Zander Horvath has Hall of Famers Mike Pringle and Milt Stegall in his sights.
asserted
Horvath → have → sights
The B.C. Lions’ running back leads the CFL in rushing touchdowns (16) and combined scores (19).
asserted
back → lead → touchdowns
With four regular-season games remaining, Horvath is nearing Pringle’s league-record of 19 rushing TDs and Stegall’s single-season mark of 23 combined scores.
asserted
Horvath → remain → scores
Both standards could fall quickly as Horvath has scored three or more touchdowns in a game three times this year, including a season-high four TDs in a 45-24 win over Ottawa on Aug. 30.
uncertain
Horvath → fall → Aug.
Horvath hasn’t been on a tear like this since his days at Marian High School in Mishawaka, Ind., where he ran for 3,373 yards and 50 touchdowns.
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he → run → yards
“I don’t know if there’s anything specific, I think it’s just more opportunities with the ball in my hands,” Horvath said.
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Horvath → know → hands
“I’m 27 now, although I still think it’s pretty young, but my body feels great, no injuries or anything so I can play my best football and I think I’m showing that.
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I → ’m → that
“I’m definitely aware (of records), people bring it up all the time.
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people → ’m → it
But I don’t get too locked in on stuff like that because it could take away from more important things.
uncertain
it → get → things
For B.C. (8-6), that’s solidifying its place in the West Division.
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that → solidify → Division
The Lions visit the Toronto Argonauts (9-6) on Saturday afternoon sitting second, just ahead of Saskatchewan (8-6), Winnipeg (7-7) and Calgary (7-8).
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Lions → visit → Saskatchewan
However, the six-foot-three, 230-pound Horvath does more than score touchdowns.
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Horvath → do → touchdowns
He’s fifth in CFL rushing with 751 yards (five-yard average) and has 24 receptions for 229 yards and three TDs.
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He → ’ → yards
If Horvath can average 63 yards rushing over the next four games, he’ll crack the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time since high school.
asserted
he → average → school
“That would be huge but I try not to focus on that, either,” he said.
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he → try → that
“All it really takes is a couple of big games … but at this level you’re still a professional and must make things happen even if they’re not expected.
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they → take → level
Horvath has three 100-yard rushing games this season, including a career-best 191-yard effort with three TDs in a 35-19 win over Winnipeg on July 30, Horvath’s first ‘26 start.
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Horvath → have → July
He also ran for 164 yards in the victory over Ottawa.
asserted
He → run → Ottawa
After high school, Horvath initially committed to play linebacker at Indiana as a preferred walk-on.
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Horvath → commit → on
But he switched to Purdue after receiving the chance to play his natural position, also as a preferred walk-on.
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he → switch → on
Horvath had 1,181 rushing yards (4.4-yard average) with eight touchdowns in 38 games at Purdue (2018-2021).
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Horvath → have → Purdue
He added 68 catches for 592 yards and a TD before being selected in the seventh round of the ‘22 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.
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He → add → Chargers
He played 15 games as a rookie fullback with L.A., rushing four times for eight yards while adding five catches for eight yards and two TDs.
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He → play → yards
But after bouncing between four teams — including a second stint with the Chargers — over the next two seasons, Horvath joined the Lions in 2025.
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Horvath → bounce → 2025
Horvath appeared in 10 regular-season games with B.C., rushing for 231 yards on 24 carries (9.6-yard average) with two TDs.
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Horvath → appear → TDs
Most of that came in a 52-23 win over Calgary on Sept. 19, 2025 when Horvath ran for 152 yards and a TD.
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Horvath → come → yards
Horvath has garnered additional scoring opportunities this season as B.C.‘s short-yardage quarterback.
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Horvath → garner → quarterback
He admits taking snaps from centre required some adjustment.
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taking → admit → adjustment
“In college I think I took a couple of wildcat snaps but I’d never done that (going under centre) before,” he said.
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he → think → centre
“But it didn’t take long to get used to, just more muscle memory and getting used to the feeling with Mike (centre Michael Couture).
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it → take → Mike
“When people mentioned I’d be doing short-yardage, they said, ‘Yeah, you’ll definitely have more (scoring) opportunities,’ but I didn’t realize how many that would be.
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that → mention → opportunities
I haven’t really had touchdowns like this since high school so it’s kind of, ‘Wow.’”
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it → have → school
Lions head coach Buck Pierce said Horvath is a complete running back.
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Horvath → say → ?
“He’s a downhill runner who can do other things like catch, pass protect and be effective in the box,” Pierce said.
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Pierce → ’ → box
“He’s taken the opportunity to grow within the offence and what we ask of our backs.
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we → take → backs
“Every player wants to do more but it’s a credit to them when they want to learn more.
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they → want → more
As an offensive guy, I’m big on continuing to push the envelope with these guys.”
asserted
I → ’m → guys
Pierce feels while Horvath is deserving of both TD records, B.C.‘s late-season goal won’t be centred upon him achieving either mark.
asserted
him → feel → mark
“Ultimately, it’s where the team needs to get to,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → where
“Zander is extremely deserving, but for us the ultimate goal is to get to the Grey Cup and win it.”
asserted
goal → get → it
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
