Lions, Rourke flip script on Roughriders to achieve West remaining

The B.C. Lions season ended by the hands of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in every of the previous two post-seasons, and it initially appeared like extra of the identical on Saturday.

Instead, the Lions mounted a second-half comeback at house, flipping the script on their West Division rivals to maintain their Grey Cup hopes alive.

Nathan Rourke delivered a efficiency that we have seen him put collectively many instances in his CFL profession, throwing for 366 yards and three touchdowns to guide B.C. to a 33-26 comeback victory within the West Division semifinal.

Unfortunately for the Roughriders, they had been unable to keep up their momentum, and we’ll now be crowning a brand new Grey Cup champion for the fifth consecutive season.

The victory sends B.C. to the West Division remaining on Nov. 7, the place the Edmonton Elks are ready.

Here are takeaways from the CFL’s West semifinal.

Lions’ massive play sparks offence after uneven begin

The Lions didn’t have the very best begin offensively to this recreation with a pair of turnovers, together with a James Butler fumble and a turnover on downs, offering free possessions for Saskatchewan.

Zander Horvath offered the primary actual spark with a 40-yard run that helped get the Lions into Saskatchewan territory. Although B.C. needed to accept a area objective on that possession, it was an essential second in serving to the offence discover some confidence.

The greater breakthrough got here after Saskatchewan prolonged its result in 17-3 within the second quarter. Rourke responded by connecting with Stanley Berryhill III on a 69-yard landing strike, giving the Lions a much-needed offensive jolt and reducing into the Roughriders’ benefit. It was precisely the kind of explosive play BC wanted after spending a lot of the primary half struggling to maneuver the soccer.

It was a vital play for the Lions to get one thing constructive after registering simply six first downs within the first half.

Jevon Cottoy turned a significant difference-maker for the BC Lions because the offence discovered its footing and started to push again in opposition to Saskatchewan.

After a comparatively quiet begin, Cottoy emerged as certainly one of Rourke’s most dependable targets, delivering a number of essential catches that helped shift the momentum in BC’s favour.

While Cottoy had been a productive contributor all through his profession, his post-season numbers steered he had but to have a very defining efficiency within the playoffs.

Coming into this recreation, Cottoy had recorded simply 18 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns throughout seven profession playoff appearances. His earlier post-season excessive was 82 receiving yards, which got here in 2024, when he additionally scored a landing on three receptions.

Against Saskatchewan, Cottoy took his recreation to a different stage. He completed with 5 receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing his earlier profession playoff excessive in receiving yards whereas matching his profession post-season landing whole in a single night time. His 70-yard landing reception within the third quarter was a game-changing play that helped erase Saskatchewan’s lead, whereas his 13-yard landing catch later within the quarter gave BC one other main increase.

It’s no shock that Cottoy turned a focus of the offence when the staff wanted somebody to step up. His reference to Rourke proved instrumental in BC’s comeback, and he confirmed that he generally is a game-changing presence when the stakes are highest.

End of the road for Harris?

If this was the ultimate recreation of Trevor Harris’s CFL profession, it was a efficiency that completely represented what he has dropped at the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the league all through his time as a quarterback.

At 40 years previous, Harris went toe-to-toe with Rourke in an entertaining matchup, exhibiting that he may nonetheless ship when the stakes had been highest.

While Rourke took B.C. on his again, Harris gave Saskatchewan each alternative to advance, placing collectively a composed and productive efficiency in opposition to one of many CFL’s most harmful quarterbacks.

Harris helped set up the Riders’ offence early, distributing the soccer and permitting Saskatchewan to lean on its working recreation. He linked with Kian Schaffer-Baker, Samuel Emilus and Ajou Ajou, whereas additionally making some essential throws downfield.

His 23-yard completion to Emilus helped arrange Saskatchewan’s second-quarter landing, and he later linked with Kasey Johnson for a 34-yard achieve to place the Riders in scoring place.

Even when B.C. began to mount its comeback, Harris continued to reply. He linked with Dohnte Meyers-Duncan for a 26-yard achieve within the third quarter and helped Saskatchewan reply with one other Brett Lauther area objective to keep up the lead.

Harris stored Saskatchewan in entrance for a lot of the competition and continued to make performs down the stretch, together with serving to put the Riders in place for a possible game-tying area objective within the remaining minute.

After the sport, Harris declined to make a definitive choice on his enjoying future however mentioned it would not be lengthy earlier than he declares his plans.

This was the same scenario after successful the Grey Cup final yr and put pen to paper on an extension three weeks after.

If this was certainly the top of the road for Harris, it was a trademark efficiency, however at 40 years previous, you surprise how for much longer he’ll wish to proceed lining up beneath centre.

It ought to be famous that for the primary time in his profession, Harris led the CFL in 2026 with 5,370 passing yards.

Lions defensive turnaround

The greatest change for B.C. on this recreation defensively was its skill to make Saskatchewan accept area targets slightly than touchdowns as the sport progressed.

The Lions did not essentially shut down Harris and the Saskatchewan offence after halftime, however they did a significantly better job of limiting the harm when the Roughriders threatened to drag away.

After permitting Saskatchewan to attain a landing within the second quarter, B.C. tightened up within the second half, forcing the Riders to accept three area targets by Brett Lauther regardless of stepping into scoring territory on a number of events.

Mathieu Betts got here up with a key sack of Harris within the third quarter to push Saskatchewan out of field-goal vary for a possible landing, whereas the Lions additionally made a vital cease on the Riders’ remaining possession, sacking Harris on the ultimate play. It wasn’t an ideal defensive efficiency, however the Lions discovered methods to get stops when it mattered most, stopping Saskatchewan from placing the sport out of attain.