Riders triumphant in return with 33-29 victory despite B.C. Lions nearly roaring back in second half

It was emotional return to the field for Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo.

“I started tearing up in the tunnel when I was running out to the game and you hear the crowd,” Fajardo said following the Riders’ 33-29 win over the B.C. Lions on Friday at Mosaic Stadium. “It was one of those emotional roller-coasters where you’re tearing up because you’re so excited and you’ve got to go play and guys are trying to take your head off.”

And after 628 days, Rider fans were also on their own roller-coaster of emotions watching the Green and White’s first game of the 2021 season.

The game got off to a start many Rider fans could have only dreamed of.

Fajardo started the game perfect on his first 15 passes of the game as the team jumped to a 31-0 lead nearing the end of the first half.

“I couldn’t have pictured myself completing my first 15 passes. When I did throw my first incompletion, I kind of felt good about it because I remember someone came to me on the sideline and said, ‘You don’t have an incompletion yet,’” Fajardo said. “When you throw your first incompletion, it at least takes the pressure off.”

The Riders offence looked explosive to start the game while the Lions struggled at first with rookie quarterback Nathan Rourke getting the start. Michael Reilly was set to start for the Lions but wouldn’t enter the game until the second half. Reilly had been limited in practice all week due to an arm injury.

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson also went into the game expecting Reilly to go from the start.

“I was surprised. I thought for a minute I saw 12 and thought, ‘That doesn’t look like Mike,’ and I looked a little closer and sure enough it wasn’t,” Dickenson said. “I know Michael Reilly very well and if he’s not playing, he’s hurt or in serious pain. To not see him out there, I knew something was wrong.”

The Riders put the pressure on early, with a 13-play 75-yard drive that ended with running back William Powell scoring the team’s first touchdown in nearly two years from two-yards out.

A two-and-out by the Lions got the ball back to Fajardo and the offence and they orchestrated another drive that culminated in slotback Brayden Lenius scoring his first CFL touchdown.

But with all the emotions he was feeling, he chucked the football into the crowd – meaning his mom wasn’t getting the souvenir she was promised.

“I was supposed to give that ball to my mom but it’s in the stands because I was so excited. As soon as the play was called, I was smiling coming out of the huddle because I knew it was a touchdown,” said Lenius, who finished the game with three catches for 25 yards, including the touchdown grab. “It’s the first of many I hope but it’s just an amazing feeling to be able to contribute to this win as well.”

The Riders further extended their lead with Fajardo connecting with wide receiver Kyran Moore for a seven-yard touchdown.

And then the defence got in on the scoring frenzy early, with defensive back Nick Marshall intercepting a Rourke pass and taking it into the end zone for a pick-six.

“That felt great to have. It reminded me of the 2018 season where I started off with a pick-six with a touchdown so it was great to have that feeling,” Marshall said.

And it wasn’t until the Riders were up by 31 that the Lions would show some life, with Rourke connecting on a pass to receiver Lucky Whitehead over the head of Marshall for a 75-yard touchdown near the end of the first half.

“I’d say I have a pick and he got a touchdown so we’re 1-1 right now,” Marshall said.

But while the Riders went into the half with a 32-9 lead, the B.C. Lions and Reilly would chip away at it all throughout the second half.

Reilly brought the Lions roaring back after coming out to start the third quarter, putting up 23 points in the second half compared to one point for the Riders with a touchdown pass to running back James Butler and setting up the Lions with field goal opportunities. Lions kicker Takeru Yamasaki was two-for-four on field goal attempts in the game.

“I told (Reilly) he’s a warrior. I don’t know what’s going on with his arm but clearly he was gutting it out and he was trying to will his team to a victory and I have a lot of respect for a guy like that,” Fajardo said. “I think he’s been voted the toughest player in the league all 10 years he has been in the league.”

The rest of the Riders scoring came from kicker Brett Lauther, who made his only field goal attempt of the game and converted all four of his convert attempts, and punter Jon Ryan who had tow punts go for single points. Ryan also conceded a safety to the Lions.

Reilly wouldn’t finish the fourth quarter, however, with the team turning back to Rourke to end the game. Reilly finished the game 17-of-24 for 203 yards and a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, Rourke would connect on his second touchdown pass of the day, this one to receiver Bryan Burnham.

While the Lions got the game within four, Riders defensive end A.C. Leonard put an end to the comeback. He dropped back into coverage and intercepted a Rourke pass with 19 seconds left in the game. Rourke ended the day 10-of-18 for 194 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Dickenson admitted conditioning is a concern for him and his team.

“We did get tired and we did lose a few guys to hamstrings and we had a few guys cramping up. It’s next man up but the guys were tired, that’s for sure,” Dickenson said.

And after a performance that saw him complete 28 of 35 pass attempts for 230 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, Fajardo says the win was an important one for the Riders.

“It was just really emotional because thinking back 18 months and thinking about the first game and too be able to win in front of a sold-out (Mosaic Stadium), it was pretty special for me,” Fajardo said. “Now that I think about it, it was a top-five game for me in my career.”

The win moves the Riders to 1-0 to start the season while the Lions drop to 0-1.

The Riders are in action on Aug. 14 at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1).