Derek Mortensen/Electric Umbrella
It was a sold out crowd that gathered for the final Rider game ever played at Mosaic Stadium. The B.C. Lions came into a very hostile environment looking to spoil the party and keep their hopes alive for a home playoff game.
It wasn’t a great start for the offence. Greg Morris fumbled deep in Rider territory that the Lions were able to convert. Jeremiah Johnson was able to cash in from four yards out and after the two-point conversion B.C. had the early 7-0 lead.
The Riders got on the scoreboard five minutes into the second quarter on a 42-yard Tyler Crapigna. The offence was set up nicely by a Ricky Collins Jr 34-yard punt return.
The Lions offence continued to hum along in the second quarter when Jonathan Jennings connected with Manny Arceneaux in the back of the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown strike to up the lead to 15-3.
After a Richie Leone single on a missed field goal, the final play of the half the Riders Tyler Crapigna hit a short field goal to cut the lead to 16-6 at the break
The first half also saw the Rider give both Darian Durant and Jake Waters rotate series. It was Waters first pro appearance.
The Lions continued to roll in in the third quarter. Marco Ianuzzi took a Josh Bartel punt back 50 yards to the Rider 16 and on the next play Jennings hit Terrell Sinkfield in the back of the end zone. After another missed convert, the Lions were up big 22-6.
The Riders defence stepped up on the next Lions series as Tyler Hunter picked up his first ever CFL interception, but the offence couldn’t move the ball.
It was academic from there as the Lions added a couple more singles to complete the 24-6 victory.
Even with the loss, fans were jubilant during the final seconds, giving Mosaic Stadium the send-off it deserves. The night was capped with an electric salute to over 100 years of football at Park Hughes, Taylor Field and Mosaic Stadium.
Thank you Rider fans for coming to where we have called home for so many years.
The Riders will finish the 2016 regular season next Saturday in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.
