Corey Mace exudes a sense of calm and confidence. Clad in a green hoodie, the Saskatchewan Roughriders coach faces the press with a grin. Trailing by seven points with three minutes remaining, Mace opted for a field goal from the B.C. Lions’ five-yard line.
A packed Mosaic Stadium erupted as the Riders’ kicking team took the field. Despite some dissenting voices in the 33,350-strong crowd, kicker Brett Lauther’s 13-yard field goal narrowed the Lions’ lead to 21-17.
The risky move meant the Riders needed to regain possession and score a touchdown with just 2:42 left on the clock. Mace defended his decision, citing past aggressive choices that hadn’t paid off. The crowd’s disapproval was met with Mace’s call for faith.
The gamble paid off as the Riders’ defense forced quick turnovers from the Lions. Quarterback Trevor Harris then orchestrated a 74-yard drive in seven plays, culminating in a game-winning touchdown to receiver Tommy Neild with only 11 seconds remaining.
Despite initial skepticism from the crowd, the players stood by Mace’s decision. Harris expressed trust in the coach’s judgment, emphasizing the team’s unwavering faith in Mace’s leadership as they advanced to the Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
Their next challenge will be facing the Montreal Alouettes, a team they’ve had mixed results against this season. Harris acknowledged his own imperfections in the game but remained optimistic about the team’s potential for improvement.
With the Grey Cup victory fresh in their minds, veteran player A.J. Ouellette cautioned his teammates about distractions and staying focused. Mace eagerly anticipated analyzing footage from the CFL East Final, where the Alouettes secured their spot in the championship game.
Looking ahead to the Grey Cup showdown, Mace and Harris echoed sentiments of unity and determination, believing that their time to shine had arrived.