Dan Plaster
On a dark and soggy night at Mosaic Stadium, the Saskatchewan Roughriders found themselves in tough yet again on their home turf. This time it was the B.C. Lions coming to town to face the Riders in their blitz-green uniforms. The Lions jumped out to a quick start when Travis Lulay drove the ball down the field on their first drive of the game for a touchdown to give them an early 7-0 lead.
That’s when the wet conditions took over and both teams could manage only another six combined points with the Lions taking the 9-4 lead into the locker room at half time.
The second half started with a bang as the Lions took advantage of a long kick-off return that was converted into a 15 yard touchdown by Andrew Harris. That plus a single on the ensuing kickoff made it a 17-4 Lions lead.
The Riders replied with a long 85 yard touchdown drive that was capped with a Chris Getzlaf touchdown to cut the Lions lead to 17-11.
It was yet another quick reply by the Lions on the preceding drive that stalled at the Rider eight yard line but the short field goal extended the Lions lead to 20-11 late in the 3rd quarter.
After a Kevin Glenn fumble, the Lions went down the field and punched it in from 2 yards out and took the commanding 27-11 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Riders were able to make a game of it late with a Paul McCallum field goal and a short Anthony Allen touchdown to cut the lead to three points. The attempted onside kick sailed out of bounds and that ended the game with the Lions coming out on top 27-24.
Travis Lulay led the way for the Lions through the air and on the ground with 127 yards passing and a remarkable 105 yards rushing.
The injuries continued to pile up as Tristan Jackson, Rob Bagg and Seydou Junior Haidara all left the game and will have to be examined this week to see the complete extent of their injuries.
The loss is the fourth in a row for the Riders to begin the season and they will look to bounce back at home next Sunday, 5pm, when they host the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
B.C. Lions 7 2 11 7 27
Saskatchewan
Roughriders 0 4 7 13 24
Rider Leaders
Passing:
Kevin Glenn 24/40 360Yds 1TD 1INT
Rushing:
Anthony Allen 7/80 1TD
Combined Yards:
Jerome Messam 9/62 Rushing, 7/75 receiving, 137 combined yards
Defence:
Jake Doughty six tackles/one forced fumble
