The B.C. Lions have turned their season around, securing a spot in the CFL playoffs with a six-game winning streak after defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 27-21. The victory placed the Lions in second place in the West Division with an 11-7 record, setting them up for a home playoff game. They will now face the Calgary Stampeders in the West semifinal on Nov. 1 in Vancouver. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, finishing fourth in the West at 10-8, will cross over to play the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division semifinal on the same day.
Starting the season poorly at 1-3 and 3-5 in July, the Lions rallied in the second half, finishing 8-2 and gaining momentum for the playoffs. Quarterback Nathan Rourke attributed their early struggles to self-inflicted mistakes but praised the team’s resilience and belief in each other.
In a game-changing moment, a controversial play in the third quarter saw a potential touchdown for the Roughriders overturned after review, altering the game’s momentum in favor of the Lions. Despite the overturned call, the Riders felt the ruling impacted the final outcome significantly.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions staged a comeback, led by Rourke, who orchestrated a crucial scoring drive resulting in a touchdown and successful two-point conversion to secure a 27-21 lead. Rourke’s stellar performance left him just shy of surpassing Bo Levi Mitchell as the league’s passing yardage leader.
Looking ahead, Rourke remains focused on the team’s playoff journey and a potential Grey Cup championship, downplaying personal accolades. Meanwhile, the Riders, having secured first place in the West, await the West final on Nov. 8 after a brief break.
Both teams expressed determination and focus as they head into the post-season, emphasizing the need to maintain consistency and intensity in their playoff pursuits.
