Saskatchewan Roughriders triumphed over the B.C. Lions 24-21 in the West Division final, earning a spot in the Grey Cup. The thrilling conclusion came with just 11 seconds remaining when Tommy Nield caught a three-yard touchdown pass, sealing the victory for the Riders on Saturday.
Facing a 21-17 deficit with only 1:03 left in the game, the Roughriders orchestrated a 74-yard drive in seven plays, culminating in Nield”s game-winning reception. This win sets the stage for the Roughriders” Grey Cup matchup against the Montreal Alouettes on November 16 in Winnipeg. Earlier that day, the Alouettes secured their place in the championship by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-16 in the East Division final.
In the third quarter, the Roughriders had initially taken a 14-7 lead, but the Lions responded with two touchdowns, pulling ahead 21-14. As the clock wound down, Saskatchewan found themselves in a first-and-goal situation at the B.C. five-yard line. However, after two incomplete passes, head coach Corey Mace opted for a field goal, allowing Brett Lauther to kick a 13-yard field goal that narrowed the margin to 21-17 with 2:42 left on the clock.
The Saskatchewan defense then stepped up, forcing the Lions into back-to-back two-and-out possessions, granting their offense one last chance to clinch the game. The first half saw a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for 11 punts—six from the Roughriders and five from the Lions. The only touchdown of the half came from B.C. during a nine-play, 103-yard drive late in the second quarter, where Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke capped it off with a four-yard touchdown run.
Saskatchewan managed to close the gap before halftime, as Lauther successfully connected on a 22-yard field goal, bringing the score to 7-4. With this victory, the Roughriders return to the Grey Cup for the first time since their championship triumph in 2013, when they defeated the Tiger-Cats 45-35.
