Next stop: Winnipeg
The Saskatchewan Roughriders advanced to the CFL’s Western Final against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers by defeating the visiting B.C. Lions 28-19 before 26,135 boisterous onlookers at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.
“I’ve heard Rider Nation,” Head Coach Corey Mace said, “and this was the best version of it.”
Now the goal is to be best in the West. The division’s representative in the 111th Grey Cup Game will be decided on Nov. 9 at Princess Auto Stadium (5:30 p.m., CKRM, TSN).
It is quite an ascent for a Saskatchewan team that rebounded from back-to-back 6-12-0, non-playoff seasons by going 9-8-1, placing second in the West, and winning a home playoff game.
“This means the world — it really does — especially with what we’ve been through in the previous years,” said Logan Ferland, who on Thursday was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
“It really does feel like times are changing and we’re an excited group.”
Plenty of excitement was generated by A.J. Ouellette, who scored on runs of 30 yards and one yard in Saturday’s Semi-Final.
The Roughriders’ other major was courtesy of a 13-yard pass from Trevor Harris to Jerreth Sterns.
The Sterns major was followed by a Harris toss to KeeSean Johnson for a two-point convert.
Brett Lauther added two field goals and two converts for the Green and White.
“We just had a good time out there,” Harris said. “This is what it’s supposed to be. It’s supposed to be fun.
“A lot of guys get stressed out and grip the bat a little bit tight because it’s the playoffs, but this is football, man. Just go and have fun and play ball.
“I felt like we were loose going into the game. We obviously left some stuff out there and could have been better, but playoffs are about ‘survive and advance’ and we did that.”
Harris’s opposite number, the Lions’ Vernon Adams Jr., threw touchdown passes to Jevon Cottoy (56 yards) and Justin McInnis (11). The TD toss to Cottoy punctuated the game’s first offensive series.
“We are very used to adversity at this point,” linebacker A.J. Allen said. “We’ve faced it all season,
“This is not a team that turns on itself when things don’t go right, especially on the first drive of the game.
“We’re used to adversity. We know how to handle it. We know what it looks like and how to get out of it.
“I’m proud of these guys for how we got out of it, for sure.”
TD FOR A.J.
Ouellette’s 30-yard TD run was the longest gain along the ground for Saskatchewan in a post-season game since Nov. 11, 2018.
In the 2018 Western Semi-Final, Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge took off for 31 yards.
Ouellette registered the longest scoring run in a playoff game for Saskatchewan since Nov. 12, 2017, when Marcus Thigpen took off for a 75-yard major against the host Ottawa REDBLACKS.
The Roughriders travelled to Ottawa as a cross-over participant in the 2017 East Semi-final. Ottawa’s starting quarterback in that game: Trevor Harris.
On Saturday, Ouellette became the first Roughrider to rush for two TDs in a post-season game since Nov. 24, 2013 (Kory Sheets, Grey Cup).
Grey Cups excluded, a Roughrider had not rushed for two TDs in the playoffs since 2016, when Kenton Keith scored twice in back-to-back West Division games.
SAM STARS
Saskatchewan’s Samuel Emilus caught nine passes for 106 yards in his CFL playoff debut.
The nine catches put Emilus in a five-way tie for the second-most by a Roughrider in a playoff game.
The top six are as follows:
10 — Don Narcisse (182 yards) at Edmonton, Nov. 15, 1992
9 — Hugh Campbell (101) vs. Calgary, Nov. 7, 1964
9 — Mike Saunders (77) at Edmonton, Nov. 15, 1992
9 — Matt Dominguez (120) at Edmonton, Nov. 9, 2003
9 — Kyran Moore (119) vs. Winnipeg, Nov. 19, 2019
9 — Samuel Emilus (106) vs. B.C., Nov. 2, 2024
Campbell, in 1964, was the first Roughrider to catch nine passes in a playoff game. His son, Rick Campbell, is the Lions’ head coach.
Hugh Campbell was Edmonton’s GM when Saunders and Dominguez had their nine-catch games in the post-season.
PIVOTAL PERFORMANCE
Harris, who completed 26 of 33 passes for 279 yards, registered the fifth-best completion percentage by a Roughrider in a post-season game.
82.6% — Darian Durant (19-23) vs. B.C., Nov. 10, 2013
80.0% — Ron Lancaster (28-35) vs. Calgary, Nov. 7, 1964
80.0% — Darian Durant (24-30) at Calgary, Nov. 17, 2013
78.9% — Ron Lancaster (15-19) vs. Winnipeg, Nov. 6, 1971
78.8% — Trevor Harris (26-33) vs. B.C., Nov. 2, 2024
PICKS, PICKS, PICKS …
• Roughriders cornerback Marcus Sayles registered an interception against B.C., which released him in early June. Following a Sayles pick in the second quarter, the Roughriders embarked on an 11-play, 61-yard touchdown drive.
• With 4:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, Roughriders safety Nelson Lokombo — who is from Abbotsford B.C. — made his first career CFL interception. The landmark pick came in his 35th game and his playoff debut. Rolan Milligan Jr., with a pick at 14:23 of the fourth quarter, registered Saskatchewan’s third interception of the day.
• Saskatchewan has registered three interceptions in each of its past two playoff games. Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros was picked off three times by Saskatchewan in the 2021 Western Final.
EXTRA POINTS
• Lauther has connected on 24 consecutive field-goal attempts — and 30 of his last 31. The lone miss was on a desperation 60-yarder into the wind. Counting converts, which Lauther attempts from 33 yards away, he has connected on 43 of his last 44 placements.
• Jameer Thurman led the Roughriders in defensive tackles, with seven. He was on the opposing team for the Roughriders’ previous home playoff game — a 33-30 overtime victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Nov. 28, 2021. The veteran middle linebacker had five defensive tackles and an interception in that game.
• Caleb Sanders, Miles Brown and Malik Carney registered sacks for Saskatchewan. Carney, a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2021 to 2023, has three sacks in four career CFL post-season games.
• The Lions rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries. For the sixth time this season, Saskatchewan held an opponent to 50 or fewer rushing yards.
• Sterns has caught a TD pass in each of the past three games.
SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
B.C. — TD Cottoy 56 pass from Adams Jr. (convert failed) 4:10
Lions moved 91 yards in seven plays
Sask — FG Lauther 34 9:54
Harris to Emilus for 21 yards was the big play
SECOND QUARTER
Sask — FG Lauther 20 3:55
Lauther’s field goal concluded 12-play possession
Sask — TD Ouellette 1 run (Lauther convert) 11:33
Roughriders moved 61 yards in 11 plays after Sayles interception
B.C. — TD McInnis 11 pass from Adams Jr. (Whyte convert)
Lions began possession on Riders’ 22 after 27-yard punt and no-yards penalty
THIRD QUARTER
Sask — TD Ouellette 30 run (Lauther convert) 5:22
Saskatchewan scored one play after unnecessary roughness penalty against B.C.
B.C. — FG Whyte 41 9:27
Lions settled for field goal after sack by Brown
FOURTH QUARTER
B.C. — FG Whyte 17 1:19
Adams to Eberhardt for 35 yards set up Whyte three-pointer
Sask — TD Sterns 13 pass from Harris (Harris to Johnson for two-point convert) 3:30
Harris completions to Johnson (23) and Emilus (31) set the stage for Sterns’ score
