By The Numbers: Lions QB Rourke off to roaring start
Published
Nathan Rourke is in impressive company through the first six starts of his career.
The second-year quarterback has posted numbers comparable to some of the best pivots in Canadian Football League history.
The BC Lions (3-1) are coming off their second bye week of the season and host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-4) on Thursday night.
Watch and stream the Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. BC Lions LIVE on TSN1/3/5, TSN.ca and the TSN App beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Rourke made two starts in his rookie campaign in Weeks 1 and 16 and has taken the reins in each of the Lions’ four games so far in 2022.
The Victoria, B.C., native is 4-2 in those contests and has averaged 318 passing yards per game, topped only by Jeff Garcia and David Archer.
FIRST 6 CAREER STARTS
| Name | Yards/Game | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Garcia | 363.5 | 6-0 |
| David Archer | 323.3 | 1-5 |
| Nathan Rourke | 318.0 | 4-2 |
| Dave Dickenson | 310.8 | 4-2 |
Rourke leads the CFL with 338.3 passing yards per game this season which would rank third-most ever in a single season, behind only Doug Flutie and Matt Dunigan.
Dane Evans of the Tiger-Cats is currently second this season, averaging more than 50 less yards than Rourke (284.6 yards per game).
MOST PASSING YARDS PER GAME (SINGLE SEASON)
| Name | Yards/Game | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Flutie | 367.7 | 1991 |
| Matt Dunigan | 360.6 | 1994 |
| Kerwin Bell | 356.5 | 1998 |
| Warren Moon | 353.0 | 1983 |
| Kent Austin | 345.8 | 1992 |
| Kent Austin | 338.5 | 1993 |
| Doug Flutie | 338.4 | 1993 |
The 24-year-old is currently on pace for 6,098 total passing yards this season, which would also be good for third all-time.
Only four quarterbacks have ever topped 6,000 passing yards in a season, with Doug Flutie accomplishing the feat twice - in 1991 and 1993. Anthony Calvillo was last the to do so, throwing for 6,092 yards in 2004, and Michael Rielly (2018) is the only quarterback to top 5,700 yards since.
MOST TOTAL PASSING YARDS (1 SEASON)
| Name | Yards | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Flutie | 6,619 | 1991 |
| Kent Austin | 6,225 | 1992 |
| Doug Flutie | 6,092 | 1993 |
| Anthony Calvillo | 6,041 | 2004 |
| David Archer | 6,023 | 1993 |
| Doug Flutie | 5,945 | 1992 |
| Anthony Calvillo | 5,891 | 2003 |
In the early conversation for Most Outstanding Player along with undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, Rourke is currently also on pace for 54 touchdown passes.
Rourke, who has 12 touchdowns in four games this season, would break Doug Flutie's current record of 48 if he averages 2.5 touchdowns over BC's remaining 14 games.
MOST PASSING TOUCHDOWNS (1 SEASON0
| Name | Touchdowns | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Flutie | 48 | 1994 |
| Doug Flutie | 47 | 1997 |
| Khari Jones | 46 | 2002 |
| Doug Flutie | 44 | 1993 |
| Anthony Calvillo | 43 | 2008 |
| Henry Burris | 43 | 2012 |
| Henry Burris | 39 | 2008 |
Rourke has been efficient inside the 20-yard line this season. In 13 trips to the redzone, he has gone 10-for-12 with six touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a league-best 6.08 points per trip.
Overall in 2022, Rourke is 104-for-130 for 1,355 yards and 12 touchdowns in just four games.