The Saskatchewan Roughriders secured a 24-21 victory over the B.C. Lions in the West Division final with Tommy Nield’s three-yard touchdown catch in the dying moments of the game. This crucial play propelled the Riders to the Grey Cup, where they will face the Montreal Alouettes on November 16 in Winnipeg.
Down 21-17 with just over a minute remaining, the Riders orchestrated a 74-yard drive, scoring the game-winning touchdown to secure their spot in the Grey Cup. The Alouettes also clinched a spot in the championship game by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-16 in the East Division final earlier in the day.
Despite holding a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, the Riders fell behind as the Lions scored two quick touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead. However, a resilient Saskatchewan team fought back to claim the victory with Nield’s late heroics.
The Riders had a chance to score earlier but opted for a field goal, narrowing the gap to 21-17. Their defense stepped up with crucial stops, allowing the offense the opportunity to stage a late comeback.
The game, witnessed by a packed crowd of 33,350 at Mosaic Stadium, saw a defensive battle in the first half with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm. B.C. managed to score the only touchdown of the half on a 103-yard drive just before halftime, taking a 7-1 lead.
Saskatchewan managed to cut the deficit to 7-4 with a field goal before halftime. This victory marks the Riders’ return to the Grey Cup for the first time since 2013 when they emerged victorious against the Tiger-Cats.