68-yard scoring drive.

B.C.’s defensive unit was tested on Toronto’s first possession of the night, with DaVaris Daniels powering through a tackle and BethelThompson finding Dejon Brissett on the Lions’ one-yard line.

The Lions stood strong and denied the visitors all three times they attempted to sneak into the end zone. Toronto turned the ball over on downs.

“And then it just snowballed and we couldn’t get nothing going,” Dinwiddie said. “And we get a little bit going in the third quarter then we fumble. I mean, everybody had a hand in it. It’s just It’s upsetting, but we’ve got to find ways to get better.”

I’m just a distributor of the football out there. Those guys are getting in the right positions and they’re making big plays.

NATHAN ROURKE B.C. LIONS QUARTERBACK