Canadian QB Rourke throws record-setting 436 yards as Lions dominate Argonauts

Nathan Rourke threw for a massive 436 yards and four touchdowns, powering the B.C. Lions to a dominant 44-3 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday.

Rourke set a new single-game record for passing yards by a Canadian quarterback, eclipsing the 427-yard mark set by Gerry Dattilio in 1981. The 24-year-old native of Victoria, B.C., completed 39 of 45 attempts and was sacked once.

Kicker Sean Whyte chipped in with a pair of field goals for the Lions (2-0), including a 50-yard strike.

Chad Kelly came on in relief and threw for two yards, completing one of two attempts and getting sacked once.

The Argos' only points of the night came off a 23-yard field goal from Boris Bede early in the second quarter.

WATCH l Rourke's record-breaking game lifts Lions to commanding victory:

The victory means B.C. starts the CFL season with a pair of wins for the first time since 2016.

The Lions were coming off of a bye week but showed no rust early in Saturday's game, kicking it off with an eight-play, 68-yard scoring drive.

Rourke scrambled out of a collapsing pocket to pick up 11 yards and a first down, then capped the drive with a crisp 19-yard pass to Bryan Burnham in the end zone. The veteran wide receiver bowed twice to the crowd after tallying his first touchdown of the season.

The Lions stood strong and denied the visitors all three times they attempted to sneak into the end zone. Toronto turned the ball over on downs.

A questioned call kept the Lions in scoring possession later in the first quarter.

Rourke's seven-yard toss to Lucky Whitehead was ruled incomplete, but B.C. head coach Rick Campbell challenged and the call was overturned, giving his side a first down.

Rourke fired a 46-yard bomb to Dominique Rhymes on the next play