Saskatchewan Roughriders star linebacker Jameer Thurman felt his team’s Grey Cup experience from a year ago gave them a bend-don’t-break mentality.
The opposite transpired in the Western Semi-Final against the B.C. Lions.
The Saskatchewan defence had stretches of excellence. But when it wasn’t, it completely broke down.
Explosive plays against – which hurt the Riders during the regular season, especially in the two games in Vancouver – absolutely killed Saskatchewan in a 33-26 loss on Saturday.
Try as they might to tie it up on the last possession, the Riders’ defence of their 2025 championship came to a screeching halt two games short of the ultimate prize.
The way Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke stepped up in big moments makes it worth relitigating whether it was ideal for the Riders to win last week’s season finale and stay on the West side of the playoff bracket. That’s especially relevant considering Toronto Argonauts pivot Chad Kelly entered the Eastern Semi-Final banged up, got hurt in the game, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers crossed over and won.
It’s too late for should haves and could haves now.
How the Riders’ season ended is the focus.
Why they lost
Big plays. Big plays. Big plays.
The Riders talked all week about how they couldn’t allow the Lions to pull off massive strikes down the field, but that’s exactly what happened.
The first extra-long touchdown surrendered completely changed the complexion of the game.
The Riders were leading 17-3 in the second quarter when Rourke scrambled outside the pocket, alluded a tackle from James Vaughters, sidestepped a hit from former Lion Josh Woods and then bombed a pass.
He found a wide open – and I mean WIDE OPEN – Stanley Berryhill III for a 69-yard strike.
That made it a one-score game and gave the Lions life.
The Riders carried a 17-13 lead into halftime, but a second lengthy touchdown allowed was another gut punch.
A 70-yard major from Jevon Cottoy that featured 59 yards gained after the catch tied the score 20-20. The Lions never looked back.
The big plays weren’t the only reason the Riders lost.
While the Riders moved the ball effectively with 403 yards of net offence, they scored just one touchdown – a four-yard run from (who else?) Tommy Stevens. They needed a 6-for-6 showing from trade deadline acquisition Brett Lauther to record 18 of their 26 points.
That doesn’t cut in July, let alone in a playoff game.
Still, the fact remains that the Riders could have pulled it out without giving up those Berryhill and Cottoy scores. It’s surely what members of the defence will be thinking about all offseason.
Game ball
This clearly belongs to Rourke who passed for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He threw for at least 300 yards in all four games against the Riders this season. His total would have been higher, too, without some drops by his receivers – namely Keon Hatcher Sr.
Rourke’s performance overshadowed a lot of outstanding efforts from guys wearing green and white.
Habakkuk Baldonaldo came out flying with a sack and pass knockdown. Thurman forced a fumble on the Lions’ first offensive play of the game. Jermarcus Hardrick’s blocking was on point, especially early. Lauther’s perfect kicking outing validated the decision to reacquire him.
It was all for naught, though, thanks to Rourke, who got plenty of help from his offence.
Needed more from
The offensive group at large. They just couldn’t put enough points on the board and went 1-for-3 in the red zone.
In terms of that first big B.C. touchdown, Vaughters and Woods could have wrapped up Rourke, and DaMarcus Fields and Tevaughn Campbell abandoned Berryhill on the first one.
The Riders might be planning a trip right now to Edmonton next week if that play doesn’t happen.
Play of the game
The Saskatchewan defence was excellent in the first half, but there were a couple slip-ups. The biggest one resulted in that Berryhill touchdown.
TSN broadcaster Rod Smith said Berryhill looked like a centrefielder waiting for a flyball to land. He wasn’t wrong. Berryhill was left all alone, so he had oodles of time to catch the arcing pass and high step the last 15 yards into the end zone.
https://x.com/CFL/status/2116644332895940780
The Lions also had the next-best stylish play, too. This diving interception by Robert Carter Jr. as he undercut a route by Sam Emilus was spectacular.
https://x.com/CFL/status/2116648950593900723
Oh, and they took the bronze medal position, too.
https://x.com/CFL/status/2116657670442917974
Big plays often lead to a win. That was sure the case for the Lions.
The stat the matters
When you win the turnover battle 2-1, outscore your opponent 11-0 off those takeaways, and your kicker doesn’t miss, it’s usually a recipe for success.
That wasn’t the case for the Riders. The biggest reason why: The Lions had 452 yards of net offence and 139 of those yards came on just two touchdown-scoring plays.
Everything the Riders said they didn’t want to have happen absolutely did. And their season is over because of it.
