Covering the Canucks for Daily Hive since 2019. Also co-host of the Locked On Canucks Podcast alongside Kyle Bhawan.

It was the exclamation mark on what&#8217;s been a potentially historic season for BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke.
With the Lions <a href="https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-lions-massive-crowd-next-game-bc-place" target="_blank">looking to clinch a home playoff berth</a> at home versus the Edmonton Elks, Rourke took over the game in the third quarter.
The Victoria, BC native sealed the victory for the Lions late in the third quarter, with one of the longest rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in CFL history.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NATHAN ROURKE IS GONE! 
Next level speed for the 70-yard score! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLGameDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFLGameDay</a> 🗓️: Elks vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/BCLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCLions</a> LIVE NOW 🇨🇦: TSN 🌎: CFL+ <a href="https://t.co/xnaaphHdhf">pic.twitter.com/xnaaphHdhf</a>
&mdash; CFL (@CFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFL/status/1979406396761477328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Although the Lions endured some uneven performances in the early part of the season, they&#8217;re red hot now, having rattled off five straight wins. That includes their 37-24 victory over the Elks, which eliminated Edmonton from the playoffs.
With the regular season winding to a close, Rourke has rocketed up to the top of contention for the CFL&#8217;s Most Outstanding Player award.
Veteran quarterbacks like Hamilton Tiger Cats Bo Levi Mitchell (who leads the CFL in passing yards) and Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris are the other prominent candidates, but betting platforms now have <a href="https://www.canadasportsbetting.ca/betting-odds/cfl/cfl-mop-odds-2025/" target="_blank">Rourke as the favourite.</a>
The Canadian gunslinger is only 110 throwing yards behind Mitchell for the league lead. And even though Mitchell has more passing yards and touchdowns (34 compared to 28 for Rourke), the Lions quarterback is eighth in league rushing with 559 yards. He&#8217;s also tied for third with 10 rushing touchdowns on the season.
If he does win, he&#8217;ll do something that the CFL hasn&#8217;t witnessed in 56 years.
Rourke could become the first Canadian quarterback to win the CFL&#8217;s MOP award since Russ Jackson did so while with the Ottawa Rough Riders back in 1969.
Jackson is currently the only other Canadian quarterback in league history to win the MVP award.
Four Canadians, including Jackson, have won the award since the league introduced it back in 1953. Brady Oliveira actually won it last year for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Before him, another running back, Jon Cornish, won it while playing with the Stampeders in 2013.
Tight end Tony Gabriel is the only other Canadian to win MVP, something he did while the Ottawa Rough Riders back in 1978.
Rourke and the Lions have one game left to lock up this historic milestone, and a home playoff game, when they take on the Roughriders in Saskatchewan on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4:00 pm.
<ul class="article-see-also">You might also like:<li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/how-lions-can-secure-home-playoff-game-bc-place' target='_blank'>How the Lions can secure a home playoff game at BC Place</a></li></ul>

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BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke has authored an outstanding season, and he could accomplish something the CFL hasn't seen in 56 years.