Murray Wood: The Grey Cup is coming to Saskatchewan... again!
It used to be that the CFL didn't believe Saskatchewan could pull off the big game, but Murray Wood says now it can't ge...
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are heading to Winnipeg.
Saskatchewan defended its home turf in the CFL West Division semifinal on Saturday, defeating the B.C. Lions 28-19 in front of 26,135 spectators at Mosaic Stadium.
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“It’s fun. I had a good time out there. It’s what it’s supposed to be. People get stressed out and grip the bat a little tight because it’s the playoffs but it’s football — just go out there and have fun and play ball,” quarterback Trevor Harris said.
“I felt like we were loose going into the game and we left some stuff out there and could have been better, but playoffs are about survive and advancing. We did that.”
The win was a special one for defensive back Marcus Sayles, who also had an interception in the game. Sayles was cut by the B.C. Lions after training camp and signed with Saskatchewan after Week 1.
“I can’t even put it into words, but at the end of the day it’s not done. This is just our first step and we still have two more to go until we get to this Grey Cup, and I’m just excited to be a part of it,” Sayles said.
While the team poured the Gatorade container over Corey Mace as he won his first playoff game as a head coach, he didn’t view it as something that was needed.
“It felt like it did after the second game of the year. A Gatorade shower — I’m not interested in those ones. I know the intention is really good and guys are just happy and I am happy for them but we want to save those ones,” Mace said.
The Lions got out to a hot start in the game, with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. connecting with Jevon Cottoy for a 56-yard touchdown pass on the team’s first drive of the game.
After that touchdown, West Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Player kicker Sean Whyte hit the uprights on the point-after attempt.
The Riders were set to head into halftime with a 13-6 lead, but with just 38 seconds left in the half Adams Jr. connected with Justin McInnis for a touchdown, which tied things up.
“I’ve been on teams where that takes the wind out of the sails, even with a tie game heading into the half,” Mace said.
“The guys rallied together … It maybe wasn’t as pretty as the win before with complimentary football but all together for a playoff game, I thought it was pretty complimentary.”
While the team did face adversity, Harris said he knew this team had what it took to respond.
“We have champions in that locker room,” Harris said. “We’ve got guys that love football and love to work and are constantly pursuing being better, and that’s the mark of a great team.”
Wind proved to be a factor
The wind was an issue as it gusted throughout the game, which led to Mace taking it in the fourth quarter rather than start the second half with possession.
“It was crazy. Looking at it pregame, it was just thinking about the potential of what to do if we win the (coin) toss. Everything was telling us the wind should die down in the fourth but I don’t know ∞ I might be a weather guy after a coaching career because you can be 100 per cent wrong,” Mace said with a laugh.
“It was really moving and I think it just played in our favour, and it was the right thing to do.”
In the second half, the Riders were able to get touchdowns from slotback Jerreth Sterns and running back AJ Ouellette as the defence did what was needed to stop the Lions from getting back into it.
After the Sterns touchdown to go up 19-26, Mace elected to go for the two points to try to go up by two possessions. The Riders rewarded that decision by converting with a Harris pass to KeeSean Johnson.
Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. had 317 yards and two touchdowns in the contest but also threw three picks, with two of them coming in the fourth quarter.
Nelson Lokombo recorded his first career CFL interception with under 4:30 to go in the fourth.
“I saw the ball in the air and my eyes got all wide and I was like, ‘Oh, it’s going to happen,’ and then I did not know what to do with the ball — no, no I’m (joking),” Lokombo said.
“It felt good just being out there and finally having the ball in my hand and able to make a play.”
With under a minute to go and the Lions driving down the field, Rolan Milligan Jr., who was named the CFL West Division Most Outstanding Defensive Player, recorded another interception to seal away the game.
“I was amped up today — a different type of amped up,” Milligan said. “Just to be able to close the game out and just get to the next round, it’s amazing. I’m proud of my guys for fighting the whole game.”
Harris had 279 yards and a touchdown in the contest.
Ouellette had two rushing touchdowns — including a 30-yard score — in the game to go along with 70 yards on the ground.
“The first time I picked up the phone and said, ‘Hey, do you want to come play for us?’ I was thinking about games like this — in the cold,” Mace said about his running back.
Ouellette said it felt good to be healthy for the playoffs.
“I knew going into that six games when I sat (due to a hip injury) that I needed to prepare every week like I was going to play, and now it’s paying off,” Ouellette said.
Riders kicker Brett Lauther connected on both of his field goal attempts and his one point-after attempt.
Whyte also missed a field goal attempt by hitting the upright in the game. He made two of his three attempts.
The West final with the Riders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will take place on Nov. 9.
While the Bombers are used to the playoff atmosphere having appeared in every Grey Cup since 2019, Mace said his team was able to get some valuable experience ahead of that showdown.
“It’s going to be a little bit different now going into someone else’s barn, but just the juice that we felt and the electricity we felt from the game I thought was important for our group to get their first sample size of that,” Mace said.
Harris also knows that this team expects more than just one playoff win.
“The job is not finished. We’ve won one game in the playoffs, so this is far from what we want to accomplish but we needed to get this one tonight, and we did,” Harris said.
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