Every young football player dreams of catching a pass in crunch time. Unfortunately for Jacob Bond, his first two CFL targets were closer to a nightmare.
The 23-year-old fullback was thrust into action after the B.C. Lions were ravaged by injuries in their season-opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, taking to the field as a Z receiver on the game’s final series. Twice, quarterback Nathan Rourke was forced to look his way with the game on the line. Both times, the ball bounced off Bond’s hands and fell to the turf, including on the last play of the game.
“When you’re not used to it, it’s pretty crazy. Just a rush of emotions,” Bond told 3DownNation this week, recalling the moment he saw the ball coming his way for the first time in a regular-season game.
“It was a tough spot to be in. I know I had some guys come up to me and talk to me after the game, but when the ball comes your way, you’ve got to make plays. I’m more pissed off at myself than anybody else is pissed off at me.”
As the saying goes, no one play determines a football game, and the drop by Bond was no exception. However, it was the final nail in the coffin of a 31-27 defeat and left many scratching their heads regarding the choice of personnel.
The Lions had one hand tied behind their back late in the game after both Seven McGee and Jevon Cottoy left with injuries, leaving them without a full complement of five receivers. Even so, the team had their choice between four players to fill the last spot on the outside.
Starting running back James Butler was on the field for the final play, but was held in to pass protect despite his prowess as a receiver. With the team not limited by the ratio, his American backup, Zander Horvath, could have also come off the sidelines, boasting a wealth of receiving experience in the NCAA and a couple of touchdown catches from his time in the NFL. Even fellow fullback Riley Pickett was an option, with eight career CFL receptions since converting from the defensive side of the ball.
Bond seemed to be the least likely option to run a route when victory hung in the balance. And yet, head coach Buck Pierce trusted the second-year territorial exemption when it mattered most.
“You see what he does every day,” Pierce explained. “He’d been working for us at multiple spots throughout the week. We know our roster is what it is, and he’s a very smart player. He was able to line up and execute some things, so we felt comfortable with him in there. Unfortunately,…
2026-06-18 16:30:00
B.C. Lions’ Jacob Bond ‘pissed off’ by late-game drops in loss to Riders
