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KELOWNA – James Butler ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns as the BC Lions earned their first win of the CFL season, beating the previously undefeated Edmonton Elks 36-24 on Saturday in front of another sellout crowd at the Apple Bowl.
The two teams combined for 50 points in the first half – including three major points each – to deliver a high-scoring and highly entertaining contest that ended Kelowna’s Touchdown celebrations on a high note for more than 19,000 raucous BC fans.
Zander Horvath also scored twice, on the ground in the first quarter and through the air in the fourth, and Sean Whyte kicked three field goals in the first half for the Lions (1-3), who got more than 300 yards passing from quarterback Nathan Rourke. Whyte came up big from 16, 33 and then 40 yards on the final play of the first half to take a 29-21 lead at the break.
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Quarterback Cody Fajardo responded with three touchdown passes for the Elks (3-1), twice connecting with Kaion Julien-Grant and also finding Austin Mack in the end zone in the final minute of the first half. Fajardo also threw three interceptions, including two in the second half, with Vincent Blanchard’s lone field goal in the fourth quarter providing Edmonton’s only offense of the second half.
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The Lions lost their fortnight opener in the Okanagan, falling 41-33 to the Calgary Stampeders in a matchup of winless teams last Saturday. But this win would not be denied them, with several players stepping up on defense and special teams to support Butler, Rourke, and the rest of the offense for an impressive all-around victory.
IMPORTANT MOMENT
The Lions opened the scoring on their second possession to the fans’ excitement, marching down the field thanks to four consecutive completions from Rourke before Horvath ran the ball in from the one-yard line.
Darnell Sankey’s interception at BC’s goal line late in the fourth quarter was another key moment, halting Edmonton’s comeback attempt and re-energizing the crowd.
KEY STATUS
The Lions’ defense contained league-leading punter Justin Rankin, crowding him for a loss of three yards on four touches in the first half. He gained 109 yards in the second half, between rushing (19) and receiving (100), but also failed to commit a turnover and didn’t account for a score. Rankin entered the game as the Elks’ primary forward and receiver through three games.
NEXT
Elks: Host the Ottawa Redblacks (0-4) on Thursday.
Lions: Visit the Edmonton Elks on Friday, July 17.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
