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On Halloween, B.C. Place once again proved to be a house of horror for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2026 as the quest for a repeat came to an end.
While the Riders were able to contain the B.C. Lions throughout much of the first half, big plays given up once again were the story for Saskatchewan’s defence, as quarterback Nathan Rourke threw three touchdown passes.
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The #Riders season is over after loss to the BC Lions. @BrittonGray has a final update from BC Place. #CFL https://t.co/Al7SJXVlHE
— The Green Zone (@GreenZoneSK) November 1, 2026
“It sucks,” quarterback Trevor Harris said.
“It’s our job and I love those guys in this locker room. To say it’s an honour and privilege to suit up for the green and white and the Saskatchewan Roughriders would be a massive understatement. I love this city, I love this province, I love this team. It has been an honour to be the quarterback here. I’m grateful.
“It sucks (right now).”
Harris, 40, said he hasn’t thought about his future right now.
“That’s something I’ll make a decision on. I don’t take too long with decisions like that. You do mull over things at this point. You just don’t know what the plan of the organization is, what plans are for me and my family — I’m always going to pray about it and talk to my family — I’ll deal with that over the next few weeks.”
He finished the game with 309 yards and an interception. He led the CFL in passing yards this season.
Inside the locker room, there were plenty of emotions as the Riders realized their season had come to an end.
“No words. Just proud of this group and how hard every single guy in that room works. We won’t forget this stuff,” centre Logan Ferland said.
“It’s tough right now. We didn’t finish the goal and mission. We fell short but we battled until the last second and we left it all out there,” slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker said.
“There’s no group I’d rather go to war with each and every single day.”
Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell said it hurt to see the emotions in the locker room from veterans on the team.
“It really showed. You could see it on guys’ faces and you could feel the emotion in the room,” Campbell said. “It sucks.”
Much like in their 31-24 win last time in Vancouver, the Lions had two drives — one for 69 yards and one for 70 — that only needed two plays to put majors up on the scoreboard as B.C. won the CFL West Semifinal 33-26.
The Riders were able to control the play throughout most of the first half thanks to a potent run game and the leg of Brett Lauther.
A.J. Ouellette had 43 yards on six carries, while Thomas Bertrand-Hudon contributed with 35 of his own.
Saskatchewan Roughriders Seyi Oladipo Jr. (35) walks off the field after losing 33-26 to the BC Lions in the CFL West semifinal action in Vancouver on Saturday, Oct.31, 2026. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam)
Lauther made field goals from 55- and 56-yards out to help the Riders get out to an early lead. Lauther made all six of his field goals in the game.
Saskatchewan also found a turnover on the Lions’ first offensive play of the game with linebacker Jameer Thurman punching the ball out from the hands of Lions’ rusher James Butler.
But as the Riders jumped out to a 17-3 lead, the B.C. big play offence finally found one. Rourke evaded a couple of would-be tacklers and found a wide-open Stanley Berryhill III for a 69-yard touchdown.
In the third quarter, Rourke connected with Cottoy for a 70-yard strike. He finished with 131 yards receiving.
Those big plays have been talked about by the defence plenty of times over the second half of the Riders’ season.
“We just know we can be better, we know we can play better and we know what we have to do and when you don’t come out and do it, it’s annoying and frustrating and it just pisses us off,” Campbell said.
In the fourth quarter, Rourke connected with Cottoy again for a 13-yard touchdown.
Rourke finished with 366 yards to go along with those touchdowns.
“We played good football for a majority of the game defensively but we make errors like that, it’s going to be tough,” Mace said. “You got to look at that from a coaching standpoint. I have to make sure everyone is better in those moments,” Mace said. “We have to do a better job coaching. That’s on me.”
The Lions will play the Edmonton Elks in the CFL West Final as the Riders will clear out their locker rooms as their season comes to an end.
