The Edmonton Elks kicked off their 2025 CFL season on a rough note, falling 31-14 to the B.C. Lions on Saturday night in Vancouver. And while the scoreboard shows a lopsided final, the game was a tale of two halves — and one red-hot quarterback.
Canadian star Nathan Rourke reminded fans why he’s one of the league’s most exciting talents. The 27-year-old threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, adding 54 rushing yards for good measure. His leadership turned a slow start into a second-half explosion for B.C., who trailed 7-3 at halftime before outscoring the Elks 28-7 the rest of the way.
The Lions got off to a promising start, nearly punching in a TD on their opening drive, but it was called back after review. After trading mistakes and missed chances, B.C. finally found its rhythm in the third quarter. Rourke hit Stanley Berryhill III for two big touchdown strikes, showing off both his arm and his legs as the Lions took control.
Elks quarterback Tre Ford had a tough start, going 0-for-3 before settling in. He finished with 178 yards and one pick, but it wasn’t enough to keep up. Edmonton did manage to close the gap early in the fourth with a short-yardage TD from Cody Fajardo, cutting the deficit to 17-14. But B.C. answered immediately — and emphatically.
Rourke added a third TD pass to Justin McInnis, and linebacker Ben Hladik’s 61-yard interception return set up a fourth score from running back James Butler. That sealed it.
It wasn’t the debut head coach Mark Kilam hoped for, but he believes Ford is still growing: “He gets better every time he plays… but we’ve got to iron out the functionality of our offence.”
B.C. coach Buck Pierce also made his head coaching debut, and left the field with a statement win.
The Elks will try to bounce back when they host the Montreal Alouettes on June 19. But if Saturday’s second half is any indication, the Lions are looking every bit like a team ready to chase a Grey Cup.
