HAMILTON — A first-half offensive outburst from Vernon Adams Jr. and the BC Lions lifted them to a convincing 44-28 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field on Sunday night.
Adams was 26-36 and threw for 321 yards and all four of his touchdowns in the first half alone, finishing the evening with 383 yards through the air. Receiver Justin McInnis had a mammoth 144 receiving yards on 10 receptions, catching two touchdowns.
Bo Levi Mitchell went 32-48, throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns in his team’s fifth straight loss. James Butler was Hamilton’s most productive offensive weapon. He hauled in a touchdown and totalled 109 all-purpose yards.
Adams and the Lions offence marched down the field in no time on the game’s first drive. Two dimes to McInnis got things going before Adams found an open William Stanback for a 45-yard reception into the end zone.
BC continued their aerial attack on their next possession. McInnis was the recipient for gains of 21 and 29 yards and then veered to the left in the end zone to haul in the game’s second touchdown as the Lions pounced on an early 14-0 lead.
Ticats punter Nik Constantinou registered the home team’s first point of the day with a single late in the first quarter.
The Lions continued their hot start on offence at the start of the second quarter, finding more success through the air. McInnis made two catches of 22 and 21 yards before pulling in his second touchdown of the day deep in the end zone on the 70-yard, six-play drive. Sean Whyte‘s successful point after made it 21-1 for the away team.
After the Ticats’ fifth punt of the game, the Lions started with the football at Hamilton’s 38 and extended their lead to 24-1 with a quick field goal score
Butler continued to dominate the touches for the Ticats on their next possession, ripping off a nine-yard run and then taking down a 32-yard pass from Mitchell to get the Tabbies their first touchdown of the evening, making it 24-8 after Marc Liegghio‘s kick.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Adams got his fourth touchdown toss of the half when he looked deep to a dashing Alexander Hollins, who made his defender miss en route to a 69-yard touchdown reception. Whyte’s follow-up kick attempt made it 31-8 for the Leos midway through the second frame.
Davon Harris‘ 61-yard kickoff return helped the Ticats find their next score with a 22-yard field goal by Liegghio, cutting into the Lions’ lead before halftime to make it a 31-11 game.
The Lions kept their foot on the gas to close out the half. Adams connected with Hollins on an 18-yard play and then used his legs to run for 11 yards and a first down to keep the chains moving. The Ticats came up with a stop on second down just outside the red zone, leading to a Whyte field goal from 28 yards out. The Lions went into the dressing room with a 34-11 advantage.
The Ticats managed to cut into their deficit straight after the interval. Mitchell and Shemar Bridges connected for pickups of 18 and then 15 yards to move the hosts into the red zone. Joshua Archibald‘s sack on Mitchell pushed the Tabbies five yards back and meant that they would have to go for a field goal on third down. Liegghio’s 28-yard kick attempt was successful in bringing the score to 34-14.
Adams and the BC offence picked up from where they left off with their first possession of the second half. The Lions began their scoring drive with a 12-yard rush from Stanback and then Adams combined with Jevon Cottoy for an 18-yard passing play. The Ticats’ defensive unit was able to hold their opponent out of the red zone but couldn’t stop BC from putting three more points on the board. Whyte’s 35-yard field goal was good, making it 37-14.
Back with the football, the Ticats were able to respond with their second touchdown of the game on a lengthy 68-yard drive. Going for it on third down at the Lions’ four-yard line, Mitchell completed a touchdown pass to Luther Hakunavanhu to make it 37-21.
After the Ticats failed to put up any points on their next two possessions, BC closed out the game with their last score. Stanback revved into the end zone from three yards out for his first rushing touchdown of the season and Whyte’s kick was good to make it 44-21. Mitchell and Smith connected for one final touchdown with the last play of the game to bring the final score to 44-28.
The BC Lions’ next test will see them host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, July 13. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are on bye in Week 6 and return to action to face the Toronto Argonauts at home on Saturday, July 20.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
