In a thrilling finish, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 24-21 in the West Division final on Saturday, clinching a spot in the Grey Cup. With only 11 seconds left on the clock, Tommy Nield made a three-yard touchdown catch that sealed the victory for the Riders.
Trailing 21-17 with just over a minute remaining, the Roughriders orchestrated a remarkable 74-yard drive in seven plays to secure the game-winning touchdown. Their next challenge will be against the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup, scheduled for November 16 in Winnipeg. The Alouettes earned their spot in the championship game earlier on Saturday with a narrow 19-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division final.
The game began with strong defensive performances from both teams, as evidenced by the 11 combined punts during the first half, with the Riders contributing six and the Lions five. The lone touchdown of the half came from B.C. on a nine-play, 103-yard drive late in the second quarter. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed all five passes during the drive, culminating in a four-yard rushing touchdown that put the Lions ahead 7-1.
Before halftime, Saskatchewan managed to close the gap, with Brett Lauther kicking a 22-yard field goal on the final play to make it 7-4. In the third quarter, the Roughriders initially took a 14-7 lead, but the Lions responded with two touchdowns to regain control and lead 21-14.
With three minutes left and the Riders facing a first-and-goal situation at the B.C. five-yard line, head coach Corey Mace opted for a field goal after two unsuccessful pass attempts, allowing Lauther to convert a 13-yard kick and reduce the deficit to 21-17.
The Saskatchewan defense then stepped up, forcing consecutive two-and-out possessions from the Lions, which gave their offense one last chance to win the game. The Roughriders” victory marks their first return to the Grey Cup since 2013, when they triumphed over the Tiger-Cats with a score of 45-35.
