REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders advance to the West Division final.

The Roughriders outscored the British Columbia Lions 15-6 in the second half and earned a 28-19 victory in the first round of the Canadian Football League playoffs Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.

The Riders’ defense was the key to the victory, throwing three interceptions on the night, including two in the fourth quarter as BC attempted a comeback.

The playoff victory was Saskatchewan’s first since the 2021 season, when it lost to Winnipeg in the division final.

Saskatchewan will now face the Blue Bombers in the Western final on Saturday, November 9 in Winnipeg.

The reaction

Roughriders head coach Corey Mace was understandably a happy camper after the huge win, emphasizing on CKRM Rider Radio’s post-game show how their defensive game plan was working like a charm.

“I think the main thing is being able to control VA (BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.) and that receiving corps and what they do,” Mace said. “We were pretty sure that if they wanted to rely on the running game that would be fine, but we assumed they would try to attack us through the air. Our DBs and coaches did an outstanding job waiting, capitalizing, and making them win everything for the most part outside of that first drive.

“Then the D line really took care of it, they were shooting from the spot and forcing them to make some bad throws, and when we needed to capitalize on those turnovers like we did all year, the guys got it do. So that was the main thing defensively.

On the other side of the ball, the goal was to be able to control the game, which Saskatchewan was able to do both on the ground and in the air.

“We have the two horses in the backfield, (Ryquell) Armstead and AJ (Ouellette) and I thought they did a good job,” Mace said. “Then, of course, there’s Trevor Harris and the receiving corps. It was a good performance… I’m so happy and so happy for the guys.

Harris – the Roughriders’ quarterback – was outstanding as usual, passing for 279 yards and drawing enthusiastic praise from his coach.

“It’s the same as the whole season for him. It’s surgical, it’s scary,” Mace said with a laugh. “There are certain looks he gets that make you a little nervous, like ‘ohhh boy’ and he makes the perfect read and throws a perfect ball. Maybe it’s not the big plays that everyone sees, it’s some of the intermediate throws he makes that are incredible. The way he manages the game at such a high level, I’m still so happy that he’s by our side.

Mace was also impressed with how his team was able to bounce back from BC by scoring a long-range touchdown on the game’s first series – a reminder of Harris and his “Don’t flinch” philosophy that included even making bracelets. for the team.

“I haven’t taken it off since training camp,” Mace said. “We talk about having confidence in ourselves, we’re built for these types of environments, and that’s football.

“The game is going to switch from one series to the other one way or another, and we got caught early and had to do some patching and fixing on ourselves, but there’s no had panic, man. That’s what I like about this team, there’s never panic, just faith that we’re going to be in a situation where we’re going to get the win.

Now the Riders turn their attention to the West Division final in a week and another meeting with arch-rivals Winnipeg.

“It’s going to be a great game, we obviously have a lot of respect for this team and what they’ve done over the last four years,” Mace said, adding that preparation for the game starts as soon as his media duties end. . up. “What a challenge for us to go into their barn and see if we are up to it. I know our guys are excited about it.

The game

The Lions got off to the aforementioned hot start on their first drive of the game, taking seven plays to reach the BC 54 before Vernon Adams Jr. found Jevon Cottoy with a pass over the middle that turned into a 56-yard touchdown . minutes of play.

Kicker Sean Whyte would miss the conversion however and the Lions were content with an early 6-0 lead.

The Roughriders responded on their first drive, with Harris making eight plays to reach the Lions’ 26 and setting up Brett Lauther for a 34-yard field goal.

Both teams experienced scoreless failures in the second half of the first 15 minutes, and the first quarter would end with B,C. holding a 6-3 lead.

Saskatchewan was able to stop the Lions’ first possession in the second quarter and the offense responded immediately. Jerreth Sterns made the key play of the drive with a 25-yard catch to the BC 20, and three plays later Lauther kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie the game 6-6.

The Riders got the ball back immediately on BC’s next drive, Marcus Sayles fending off a scrambling Adams at the Saskatchewan 49.

That turnover would lead to the Roughriders’ first 11 major plays and six minutes later. AJ Oulette capped the drive by taking the wild hit and crossing the line from one yard out, giving Saskatchewan a 13-6 lead.

A great play started by the Lions led to their second touchdown of the game late in the first half.

Adams took a surprise punt on a third-and-3 and pinned the Riders deep in their zone, and when the BC defense held and forced a short punt, the Lions had excellent position on the field at the Saskatchewan 22. Three plays later, Adams found Justin McInnis in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left in the half.

Whyte would convert this time, and the teams went into halftime tied 13-13.

The Roughriders regained the lead on the first series of the third quarter.

Ouellette capped a six-play drive with a 30-yard run that allowed him to break initial contact at the line before remaining untouched all the way to the Lions’ end zone.

BC had things to do on its next drive, but a time count violation due to fan noise forced the Lions into second and long, and a sack by Brian Cox Jr. would force the Lions to settle for a 36-yard field goal.

A turnover on downs on the next series when Harris failed to convert a third-and-1 gave BC the ball at the Saskatchewan 50, but Whyte kicked a 39-yard field goal off the upright and the game remained 20-16 to start the fourth quarter.

The Lions came right back with another strong drive on their next possession, with a 35-yard catch by Ayden Eberhardt bringing BC back to the 13 Riders. The Saskatchewan defense would tighten up, however, and Whyte nailed a 17-yard shot to make it a one-point game.

The Riders responded immediately.

Starting at the BC 47, Harris put together a quick four-play drive that culminated with a 13-yard pass to Sterns for the touchdown. KeeSean Johnson made the two-point conversion and the Riders had a two-point lead with 10:08 to play.

Adams had another drive on BC’s next possession, but it was stifled when a long-range pass to Eberhardt was caught by Nelson Lokombo at the Saskatchewan 20-yard line. This interception was the first of Lokombo’s CFL career.

BC went into desperation mode on its next series, and the drive ended with 47 seconds left when Rolan Milligan threw an interception in the Riders’ end zone.

Statistics

Harris completed 26 of 33 passes for 279 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Samuel Emilus was his favorite target with nine catches for 106 yards, while Johnson had seven catches for 66 yards.

Ouelette led the game on the ground with 14 carries for 279 yards.

Adams completed 20 of 33 passes for 317 yards, two majors and all three picks.

Cottoy had three catches for 82 yards, McInnis five for 66.

The Riders’ run defense was on point, limiting William Stanbeck to just 27 yards on seven carries.

Saskatchewan totaled 371 yards of offense, and British Columbia 351 yards.