Saskatchewan Roughriders use strong second half to top BC Lions in Western Semi-Final

REGINA — A.J. Ouellette’s first season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders hasn’t gone as deliberate, however the prized free agent answered the bell Saturday with two touchdowns in a 28-19 victory over the B.C. Lions within the West Division semifinal.

Signed on the primary day of CFL free company and coming off consecutive East Division all-star seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, a hip harm sidelined Ouellette for 9 video games together with a stint on the six-game injured checklist starting in mid-August.

Whereas he was annoyed about being on the sidelines, Ouellette used the time to heal and put together to return to the lineup.

“It feels good to lastly be wholesome on the proper time going into playoffs. And I knew going into these six video games the place I sat, that I simply wanted to organize each week like I used to be going to play,” mentioned Ouellette, a member of Toronto’s Gray Cup successful workforce in 2022.

Riders quarterback Trevor Harris knew that Ouellette was locked and loaded for the playoffs.

“I requested him earlier than the earlier B.C. recreation how he was feeling, and he mentioned, ‘They didn’t pay me to return right here and run in June and July. They did so I may run in October and November so let’s freaking go.’ That form of like despatched chills up my backbone,” mentioned Harris.

“I by no means instructed him that however after I walked away from him, I used to be like, ‘This man’s frigging prepared’ and also you guys noticed that tonight.”

Ouellette scored on a one-yard run within the second quarter and added his second main on a 30-yard run within the third quarter.

The second landing, which noticed Ouellette take a deep handoff from Harris within the shotgun, was a play the Riders ran towards the Lions of their remaining regular-season assembly. In that recreation, due to the defensive formation, Harris threw a display cross to Ouellette. In Saturday’s recreation, Harris noticed a distinct formation from the Lions, and he let Ouellette know he’d be operating the ball this time.

“In the course of the cadence, he is telling me he is handing the ball off. I already know I am getting the ball,” mentioned Ouellette, who swept across the left facet of the road, broke one deal with after which rumbled into the tip zone.

Holding a 20-19 lead within the fourth quarter, the Riders made it a nine-point recreation when Jerreth Sterns grabbed a 13-yard scoring cross from Harris with 3:30 gone within the body. A two-point convert, with Harris connecting with KeeSean Johnson, gave the Riders a nine-point cushion.

The Riders sealed the victory with interceptions on consecutive B.C. possessions. Security Nelson Lokombo grabbed his first CFL interception with 4 minutes remaining and defensive again Rolan Milligan Jr. slammed the door with a decide within the Saskatchewan finish zone with 47 seconds left within the recreation.

Cornerback Marcus Sayles, who was lower by the Lions in coaching camp, additionally had an interception within the second quarter for the Riders.

It was a tricky recreation for Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Though he accomplished 20 of 33 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns, he additionally was intercepted thrice by the Riders.

“That is workforce over there. They did not actually do something we’ve not seen, and I used to be simply making an attempt to make performs. On that finish of the sport interception, I used to be simply making an attempt to make one thing occur off the scramble. On that second interception stepped within the pocket and I noticed my man late and once more, I used to be simply making an attempt to make one thing occur. It’s only a powerful, powerful a part of the sport,” mentioned Adams.

The Lions acquired off on the precise foot with a landing on the opening possession of the sport. Adams accomplished 4 of 5 passes for 85 yards on the seven-play drive which culminated in a 56-yard landing cross to Jevon Cottoy.

Cottoy took a brief cross on the left seam and sprinted between two Saskatchewan defensive backs en path to the tip zone. Kicker Sean Whyte, who made 36 of 38 converts throughout the common season, missed the purpose after try.

The Riders took a 13-6 lead on two subject objectives by Brett Lauther and a one-yard landing run by Ouellette.

Lions receiver Justin McInnis, who led the CFL in receiving with 1,469 yards on 92 receptions, had a sluggish begin and didn’t make his first catch of the sport till the two:35 mark of the second quarter.

McInnis, who hauled in 14 passes for 243 yards in a 35-20 victory over the Riders on July 13, adopted up with an 11-yard landing reception with 38 seconds left within the first half to tie the sport at 13-13.

B.C. head coach Rick Campbell thought that late landing would give the Lions some momentum heading into the second half, but it surely didn’t work out that means.

“Going into the second half, the sport’s tied and it is all there for the taking. And we had some alternatives on offence and defence to make some performs to swing the sport and we did not. They did and we did not That is what it got here right down to,” mentioned Campbell.

It was an emotional defeat for Adams, particularly on condition that with the return of Nathan Rourke from the NFL in August, the veteran could also be suiting up elsewhere in 2025.

“It was powerful within the locker room for me simply now. It’s doubtlessly my final recreation right here as a B.C. Lion. All of us labored so onerous, courting again to the low season, and coping with the ups and downs via this 12 months. It was powerful. I like these guys, they gave it their all. We had too many missed alternatives on offence, and that is it. We did not make sufficient performs,” mentioned Adams.

The Riders will now journey to Winnipeg to tackle the first-place Blue Bombers within the West Division remaining on Nov. 9. The winner of that recreation advances to the Gray Cup recreation on Nov. 17 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Nov. 2, 2024.