SPORTS WITH HARP: Ticats Rally Past Lions in a Thriller; BC Heads into Bye at 3–5

29 July 2025

JULY-27-2025-BC-LIONS-HAM-TIGERCATS-CFL-SARAH-PARKER(@MATCHONEMEDIA)-95 — Photo credit: Sarah Parker

BY HARPREET PANDHER

Broadcaster on Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi and

BC Lions Football Punjabi

IG/X/TikTok: @harppandher

IT looked like the BC Lions were about to snap Hamilton’s momentum early, racing out to a 14–3 lead after the opening quarter. That was especially impressive for a team that had been outscored 48–12 in first quarters over their previous seven games, with James Butler scoring twice against his former team and Nathan Rourke showing rhythm in the offense.

But Hamilton answered back in force. Bo Levi Mitchell orchestrated a 389-yard, three-touchdown night, including the decisive one-yard TD to Kiondre Smith in the final 16 seconds, lifting the Tiger-Cats to a 37–33 comeback victory at BC Place. BC did win the turnover battle 3–1, but it wasn’t enough. The loss drops the Lions to 3–5 heading into the bye week while Hamilton improves to 5–2, riding a five-game win streak—their longest since 2019.

On the defensive side, Robert Carter Jr. stood out with a jaw-dropping one-handed interception that was immediately hailed as the catch of the year. Known for his viral NCAA grab at Robert Morris, Carter continues to showcase elite hands and playmaking instincts in the CFL.

Meanwhile, Kiondre Smith had a breakout night. He led Hamilton’s receiving corps with 14 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns—both on passes from Mitchell. His season totals now stand at 32 receptions for 365 yards and three major scores. Smith’s routes consistently found soft spots in BC’s coverage, especially as the Lions shifted extra attention to limit the impact of Kenny Lawler.

The Lions offense had its own highlights: Rourke threw for 289 yards (20/27) and James Butler ran for 115 yards with two touchdowns. Keon Hatcher added 117 yards receiving, while Ayden Eberhardt and Stanley Berryhill III also made nice contributions. Despite BC’s dominance in first-half play and their successes on offence, soft zone coverage and double-teaming Lawler allowed too much space for Hamilton’s other receivers to exploit further in the late stages.

On defense, Micah Awe led the team with 10 tackles, and Carter contributed six tackles as well as his highlight interception. Ben Hladik, Deontai Williams, and Cristophe Beaulieu each added four tackles in a gritty effort that just fell short in the final minutes.

Before kickoff, BC Lions Football Punjabi hosted Lions President Duane Vienneau as a guest on their pre-game show. Vienneau discussed the importance of engaging with Punjabi-speaking fans across BC and highlighted the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and community outreach through culturally specific programming.

BC now heads into its bye week before returning to action against Hamilton on Thursday, August 7 in a rematch at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. That day also marks a major celebration where hometown NBA superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be awarded the Key to the City at a free rally at Tim Horton’s field.