Jake Dolegala, making his first start of the 2023 CFL season, threw three touchdown passes to power the Saskatchewan Roughriders to Sunday’s 34-29 CFL victory over the B.C. Lions.
Dolegala threw for 239 yards and ran four times for 27 yards as Saskatchewan improved its record to 5-5 before a robust crowd of 27,483 at Mosaic Stadium. The Lions dropped to 7-3.
The Roughriders opened the scoring 1:54 into the first quarter when Dolegala found Kian Schaffer-Baker for a 15-yard touchdown. Brett Lauther added the convert.
The touchdown was set up by a sack and forced fumble by Pete Robertson. Anthony Lanier II recovered the ball on the Lions’ 31-yard line and, two plays later, Schaffer-Baker scored in his first game of the season. He had been sidelined since undergoing hip surgery in the off-season.
The Lions’ Sean Whyte answered with a 14-yard field goal at 11:25 of the first quarter.
B.C. then went ahead when Vernon Adams Jr. hit Alexander Hollins for a 46-yard TD at 5:48 of the second frame. Whyte added the convert to give B.C. a 10-7 lead.
The Roughriders stormed back with a seven-play, 77-yard TD drive that ended with Jamal Morrow’s eight-yard scoring run.
The key play was a 46-yard bomb from Dolegala to Samuel Emilus on second-and-20. Dolegala then found Jerreth Sterns for 22 yards to the eight-yard line. Morrow scored on the next play, which was followed by Lauther’s convert.
On the ensuing kickoff, T.J. Brunson forced a fumble that was recovered by C.J. Reavis on the Lions’ 21-yard line. Back-to-back completions to Sterns produced gains of three and 18 yards, the latter connection producing a TD. Lauther’s convert gave the Riders a 21-10 lead.
Jeremy Clark intercepted Adams Jr. on the Lions’ next possession. The Roughriders followed up with a 53-yard Lauther field goal that put them ahead 24-10.
Whyte’s 42-yard field goal on the final play of the first half made the score 24-13.
The Roughriders got on the board again when Dolegala hit Emilus for a spectacular 37-yard score at 10:31 of the third quarter. Lauther added the extra point to give the home team a 31-13 lead.
The Lions responded when Adams Jr. threw an 11-yard TD pass to Keon Hatcher five minutes into the fourth quarter. Whyte’s convert made it 31-20.
The Lions struck again when Adams Jr. completed a 78-yard TD bomb to Lucky Whitehead, who crossed the goal line at 8:41 of the fourth quarter. The two-point convert attempt failed.
Whyte’s 30-yard field goal with 2:06 left in the game reduced the Riders’ lead to 31-29.
The Lions got the ball back with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter, but could not get a first down. The outcome was secured when Lanier II sacked Adams Jr. on third-and-20.
Lauther followed up with a 27-yard field goal at 14:55 of the fourth quarter. It was the 13th consecutive successful three-pointer for Lauther.
The Roughriders are now on a bye week. Their next game is Sept. 3 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
SHORT SNORTS
- Schaffer-Baker’s touchdown was the fastest by the Roughriders since Sept. 15, 2018, when Marcus Thigpen returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score against the host Ottawa REDBLACKS. Thigpen crossed the goal line 13 seconds into the game.
- Saskatchewan scored three offensive touchdowns in the first half for the first time since Aug. 6, 2021, when the Lions visited Mosaic Stadium for the opener of a COVID-shortened regular season. Saskatchewan won 33-29.
- Emilus set a career single-game high for receiving yards (106). His previous best was 91 against the Toronto Argonauts on July 29 in Halifax.
- Clark’s interception was his first since his CFL debut — Oct. 23, 2021 against the host Calgary Stampeders.
