For the first time in 12 years, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are off to the Grey Cup with a thrilling 24-21 win over the B.C. Lions in Regina.
It was a game that had a little bit of everything, including, most importantly for Rider Nation, a win for the home side that punched their ticket to Winnipeg next weekend.
Here are the rest of my thoughts on a frigid West Final.
Driving to Winnipeg
When Saskatchewan clinched its spot in the West Final, one of the phrases that was uttered quite often was “the road to the Grey Cup goes through Regina.” Well, Trevor Harris had to drive very quickly on that road with just over a minute to go and the Riders’ season on the line.
He put together the quintessential Trevor Harris drive, going 76 yards to put the final nail in the Lions’ Grey Cup hopes. This game wasn’t a masterpiece for the 39-year-old QB, who had moments of visible frustration that are generally reserved for getting taken out of games when he doesn’t want to. But, with the season on the line, he showed exactly what he could do, getting a couple of good chunk plays with Samuel Emilus before finishing the drive with a pass to Tommy Nield.
The decisions that led to this drive would have been discussed for a very long time — and still will be later in this story– but Harris made his coach look like a genius by dicing up the Lions’ secondary en route to a division-winning TD.
Nield before your king
Tommy Nield missed the first six weeks of the season with an injury. He was added to the depth chart ahead of Saskatchewan’s Week 7 matchup with the Lions after an injury to Samuel Emilus. For the next two weeks, he and I were tied with 0 targets each. He finally caught his first pass in Week 9 against Hamilton and has been a solid option in the passing game since.
But when Week 20 came around and it was time to rest starters, Nield was still out there. He caught 11 passes over the last two weeks in the games where the main objective was making sure the Riders’ stars stayed healthy.
What I’m getting at is, if you had asked Rider fans to make a list at the beginning of the year — or even at the beginning of August– who would catch the TD that would send the Riders to the Grey Cup, Nield would have been towards the bottom, likely behind a couple of offensive linemen and an AI version of Donald Narcisse. But, there he was, with the season on the line, making a sliding catch in the endzone while wearing a defender like a backpack to send Saskatchewan to Winnipeg.
None of what I said is to downplay any of Nield’s past accomplishments or his abilities. It is just to highlight that the road Nield took to get to that moment was not paved for him at the beginning of the season. It goes along with something I have talked about all year: the injuries the Riders had at receiver all season opened up opportunities for other players to step up. When they got to playoff time, Harris was going to have a plethora of options to choose from, and the players would be ready because of the important reps they had as starters throughout the year. Nield was the next man up, and that let Harris know that he would step up in the biggest moment of the season.
It wasn’t just Nield either. Dohnte Meyers had 349 yards receiving last year. This year, he completed his first 1,000-yard season in the CFL and made the catch that set up THE catch on the last drive. So many players stepped up all season long, and that continued in the West Final on Saturday night.
Home field advantage
In the first half of this West Final, the biggest weapon the Riders had was the Regina weather. It was bitterly cold in the Saskatchewan capital, and no one looked like they were having any fun because of it. But those miserable conditions helped the Green and White, especially early on.
The Lions had a few opportunities to build momentum, but a lot of them just fell to the frozen Mosaic Stadium turf. On the game’s first possession, Stanley Berryhill dropped a pass after a good Nathan Rourke rollout. That seemed to set the tone for how things were going to go for the Lions. On the next possession, James Butler had room to run, but he tripped on the turf on a second-down reception, which ended the drive. Butler had another tough drop later in the first quarter that the Lions would recover from, but still put B.C. in a tough position.
You combine those with the obvious crowd noise advantage that comes with a Rider playoff game and a couple of procedure calls that went against the Lions, and it was clear — homefield was certainly an advantage for the Riders. On the outside, it does seem funny to say that Saskatchewan earned the right to play in miserable conditions, but I don’t think you can deny that they played a factor in the early parts of this game.
Obviously, drops still happen at BC Place in Vancouver, but I don’t think the Lions have the same volume of issues if the game were in a temperature-controlled environment. Sean Whyte only missed one kick between 40-49 yards this season. I have a hard time believing that he doinks a 43-yard field goal off the upright if he was kicking something other than an ice block in the shape of a football.
November thunderstorm
Having lived through a lot of Saskatchewan winters, I am aware that the first cold snap can make it hard for some vehicles to start. Well, apparently, the Riders’ offence was the same, as they just couldn’t get going early in this game. It is fitting that the man nicknamed “Thor” provided the lightning strike that got the engine running.
A.J. Ouellette was everything the Riders needed him to be in this game, going for 113 yards on 17 carries, while adding two receptions, including a key second-down conversion on the game-winning drive. He played a big role in the Riders’ win over B.C. earlier in the season, and he helped keep Saskatchewan’s head above water in this game while their passing attack tried to get things figured out. It was the type of performance that I’m sure the Riders’ front office had in mind when they brought the powerful running back into Regina before last season — a gritty, tough one in a gross weather game to help send the team to the Grey Cup.
To top it all off, Ouellette straight-up hurdled over a guy. And not just a hurdle that doesn’t gain any extra yards. This one allowed him to pick up a first down and several more yards after it. Now, he tried the same thing later and fumbled, but you will take those sorts of plays when you know the mentality behind the leads to performances like he had on Saturday.
Trevor “Track Star” Harris
I joked about Harris’ running ability in my Week 21 thoughts after the 39-year-old ran for a first down in a game that meant literally nothing to the Riders. Well, apparently that was just to keep him locked in for the West Final.
On second-and-10 with the Riders trailing in the third quarter, Harris stepped up and ran 10 yards to keep the drive alive. Football fans know, not all 10-yard runs are created equal. When the QB that isn’t known for their mobility can keep the chains moving with his legs, it feels like a gut punch. Three plays later, the Riders were able to capitalize and take the lead back.
Davis Alexander seemed pretty insistent that he would be available for the Grey Cup after Montreal’s East Final win over Hamilton. So the question now is obvious: who will step up in the battle of elite, dual-threat QBs in this year’s CFL championship game?
Big boys making big plays
Offensive linemen never get the credit they deserve, so let’s highlight the big guys here. The Lions led the CFL in sacks this year with 45. In the West Semi-Final, they got to Vernon Adams Jr. four times. In the West Final? Zero. Trevor Harris was kept clean by the work of the Saskatchewan offensive line all evening long, helping the veteran QB lead the TD drive at the end of the game.
They were also fantastic in giving A.J. Ouellette lanes to run through all game, which helped this offence find its rhythm after the bye week. Playoff football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage, and that was certainly evident this week. Those fellas up front are a massive reason why Saskatchewan has a chance to win its fifth Grey Cup.
INT for Sayles
The phrase “you have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good” likely popped into the minds of Rider fans across Canada when Marcus Sayles came away with an interception that bounced off of everything but the ground. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.
After taking the lead, Ouellette fumbled, and the Lions were driving and looked well on their way to pulling ahead again, with Nathan Rourke getting into a groove. Then, Lady Luck put on her green and white jersey and let that ball deflect off of Keon Hatcher’s hands, the back of CJ Reavis’ hand, three cheerleaders, a popcorn vendor, and Reavis’ head before landing in the welcoming arms of the former Lions DB for a massive moment.
Saskatchewan would kick a field goal on the next drive, making it a 10-point swing in the Riders’ favour — one that obviously played a huge role in a game decided by three points. Saskatchewan’s defence has come up with a lot of big plays in Corey Mace’s time as the head coach. That was certainly one of the biggest and easily one of the funniest.
Crazy like a fox
If Saskatchewan had lost this game, then this obviously would have been my biggest thought. It would have been 15,000 words with the last 5,000 being from a language I had just invented, because English doesn’t have words scathing enough for how upset I would have been.
Instead, it gets to slide down here at the end in the “glad that worked” category. Early on in the season, I had stated that, for the most part, I don’t believe in the philosophy of “they don’t ask how, they ask how many.” My job is to look at the how. Now, that changes a bit when they give you a trophy at the end of the game. The “how” matters a little less when you just need to survive and advance, which is what the Riders did.
That being said, I hated Mace’s decisions late. I know it worked, and trust your team, and all of that. Just because a decision worked doesn’t mean it was the right one.
To win this game in regulation, Saskatchewan was going to need a combination of a TD, a FG, and a stop. In my mind, you had already driven it all the way inside the 10, so go for the TD. If you don’t get it, you are still hoping your defence gets a stop, but Rourke and the Lions are deep in their own territory. If you get that stop, then you are in great field position to get the TD you need again. And if you do get the TD, you have the safety net of forcing overtime, and now you don’t have to drive nearly as far to kick the game-winning field goal. By kicking, you gave the ball to B.C. with no guarantee of getting it back, and you still needed a TD to win the game.
Obviously, they didn’t call and ask for my opinion. Mace kicked the field goal, gave the ball to the Lions with 2:44 left, and got the stop they desperately needed. Unfortunately, the offence stalled again. Instead of going for it on third-and-10 inside of two minutes, Mace decided to bet on green again and punt the ball back to Rourke.
Clearly, it all worked out. Everything played out in the exact specific way that Mace needed it to, and the Riders are going to play in the Grey Cup for the 20th time in franchise history. So, the “but did you die?” meme from The Hangover Part II fits here. These are the types of decisions that are the difference between a championship season and an off-season filled with asking what if. I may still be asking those questions, but it is absolutely easier for Mace and company to answer them after it all worked out.
Defence wins championships
The reason Mace’s decisions worked out was the elite play of their defence. Saskatchewan decided to give the ball to Nathan Rourke, the player who many believe was the best in the CFL all season long, TWICE in the last three minutes with their season on the line. And both times, the defence stepped up in the big way that they needed to.
Saskatchewan’s defence held the Lions to their lowest point total since July 5, all the way back in Week 5. Rourke was his usual excellent self, but the Riders didn’t make life for him easy. The Lions only allowed 20 sacks all season, but Saskatchewan got to Rourke for three in this West Final. They came up with a key stop on second-and-three when the Lions tried a QB draw on the last possession. The drive before that, more Saskatchewan pressure forced Rourke to scramble and throw the ball away.
When you are facing a QB like Rourke, you will often hear the phrase “contain.” He’s a great passer from the pocket, but he’s very dangerous when he can get outside, extend the play, and create down the field. Saskatchewan preached patience and gap discipline when rushing the West M.O.P. finalist, and they stuck to it for the most part. B.C. adjusted by having Jevon Cottoy in the slot and crashing down towards the line to help set the edge for Rourke to get outside. It was a really strong setup considering the pressure Saskatchewan can get on the QB, but it also took a very reliable threat out of the passing attack on certain plays, and the Riders were able to capitalize.
Last year was the year of the interception for the Riders. This year, it was the pass rush that stole the show, and that showed up in the West Final. Mace was willing to bet his season on this defence stepping up, and even against one of the best players in the league, they did not disappoint.
Final thoughts
Just one game remains. The Roughriders are in the Grey Cup, and they have a date with the Montreal Alouettes. I said it many times during the year: this team is good enough to win a championship. Any frustration I expressed came from a point of knowing that this was possible and not wanting to see the potential wasted.
It is going to be an excellent Grey Cup. These two exchanged blowouts in the regular season, with Saskatchewan beating up the Als 34-6 before Montreal returned the favour with a post-Banjo Bowl beatdown of the Riders to the tune of 48-31. Davis Alexander didn’t play in either of those games, but neither did Samuel Emilus, who was Saskatchewan’s leading receiver in the West Final.
It is an interesting matchup with lots of questions heading in. Will Davis Alexander play? If he does, will he be limited in any way? Can Trevor Harris get his first win as a Grey Cup starter? How many times will we have to see replays of the 2009 and 2010 Grey Cup heartbreaks for the Riders?
Only time will tell. But, Rider Nation is thrilled that these are the questions that are being asked instead of “what could have been?”
Personally, I have had so much fun sharing my thoughts with all of you each week. So, what do you say we do it one more time next weekend?
Peter Klein is a Saskatchewan-born, Calgary-based CFL analyst. He is a lifelong fan who has been covering the league across multiple platforms for the last 17 years.
