In a thrilling West Division final, the Saskatchewan Roughriders managed to clinch a 24-21 victory against the B.C. Lions on Saturday, courtesy of a dramatic three-yard touchdown reception by Tommy Nield with just 11 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. This victory secures the Roughriders a spot in the upcoming Grey Cup, where they will face the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg on November 16.
As the game unfolded in the final moments, the Roughriders found themselves trailing 21-17 with only 1:03 left on the clock. Displaying remarkable composure and determination, the Riders embarked on a crucial 74-yard drive, executing seven plays before finding the end zone for the game-winning score. This impressive offensive surge earned them the coveted ticket to the Grey Cup.
Earlier in the day, the Montreal Alouettes booked their place in the championship match following a narrow 19-16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division final, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown against the Roughriders.
The Roughriders initially took control of the game, leading 14-7 in the third quarter. However, the Lions quickly showcased their resilience, scoring two consecutive touchdowns and pulling ahead 21-14. With the clock winding down, Saskatchewan found themselves on the B.C. five-yard line, needing a score to regain the lead. After two incompletions, head coach Corey Mace opted to play it safe, settling for a field goal. Brett Lauther successfully converted a 13-yard field goal, narrowing the Lions' lead to 21-17 with 2:42 left on the clock.
The Roughriders' defence came up big at this critical juncture, successfully forcing back-to-back two-and-out possessions from the Lions. This gave their offence the golden opportunity to drive down the field and strive for a winning touchdown.
Throughout the first half of the contest, defences demonstrated their dominance, with a total of 11 punts between the two teams – six by the Roughriders and five by the Lions. The only touchdown of the half came late in the second quarter on a lengthy nine-play, 103-yard drive by the Lions. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was flawless on the drive with five successful passes, capped it off with a four-yard touchdown run, giving the Lions a 7-1 advantage with 4:09 remaining in the half.
In response, the Roughriders managed to trim their deficit just before halftime, as Brett Lauther converted a 22-yard field goal attempt on the final play, settling the score at 7-4 going into the break.
This victory marks a significant milestone for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as they return to the Grey Cup for the first time since 2013, when they emerged victorious against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a 45-35 win. The anticipation for the Grey Cup clash on November 16 continues to build, promising an exciting matchup between the Roughriders and the Alouettes as they compete for the championship title.
