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Complete story recap and breakdown for The Greatest.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the BC Lions in this Western Semi-Finals presented by Wegovy®
The Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the BC Lions in this Western Semi-Finals presented by Wegovy®
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00:00Cade, on a beautiful day in Vancouver, B.C., we welcome you to part two of the CFL playoffs today.
00:06And the first stop in the Western Road to the Great Cup, the B.C. Lions-Saskatchewan Rough Riders
00:10meeting in the postseason for the third straight year suits with 11 games,
00:15leading the CFL in 300-plus passing games 11 times and throwing here.
00:20Completing a two to James Butler, who points the tackle, loses the five to the left.
00:27What a start for Saskatchewan's defense.
00:30Forcing a turnover in the first play from scrimmage.
00:33For Lother, this is a 55-yard attempt put down by Oscar Chapman,
00:39looking for points off the turnover, and they do get it.
00:42By Xander Horvath, who stays in there beside Rourke to protect.
00:47Rourke can't get away!
00:49The heat was on, and it was Hava Faldonado.
00:52Peters, one of the great veterans of the Lions' team, handing off Bertrand O'Don.
00:59Thomas Bertrand O'Don, you see a fly coming out, it looked like there was a hand on his face mask,
01:03as he was pushing his way forward close to another first down.
01:06Into the Lions' zone at the B.C. 47, and a first down, Saskatchewan.
01:11Back to a left, left side has some room, has some steam, head down, first down, Saskatchewan on the move,
01:17down to the Lions' 35, and getting into scoring position again here, as Harris, back to the ground to Thomas
01:24Bertrand O'Don.
01:25Thomas, the tank engine!
01:27He was the top Canadian in the Grey Cup, played fewer games last year than even this year.
01:31And two for two is Lother, a shorter one for him.
01:36Quick first quarter, already five minutes to go, and quickly, Rourke gets it away to Javon Katoi.
01:44But had a couple of big games against Saskatchewan.
01:47And they're running, and breaking through, and Xander Horvath, inside the 30!
01:53Back to the 20!
01:54Little stiff arm for Sales there, as he goes out of bounds, and the biggest play for the Lions so
01:59far today.
02:00He had the walk-off winner against Calgary in the West semi-final here one year ago.
02:05Carl Meyer putting it down, and Sean White puts it through.
02:12Harris, back to the ground, and Thomas Bertrand O'Don!
02:15Another good carry, they have not abandoned the running game, and nor should they, because it's working.
02:21Lother is two for two, has a 55, a 26, and this one, sailing up, accurate, and through.
02:28How about that, a couple of 55-yarders for Brett Lother.
02:33Xander Horvath had the carry, still a yard and a half shy.
02:37And Horvath keeps it again, and no, he does not get it!
02:42BC's turned the ball over again.
02:45Saskatchewan getting set to take over inside the Lions 50.
02:49Two years here with the Lions, second and 14 after the loss, and coming in for it is Emelis.
02:56A defender for BC had come across instead.
02:59It's a big first down for Saskatchewan.
03:02McCann had been one of the top rookies in the Canadian Football League, but yeah, couldn't go today.
03:06Here we go.
03:07Tommy Stephens in.
03:08Tommy Stephens in!
03:10The Lions end zone!
03:11Again, winning the line of scrimmage, lead blocking, Keyon Schaefer-Baker seals the edge, untouched for Tommy Stephens.
03:25Into the end zone, open, and there's two more!
03:28Emelis!
03:30Heading over to Saskatchewan, winning the cup again last year with the Riders.
03:36Second down, Rourke scrambling around, trying to make something happen, chasing him down, launches it, launches it, deep, wide open!
03:45Stanley Berryhill could just skip into the end zone for a big BC touchdown!
03:53The key to the play is Nathan Rourke taking the team on his shoulders here and saying,
04:00I've got to make something happen to beat this pressure package from Saskatchewan's defense.
04:05And he does just that.
04:07He's got pressure off the edge with the free hitter again, and has to make him miss.
04:12That's Voters, gets outside, and then keeps his eyes downfield.
04:17A wide open 69-yard play.
04:20Harris and the Riders take over inside their 10.
04:23Still up 7.
04:24Play action pass.
04:25A deeper look down the left for Johnson, who's got it!
04:29What a beautiful pitch and catch there for Saskatchewan.
04:32Second and 7 after the 3-yard pickup.
04:344-man rush off to the left.
04:36Across midfield to Johnson again, and another first down.
04:40Harris to Keyshawn Johnson.
04:42Halftime.
04:43Kate the panel coming up on such an interesting game here.
04:46Play action pass, Harris.
04:48Oh, intercepted!
04:50At the 40!
04:51Robert Carter coming across to Rob Sam Emelis.
04:55And a big turnover committed by the Riders this time.
05:00He was due.
05:02That turned things around here in a 7-point game.
05:04B.C. ball late first half.
05:07And back to James Butler.
05:08Weaving his way through, and a good carry for Butler.
05:12Ryder defense, for the most part, doing a very good job against B.C.
05:16One big play.
05:17And a turning it around.
05:18Go!
05:18The Lions underneath, and what a hit!
05:21Coming in to Vaughn Campbell on Keyon Hatcher, who cannot hang on.
05:25Who was Sam playing corner.
05:27So it's a 2nd and 10 from the 26.
05:30Late first half, caught first down.
05:32Across the 35, that is Keyon Schaefer-Baker.
05:36His career-long 55 yards, so thinking at the very least inside the Saskatchewan 50 here.
05:4437 seconds, deeper, ball open, that'll help.
05:47And that's Justin McInnes, his first catch.
05:5122 seconds.
05:53Quickly again, out, Katoi with it.
05:55So they're going to try the field goal now.
05:58Last play, first half, Sean White.
06:01Puts it through.
06:03The 10-year veteran out of Clemson, Gary Peters.
06:05Just his 3rd game of the season.
06:07Here's Harris now.
06:092nd down, running around, throwing to the right, and he finds Emelis.
06:13Nice toss into Emelis, who works it down closer and a 1st down for the Riders.
06:19In Lions territory, quickly caught.
06:22And that is Dale Duncan Busby getting into the act here in this West Semi-Finals.
06:26He works his way down around the 20.
06:29A 2nd and 10 at the BC 20-yard line.
06:33Harris, pressure, and down he goes, and you know who.
06:39Out and down, and Lothar is having a perfect day.
06:42A 4-for-4.
06:47Pressure, quickly, caught, brilliantly.
06:51Javon Katoi, could he be gone?
06:53Could he be gone?
06:54He is gone.
06:56Touchdown, BC Lions.
07:00What a catch-and-run for Javon Katoi.
07:04Football's all about adjustments at halftime.
07:08Looking at the tablet, deciding what you want to do to counter the defensive game plan.
07:15Pressure packages early.
07:17Affected Rourke.
07:19He's got an answer.
07:2120-20.
07:223rd quarter.
07:232nd down.
07:24Harris out for a leg.
07:2645.
07:271st down.
07:28Ronald Kent Jr. rides him out of bounds.
07:30But the sticks will move for the green and white.
07:32Defensive coordinator under Buck Pierce.
07:34Watching his defense now as Harris throws to an open receiver.
07:38Dale Duncan Busby.
07:40Big pick up Saskatchewan inside the Lions, 35.
07:45Lothar, again.
07:47Money.
07:48No problem.
07:49He's money.
07:50By big brother Nathan.
07:52Here is Nathan going to work again.
07:54And Baldonado chasing him.
07:56He gets it down to Keon Hatcher.
07:59Last big play.
08:00It's a 2nd and 10 now.
08:02And he completes that one to Justin McInnes.
08:05Sidestepping.
08:06And manages to work it down for a 1st down.
08:09Right down to the 26.
08:10Working quickly.
08:11On the fake to Horvath.
08:13Throwing to the left.
08:14McInnes again.
08:15Right back to him.
08:16He keeps dancing after catching it.
08:18Look at him go.
08:18Down inside.
08:19But the 17 with a chance to go ahead.
08:2323-20.
08:24Roark.
08:26Completes it.
08:27And another touchdown for Javon Katoy.
08:33Because you have rules.
08:35You feel like if a quarterback rolls or even half rolls to his right,
08:39he's looking to the right side of the formation.
08:42But great quarterbacks can break those rules.
08:45Roark did there.
08:46And he is standing right now at 299 and a 1st and 10 at the BC 44.
08:51Faking to Butler.
08:53And he squirms loose and he takes off.
08:56We've seen this from him before.
08:58And making a whole lot of something out of nothing initially when it looked like the Riders had him.
09:04West final that the Riders won.
09:052nd and 4 out to Stanley Berryhill.
09:09So Roark is over 300 yards passing and Berryhill has another catch.
09:14Although certainly can't underestimate the value Cody Pajardo has had with Edmonton.
09:19Is he and the Elks away to winner in this game?
09:22It sure has in this 2nd half.
09:24Up by 7 with the ball in their zone.
09:27Faking to Butler.
09:27Completing it to Hatcher.
09:29Hitting late 3rd quarter.
09:312nd and 8 with Roark of time.
09:33And it's cut away with Kinnis.
09:36Big 1st down again.
09:37BC all the way down to the Saskatchewan 15.
09:41Looking to change that.
09:43The final year possible.
09:44And here is Sean White.
09:45Who is 4 for 4.
09:493rd and 9.
09:50Down 10.
09:52They gotta go.
09:533-man rush.
09:54Harris gets away.
09:56Gets away.
09:58And it's caught beautifully by Del Duncan Busby in a crowd for a 1st down at midfield.
10:05Could be under 2 minutes left in their season unless they can pull this off.
10:09Harris throwing.
10:10Caught.
10:11Shaper Baker.
10:12And inside the 45.
10:15Lotherham 44.
10:16He is 5 for 5.
10:20And we make that 6 for 6.
10:22And it's a 1 score game again.
10:26And he picks it up.
10:27Interesting.
10:28Puts it down on the other hash.
10:30Resets.
10:33No tee.
10:34Squibs it along.
10:36And it looks like BC football.
10:40Interesting strategy.
10:42Not really seen this.
10:44Brent Lother.
10:46Didn't use his kicking tee.
10:48So he shifts here.
10:49Seen that before many times.
10:51But he throws the tee aside.
10:53Puts the ball on its side.
10:54Which is legal.
10:55And he's looking for one hop.
10:57But it's got to go 10 yards.
10:59The Riders can't touch it before it goes 10 yards.
11:03Second and 11.
11:05BC.
11:07Roark.
11:08And a great play for the Ryder defense under these circumstances to at least take him for a loss.
11:14Shea Oladipo coming in.
11:16Shea Oladipo coming in.
11:16He's been perfect on the day.
11:18This is a 49 yard try.
11:19And this essentially ends the ball game if he gets it.
11:23Padding left.
11:25Missed it.
11:25And on the return is Sexton.
11:30The clock ticking down to 39 seconds.
11:33And I know what you're thinking in these situations about trying to let the ball roll out the back of
11:38the end zone.
11:39Trevor Harris looking for a miracle drive here now.
11:43They need a touchdown.
11:44Three-man rush.
11:46That is cut by Schaefer-Baker.
11:48And they quickly get it up across the 40.
11:54Underneath again complete Olet.
11:57Sankey.
11:57And a pack taking him down.
11:59But he gets it up closer to midfield.
12:01Near another first down.
12:0222 seconds on the clock.
12:09Quickly again Schaefer-Baker.
12:11Shy of a first down inside the 50.
12:1514 seconds to go.
12:17After the heartbreak of one year ago at Mosaic.
12:20Six seconds.
12:21Harris quickly.
12:23Down.
12:23Johnson.
12:24Still time on the clock to set up one big haymaker into the end zone.
12:30Harris and the Riders need a miracle.
12:32From the 35.
12:33Harris.
12:35Pressured.
12:36Can't get it away.
12:39He is sacked.
12:40And the game is over.
12:42And the B.C. Lions are heading to Edmonton to face the Elks in the Western Final.