The Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-8-1) hosted the B.C. Lions (9-9) on Saturday night from Mosaic Stadium in the Western Semi-Final. The winner of this game heads to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers next Saturday in the Western Final.
First Quarter:
B.C. got the ball to start the game from their 19-yard line after returner Terry Williams returned the kickoff for 17 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. began the drive by throwing two passes for 22 yards and fullback David Mackie rushed for two yards to reach the Lions’ 43-yard line.
Next, Adams Jr. completed an 8-yard pass to Alexander Hollins, and on the play ran for three yards to reach their 54-yard line. On the next play, Adams Jr. threw a short pass to Javon Cottoy, who took off for a 56-yard touchdown. Kicker Sean Whyte missed the extra point and B.C. led 6-0 with 10:30 left of the first quarter to cap off a seven-play drive for 91 yards.
Saskatchewan returner KeeSean Johnson returned the kickoff for 17 yards to reach their 37-yard line. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed two passes for 31 yards. Running backs A.J. Ouellette and Ryquell Armstead combined with three carries for 14 yards, and backup quarterback Shea Patterson rushed for two yards to reach the Lions’ 26-yard line. Kicker Brett Lauther made a 34-yard field goal and Saskatchewan trailed B.C. 6-3 with 5:05 left of the first quarter.
B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed an 8-yard pass to William Stanback then Stanback rushed for six yards reaching their 54-yard line. On the next play, Saskatchewan defensive lineman Malik Carney sacked Adams Jr. for a loss of three yards then the drive stalled.
Saskatchewan got the ball back with 2:13 left of the first quarter starting from their 19-yard line. Quarterback Trevor Harris threw three passes for 20 yards and running back A.J. Ouellette rushed for four yards to reach their 43-yard line. On the last play of the first quarter, quarterback Trevor Harris fumbled the snap and fell on the ball losing 14 yards. However, an offsides penalty on B.C. defensive back Jalon Edwards-Cooper gave them five yards moving the ball to their 48-yard line. Saskatchewan trailed B.C. 6-3 to end the first quarter.
B.C. had 102 yards on offense (94 yards passing, 11 yards rushing, 3 yards lost), 5 first downs, no red zone opportunities, and the team was penalized one time for 5 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 5 of 7 passes for 94 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for three yards.
Saskatchewan had 71 yards on offense (51 yards passing, 20 yards rushing), 5 first downs, no red zone opportunities, and the team had no penalties. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 5 of 7 passes for 51 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, quarterback Trevor Harris completed four passes for 43 yards, running back Ryquell Armstead had one carry for three yards, and A.J. Ouellette rushed for four yards. Then, kicker Brett Lauther made a 25-yard field goal and the game was tied 6-6 with 11:05 left before halftime.
On the second play for B.C., quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.’s pass intended for Justin McInnis was intercepted by Marcus Sayles at the Roughriders’ 49-yard line with 9:34 left of the second quarter. Saskatchewan running back Ryquell Armstead started the drive with a six-yard run to reach their 55-yard line.
Next, quarterback Trevor Harris ran for five yards before throwing four passes for 43 yards to reach the Lions’ 7-yard line. Running back A.J. Ouellette rushed for six yards to get them to the Lions’ one-yard line. Then, Ouellette took the snap behind the center to score a one-yard touchdown for a 13-6 lead with 3:06 left before halftime capping off an 11-play drive for 61 yards in six minutes and thirty seconds.
On second down, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed an 11-yard pass to Justin McInnis, and William Stanback rushed for eight yards to reach the Roughriders’ 50-yard line then the drive stalled. On third down, B.C. looked like they were going for it but Adams Jr. punted the ball 44 yards out of bounds at the Roughriders’ 6-yard line.
Saskatchewan running back A.J. Ouellette rushed for five yards to reach their 11-yard line then the drive stalled. B.C. got the ball back with 1:10 left from the Roughriders’ 22-yard line. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed an 8-yard pass to William Stanback, and Stanback rushed for three yards on the next play reaching the Roughriders’ 11-yard line.
On the next play, Vernon Adams Jr. scrambled out of the pocket before throwing the ball to Justin McInnis, who made a sliding 11-yard touchdown catch, and the game was tied 13-13 with 38 seconds left. Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris completed three passes for 18 yards to end the second quarter tied 13-13 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
B.C. had 143 yards on offense (124 yards passing, 22 yards rushing, 3 yards lost), 8 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized one time for 5 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 8 of 13 passes (61.5%) for 124 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for three yards.
Running back William Stanback had four carries for 17 yards and two catches for 16 yards. Wide receiver Javon Cottoy made two catches for 66 yards, and one touchdown, while Justin McInnis made two catches for 22 yards and one touchdown. B.C.’s defense made one tackle for loss.
Saskatchewan had 204 yards on offense (155 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, one yard lost), 13 first downs, 1 for 2 in the red zone, and the team was penalized two times for 20 yards. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 16 of 22 passes (73%) for 155 yards, and one carry for five yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had seven carries for 26 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Samuel Emilus made seven catches for 65 yards, and Kian Schaffer-Baker made three catches for 33 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense made one sack and one interception.
Third Quarter:
B.C. got the ball to start the second half from their 26-yard line after returner Terry Williams returned the kickoff for 16 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed a two-yard pass to Justin McInnis then the drive stalled. Saskatchewan’s offense started their first drive of the second half from their 41-yard line.
Saskatchewan running back A.J. Ouellette started the drive with two carries for two yards, and caught an 11-yard pass from Trevor Harris to reach their 54-yard line. Two plays later, Trevor Harris completed a short pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker for six yards but Schaffer-Baker lost the ball after Ayinde Eley stripped the ball and it was recovered by Saskatchewan center Zach Fry.
B.C. linebacker Ayinde Eley was penalized for unnecessary roughness giving Saskatchewan an automatic first down on the Lions’ 30-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Trevor Harris handed the ball off to running back A.J. Ouellette, who bounced off a B.C. player on his way to scoring a 30-yard touchdown giving Saskatchewan a 20-13 lead with 9:21 left of the third quarter to cap off a six-play drive for 69 yards.
B.C. fullback David Mackie returned the kickoff for 16 yards to reach their 41-yard line. Running back William Stanback started the drive with a four-yard run. Then, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed two passes for 27 yards plus an unnecessary roughness penalty by Saskatchewan moved the ball up to the Roughriders’ 23-yard line then the drive stalled.
Kicker Sean Whyte made a 36-yard field goal and B.C. trailed Saskatchewan 20-16 with 5:33 left of the third quarter. Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris started the next drive by completing two straight passes for 9 yards to reach their 49-yard line facing third down. On third down, Saskatchewan backup quarterback Shea Patterson did not get the first down forcing a turnover on downs on the Roughriders’ 50-yard line with 3:17 left.
B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed a 16-yard pass to Javon Cottoy reaching the Roughriders’ 34-yard line, followed by William Stanback rushing for three yards then the drive stalled. Kicker Sean Whyte attempted a 38-yard field goal against the wind. He missed the field goal when the ball hit the right upright.
Saskatchewan running back Ryquell Armstead rushed for five yards then the drive stalled. B.C. got the ball back with 8 seconds left. On the last play of the third quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed a 35-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt reaching the Roughriders’ 13-yard line down 20-16.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, B.C. running back William Stanback rushed for three yards then the drive stalled. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 17-yard field goal and B.C. trailed Saskatchewan 20-19 with 13:41 left of the game. Saskatchewan’s offense started on their 40-yard line.
Quarterback Trevor Harris completed two passes for 54 yards to reach the Lions’ 16-yard line. Running back A.J. Ouellette rushed for three yards. Then, quarterback Trevor Harris completed a short pass to Jerreth Sterns, who broke three tackles to score a 13-yard touchdown. They successfully converted a two-point conversion when Trevor Harris threw the ball to KeeSean Johnson in the end zone for a 28-19 lead with 11:06 left of the game.
For the next two possessions, B.C. had 18 yards and Saskatchewan had -6 yards after Trevor Harris was sacked by Matheau Betts. B.C. got the ball back with 7:09 left of the game. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. rushed for seven yards. Then, Adams Jr. completed three passes for 34 yards reaching the Roughriders’ 39-yard line.
On the next play, Vernon Adams Jr. scrambled out of the pocket to avoid taking a sack before throwing a deep pass intended for Keon Hatcher. Saskatchewan defensive back Nelson Lokombo made the interception and returned it for 15 yards reaching their 20-yard line with 4:28 left of the game.
Saskatchewan running back A.J. Ouellette started the next drive with two carries for 12 yards staying inbounds to keep the clock running. Ouellette rushed for three more yards, while Trevor Harris completed two passes for 28 yards then the drive stalled. B.C. got the ball back with 1:36 left of the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed three passes for 58 yards and rushed for two yards to reach the Roughriders’ 35-yard line. Then, Adams Jr. avoided pressure before throwing a deep pass into the end zone intended for Alexander Hollins but Rolan Milligan jumped in front of Hollins to make a game-ending interception. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 28-19 and will play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Saturday for the right to play in the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver.
Final Stats:
Saskatchewan had 370 yards on offense (279 yards passing, 102 yards rushing, 11 yards lost), 21 first downs, 2 for 3 in the red zone, and the team was penalized five times for 65 yards. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 26 of 33 passes (79%) for 279 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for five yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had 14 carries for 70 yards, two touchdowns, and made two catches for 15 yards.
Wide receiver Samuel Emilus made 9 catches for 106 yards, and KeeSean Johnson made seven catches for 66 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense made 33 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, three interceptions, and six tackles on special teams.
B.C. had 351 yards on offense (317 yards passing, 41 yards rushing, 7 yards lost), 18 first downs, 1 for 2 in the red zone, and the team was penalized six times for 55 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 20 of 33 passes (61%) for 317 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and three carries for 12 yards. Running back William Stanback had seven carries for 27 yards and five catches for 53 yards.
Wide receiver Javon Cottoy made three catches for 82 yards, and one touchdown, while Justin McInnis made five catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. B.C.’s defense made 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, and five tackles on special teams.
Next Saturday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Western Final at 6:30 pm on TSN and CFL+ where the winner will advance to the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub.
