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October 27, 2024

Bring on B.C.! Roughriders looking ahead to home-field West semi-final

With the final regular-season game in the books, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are now playing the waiting game.

It is already testing the patience of C.J. Reavis.

“I wish we could go play tomorrow,” the Roughriders’ standout strong-side linebacker said after Saturday’s 27-12 CFL loss to the visiting Calgary Stampeders — a result that did not have any bearing on the standings.

Reavis and his teammates will have to wait until next Saturday, when the B.C. Lions will visit Mosaic Stadium for the West Division semi-final.

Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available HERE.

The Roughriders had hoped to punch their ticket to first place, but those hopes were extinguished earlier on Saturday when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers edged the host Montreal Alouettes 28-27 on the strength of a last-play, 51-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo.

Castillo’s clutch kick gave Winnipeg an 11-7-0 record, top spot in the West, and a bye into and hosting privileges for the division final on Nov. 9.

Saskatchewan (9-8-1) placed second, three points behind Winnipeg and one in front of B.C. (9-9-0).

“I’m excited for the home game,” Reavis said. “I’m excited for the playoff game. I’m excited to still be playing in November when it matters.”

The Roughriders will welcome an opponent that lost 39-8 at Mosaic Stadium on Oct. 12. However, cornerback Marcus Sayles expects a different Lions team in a do-or-die game.

“They’re an explosive team,” he said. “They’re probably going to have V.A. (quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.) playing, too, and we saw what he was doing earlier in the season.

“We’re going to be locked in. He’s going to be someone who is going to try and push the ball deep. He’s going to be able to get out of the pocket and make plays for himself.

“At the same time, we’ve got a good defensive line, we’ve got good linebackers and we’ve got good defensive backs. We’re going to ball-hawk and we’re going to force him to make his mistakes.”

Sayles can relate to what the Lions will face next weekend.

He was a member of the visiting Blue Bombers when they visited Mosaic Stadium for the 2019 West final.

“(The Lions) already know it’s going to be tough here,” Sayles said. “The word around town is that we’ve got one of the best fan bases in the league and we’re going to prove that.

“They’re going to have to come here in a tough environment. I hope we have a full, packed-out game and it’s going to be lit, so I’m excited for it. I know everybody here is excited for it.

“We’re going to flush this. We’re going to come back tomorrow, we’re going to watch this film, and we’re going to be better.”

LAUTHER’S LEDGER

On Saturday, Brett Lauther became the first Roughrider since 1991 to reach 200 points in a season.

His second field goal of the game, from 50 yards, gave him 201 for the season.

That is the fifth-best total in franchise history. The first four spots belong to Dave Ridgway, who registered peak point totals of 233 (in 1990), 216 (1989 and 1991) and 215 (1988).

Lauther’s 53 field goals also place him fifth in team history. Ridgway leads the way with 59 (in 1990), 55 (1988) and 54 (1989). Lauther is next in line with 54 (2018) and 53 (2024).

He finished the regular season by hitting 22 field-goal attempts in a row — and 28 of his past 29. The sole miss was on a desperation 60-yarder into the wind.

Including converts, which Lauther attempts from 33 yards away, he has connected on 43 of his past 44 placements.

With 201 points, he was a close second to the Toronto Argonauts’ Lirim Hajrullahu (202) in the CFL’s scoring race.

Over the 2024 season, Lauther hit five field goals of at least 50 yards. Ridgway set the Saskatchewan standard of six in 1988. Ridgway (1995), Lauther (2024) and Paul McCallum (2002) are tied for second with five kicks of 50-plus in a season.

EXTRA POINTS

• Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen finished with 22 special teams tackles and tied for the league lead with Toronto’s Jack Cassar. Allen is the third Roughrider to earn at least a share of top spot. Ray Bernard paced the CFL with 32 special teams tackles in 1992. Walter Spencer, with 29, was a co-leader in 2005. The CFL formally introduced special teams tackles as a stat in 1991.

• Rolan Milligan Jr.’s eight interceptions made him the seventh Roughrider to pace the CFL in picks. Milligan Jr., who was rested for Saturday’s game, joins a list that also includes Dale West (10 interceptions in 1963), Bob Kosid (eight in 1968), Lorne Richardson (seven in 1976; four-way tie), Ken McEachern (10 in 1980; two-way tie), Patrick (nine in 2010) and Ed Gainey (10 in 2017).

• The Roughriders led the league in turnover differential (plus-26) for the first time since 1994, when the club record of plus-27 was set.

• Saskatchewan set a league record for fewest lost fumbles (four) in a season. The previous record of five was set last year by Toronto.

• Saskatchewan finished the 2024 regular season with 47 different starters and 72 players on the active roster over 18 games. Receiver Joe Robustelli, who made his CFL debut on Saturday, became the 2,184 documented roster player in franchise history.

• Defensive lineman Benoit Marion, playing just his second game in green and white, registered his first sack as a Roughrider on Saturday.