Former teammates Rourke, Adams., to square off in West Division semifinal

Former teammates Nathan Rourke and Vernon Adams Jr. will square off Saturday for the third time this season.

Rourke and Adams will be under centre for their respective teams when the B.C. Lions host the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division semifinal. They were teammates last season before the Lions sent Adams to Alberta.

Rourke led B.C. to 2-0 sweep of the season series with Calgary. And he was a key figure, passing for a combined 745 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for three TDs.

Keon Hatcher Sr. — the CFL’s leading receiver this season — had 15 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns versus Calgary.

Adams completed 32-of-54 passes against his former club for 428 yards with two touchdowns but also threw five interceptions. Calgary committed seven total giveaways (compared to two for B.C.).

B.C. also registered eight combined sacks with Mathieu Betts (CFL leader with 15) recording three. But Calgary’s Clarence Hicks had two in the Stamps’ 38-24 loss to the Lions on Oct. 4.

Rourke leads a potent unit that led the CFL in offensive points (29.8 per game), TDs (59), net offence (430.2), average yards per play (8.04) and average yards per rush (6.1). Rourke was second overall in passing (5,290 yards) and touchdowns (31) and was the league’s top-rushing quarterback (564 yards, 9.2-yard average, 10 touchdowns).

Hatcher anchors a pretty solid Lions receiving corps that also includes Canadian Justin McInnis (76 catches, 1,256 yards, seven TDs) and youngster Ayden Eberhart (45 catches, league-high 19.2-yard average). B.C. can also run the ball with James Butler (1,213 yards, 5.6-yard average, 11 TDs).

Calgary’s defence allowed 22.2 offensive points per game (second only to Winnipeg at 21.4). B.C. was ranked seventh (26.3 points).

However, the Lions finished tied with Montreal for most sacks (45) and fumbles forced (17). Calgary had 40 sacks on the year but was tied with Toronto for most return TDs (five) and second for most turnovers forced (42) and fewest touchdown drives allowed (38).

By comparison, B.C. recorded 34 turnovers and allowed 47 touchdown marches.

But the combination of Rourke’s mobility and the Lions’ ability to pass protect resulted in B.C. allowing a league-low 20 sacks this season.

Both teams enter the playoffs on win streaks. B.C. concluded its regular season with six straight victories _ including two against Calgary _ while the Stampeders won their final three contests following their Oct. 4 loss to the Lions.

B.C. was a solid 6-3 at home during the regular season but Calgary boasted a 5-4 road mark. And the Stampeders had the best record within the West Division (7-3) just ahead of the Lions (6-4).

There’s not much separating these two teams, but the Lions get the edge at home and with Rourke playing his best football of the season.

Pick: B.C.

—

East Semifinal

Winnipeg Blue Bombers versus Montreal Alouettes (Saturday afternoon)

At Montreal, Davis Alexander makes his first playoff start for the Alouettes after winning all his seven regular-season appearances. But the Alouettes were just 3-8 in games he didn’t start and are a vastly different team with Alexander than without. They’ll definitely need Alexander at his best considering their offence finished the regular season ranked seventh in passing (254.6 yards per game) and eighth in both net yards (329.4) and rushing (85.9). But the defence — anchored by Canadian defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund and standout linebackers Darnell Sankey and Tyrice Beverette — was tops in fewest offensive yards (338.4) and passing yards (256.9) allowed while finishing tied for the league lead in sacks.

Winnipeg begins its quest for a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance on the road for the first time since 2019, when it ultimately defeated Hamilton 33-12 to win its first of two straight CFL titles. But a West Division team has never reach the championship game via the crossover. The Bombers swept the season series with Montreal 2-0, including last week’s 19-10 decision. Alexander didn’t play as the Als had already been assured of finishing second in the East following Hamilton’s win Friday night versus Ottawa. Winnipeg has plenty of playoff experience throughout its lineup and a defence that was the league’s toughest to score against (21.4 points per game, 34 offensive TDs). However, the status of receiver Nic Demski (hamstring) is important given the Bombers had the league’s worst passing attack (235 yards per game). And if starter Zach Collaros struggles or gets nicked, it’s very unlikely the defending West Division champions will have backup Chris Streveler (knee) to turn to.

Pick: Montreal.

Last week: 4-0.

Overall: 53-28.

NOTE: Gemma Karstens-Smith and Donna Spencer both contributed to this weekly feature.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2025.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press