By Canadian Press

Quarterbacks O’Connor, Fajardo in the spotlight as Riders visit Lions

Aug 25, 2022 | 12:21 PM

VANCOUVER — Three months after Nathan Rourke silenced skeptics with a breakout start to the season, the B.C. Lions will have another Canadian quarterback under centre when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday.

But Lions head coach Rick Campbell isn’t expecting lightning to strike twice.

Michael O’Connor will make his first career start in place of the injured Rourke as the Lions (8-1) look to stretch their winning streak to six games. While Campbell is keen to see what the pivot from Ottawa can do, he is managing expectations.

“Have an open mind and don’t make assumptions,” Campbell said Wednesday. “The guy can make the throws. He understands what we’re doing on the offence. I think he’s got a great opportunity for him personally. He’s got a great supporting cast, and so I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

The 24-year-old Rourke, born in Victoria and raised in Oakville, Ont., was off to a record-setting pace in his first campaign as a starter before suffering a foot injury last Friday in Regina. Even if he doesn’t return this season, Rourke’s 79.2 per cent completion mark (minimum 300 passes) would stand as a single-season league record.

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Without their star QB, the Lions are trying to approach Friday with a balanced mindset.

“We’ve got to know how to walk and chew gum — do two things at the same time,” said Antonio Pipkin, who moves into the backup quarterback position. “We feel sorry for Nathan, how the injury took place. But we’ve got to be able to continue to push forward.”

Now, the keys to the offence have been handed to the 26-year-old O’Connor.

After wins of 32-17 at Mosaic Stadium on July 29 and 28-10 last week, a victory on Friday to wrap up the home-and-home set would give B.C. its first season sweep of Saskatchewan (5-5) since 2016.

Like Rourke, O’Connor has a strong pedigree. The six-foot-five pivot redshirted his freshman year after being recruited by Penn State, then transferred to UBC. As a freshman in 2015, he earned Vanier Cup MVP honours. O’Connor signed as a free agent with the Lions last February. In 2021, he dressed for six contests with the Calgary Stampeder, but did not see any action.

O’Connor expects to be tested by an aggressive Roughriders defence.

“We’re expecting pressure,” he said. “But you never know what they could do. Got to be ready for everything, you know. They like to mix it up.”

Pipkin saw his first game action of the season in Regina last week, rushing for 14 yards and two touchdowns on four carries in short-yardage situations.

“That was all offensive line,” he said of his scoring plays. “They moved everything out of the way. I just tried to do my part.”

The Lions have also been strong defensively, especially in the second half. Over the last five games, they’ve allowed just 16 total points after the break. And after five tackles, two sacks and an important forced fumble early in the fourth quarter last Friday, B.C. defensive lineman Obum Gwacham was named the CFL’s top performer of the week. He’s the third Lions player to earn the honour this season, following Rourke (five times) and wide receiver Keon Hatcher.

Linebacker Bo Lokombo also returns to the B.C. lineup this week after missing five games with an elbow injury.

After generating just 41 yards of offense and throwing two interceptions as the Lions built a 21-3 lead, Roughriders starter Cody Fajardo was pulled in favour of Mason Fine just before halftime last week.

Fajardo’s performance has been hampered by injuries this season, but he’ll return to the starter’s role on Friday with the full confidence of Saskatchewan coach Craig Dickenson.

“I don’t want him playing scared and I told him that,” Dickenson said. “I said ‘You’re going to get a chance to go out there and make mistakes and we’re going to be behind you 100 per cent.’ I told him, ‘We’re going to ride with you.’”

“With our defence, it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is back there,” Gwacham said. “As long as we play the game like we should, we can get to any quarterback, regardless of who it is. So, we’re going to go out and play ball.”

Fajardo will be working without two of important members of the offence this week. Top rusher Jamal Morrow is sidelined with a broken hand, while No. 1 receiver Duke Williams is also on the injured list. Receiver Kyran Moore is expected to return to action for the first time since suffering an ACL tear last October.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-5) AT B.C. LIONS (8-1)

Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET, B.C. Place

RIVALRY NIGHT – A large crowd is expected Friday night at B.C. Place. Ticketholders will also receive a pass for free weekday admission to the PNE Fair, on through Sept. 5.

ROURKE’S RETURN? – Rourke told the media on Monday that he hopes to be “ahead of the curve” in recovering from his foot surgery. In 2018, he said he recovered ahead of schedule from a posterior labrum tear.

WILSON TO IR – Riders linebacker Gary Johnson Jr. will miss Friday’s game as he serves a one-game suspension for violating the team’s code of conduct during an off-field incident. In his first game back after his four-game suspension, Saskatchewan defensive lineman Garrett Marino was fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL on Thursday for unnecessary roughness against B.C.’s Peter Godber.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2022.

Carol Schram, The Canadian Press