Saskatchewan clinch home playoff game, dismantle Lions

The Saskatchewan Roughriders feasted on Thanksgiving Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.

The Riders were in control from the very start and never looked back as the team clinched a home playoff game for the first time since 2021.

“Selfishly, we just know we’re going to be able to conduct business as is and it’s going to feel like an everyday thing for us just because of how much time we spend here,” Mace said. “On a broad scope, Rider Nation we are as happy as ever we get to hear you come playoff time and we are looking forward to hearing you.”

Now what’s still up in the air is what weekend the game will take place at Mosaic Stadium.

With the 39-8 win, Saskatchewan has improved to 9-7-1 and just one point behind the 10-7 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. If the Bombers lose to the Montreal Alouettes and the Riders defeat the Calgary Stampeders at home in the final week of the regular season, Saskatchewan would claim the top spot in the CFL’s West Division.

“I might have to shoot (Alouettes quarterback Cody) Fajardo a message and say, ‘You don’t hate Saskatchewan that much right? Can you do us a solid and go get that one,’” joked Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. “It’s not really anything in our control. We can control what we do.”

Harris said it’s nice to clinch a home playoff date but the team still has higher goals it wants to accomplish.

“More important is who we are becoming in the process — what kind of a team are we becoming in the process?” Harris said. “That’s more important than anything at this point. As long as you have a spot in the dance, it’s who are you becoming every day, every period, every meeting. Like I’ve said from the jump, I love the DNA of this team.”

So who does this team want to become?

“That’s a team that is capable of beating anybody, physically matches up with anybody, schematically gives ourselves a chance to win every single game. We have a tremendous offensive co-ordinator and we have good personnel. We have the team that is becoming the team that can win any game we play in,” Harris said.

On the first drive of the game, Lions quarterback threw a routine pass to running back William Stanback but the veteran couldn’t handle it as it dropped and hit his foot, bouncing up in the air and getting deflected twice more before linebacker A.J. Allen picked it off. Allen, who started the game for the injured Adam Auclair, ran the interception back for a pick-six.

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen returns an interception for a touchdown against the B.C. Lions. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

“That was just a run to the football moment,” Allen said. “I saw it keep bouncing up and bouncing up so I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to keep running, you never know what may happen.’ Everyone kept dropping it and I got lucky.”

Allen, who usually make his mark on special teams, said it felt incredible to contribute that way on defence.

“To get out there and make a pick-six on my second play of the game, you couldn’t draw it up. That is the stuff of dreams,” Allen said.

The Riders never looked back from that point as the team cruised to the crucial win — the team’s fourth in a row.

Mace said that being in control of a full game is a situation the team hasn’t found itself in this season.

“Character-building and understanding what that looks like being in that situation and having a bit of a lead and seeing how we respond in the second half. I’m very pleased with that,” Mace said. “I didn’t want the guys to play safe, I told them, ‘Your play is next, be ready for it.’”

Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke finished the game with 15 completions for 200 yards and two interceptions. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter as Chase Brice, not Vernon Adams Jr., came into the game. Brice had 92 yards in the game.

Lions receiver Justin McInnis had 243 yards in the first meeting between these two teams. In this game, McInnis had 119 yards.

Riders quarterback Trevor Harris was once again efficient in the win, completing 25 of 30 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He was replaced by Shea Patterson in the fourth quarter.

Running back AJ Ouellette played in his first game since August after dealing with a hip injury. He finished with 84 yards on 16 carries.

“It feels good to be back with the guys, it feels good to be healthy and playing the way I want to be,” Ouellette said.

Ouellette said it feels good to be able to put away a team early.

“We know we can battle to the end and come back and win when we’re down a bunch but now the team knows we can start hot and not take the foot off the throat,” Ouellette said.

Sam Emilus came into the game needing 30 yards for a second-straight 1,000-yard season. He finished with a team-high 94 yards.

“It’s the first time in three years that I’ve made the playoffs in the CFL so it’s about time and I’m so happy,” Emilus said.

The Riders will have a bye week before the final week of the CFL regular season.