Tommy Nield’s three-yard touchdown catch in the final 11 seconds of the fourth quarter propelled the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 24-21 triumph over the B.C. Lions in the West Division final on Saturday, securing their spot in the Grey Cup. Trailing 21-17 with just over a minute remaining in the game, the Riders orchestrated a 74-yard drive in seven plays to score the winning touchdown and secure their place in the Grey Cup. They are set to face off against the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup scheduled for November 16 in Winnipeg.
In the East Division final earlier on the same day, the Alouettes secured their spot in the championship game with a 19-16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Riders initially led 14-7 in the third quarter but the Lions managed to score two touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead.
With three minutes left in the game, the Riders found themselves at first-and-goal on the B.C. five-yard line. However, after two incomplete passes, head coach Corey Mace opted for a field goal instead of risking a third down play. Lauther’s 13-yard field goal narrowed the gap to 21-17 with 2:42 remaining. The Saskatchewan defense then forced two quick possessions to give their offense a chance to secure the win.
The first half of the game, played in front of a full house of 33,350 fans at Mosaic Stadium, was dominated by strong defensive play. The teams combined for a total of 11 punts in the half, with the Lions scoring the lone touchdown on a nine-play, 103-yard drive late in the second quarter. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke completed five passes on the drive, capping it off with a four-yard touchdown run to give the Lions a 7-1 lead.
Saskatchewan closed the gap to 7-4 as Brett Lauther successfully kicked a 22-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. This marks the Riders’ return to the Grey Cup for the first time since their 2013 victory over the Tiger-Cats.
