Tommy Nield’s last-minute three-yard touchdown catch secured a 24-21 win for the Saskatchewan Roughriders over the B.C. Lions in the West Division final on Saturday. The victory propelled the Riders to the Grey Cup after a dramatic drive of 74 yards in the final minute of the game. The Riders will now face the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup on November 16 in Winnipeg.
In a hard-fought East Division final earlier that day, the Montreal Alouettes secured their spot in the Grey Cup with a 19-16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Riders initially led 14-7 in the third quarter but saw the Lions take the lead with two quick touchdowns to make it 21-14.
Despite a missed opportunity from the B.C. five-yard line with three minutes left, the Riders opted for a field goal, narrowing the gap to 21-17. The Saskatchewan defense then stepped up, forcing crucial stops to give their offense a chance to win the game.
The first half was a defensive battle with both teams struggling to score, resulting in a low-scoring affair before a packed crowd at Mosaic Stadium. B.C. managed the only touchdown of the half with a drive late in the second quarter, leading 7-1 after a four-yard run by quarterback Nathan Rourke.
Saskatchewan managed to cut the deficit to 7-4 with a field goal at the end of the first half. This victory marks the Roughriders’ return to the Grey Cup for the first time since their 2013 triumph over the Tiger-Cats.
