A robust effort from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defence was for naught as the B.C. Lions manufactured a 19-9 CFL victory on Saturday in Vancouver.
The Roughriders limited B.C. to one touchdown while registering four quarterback sacks.
However, the injury-riddled Saskatchewan offence was unable to reach the end zone as the Green and White suffered its second consecutive loss and emerged with a 3-3 record. The West Division-leading Lions improved to 5-1.
The Lions opened the scoring on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Dane Evans to Alexander Hollins with 56 seconds left in the first quarter. Sean Whyte added the convert.
Evans entered the game after the Lions’ starting quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr., was injured while being sacked by Pete Robertson in the first quarter.
Saskatchewan countered with back-to-back field goals by Brett Lauther, who connected from 25 and 44 yards.
Whyte answered with three straight three-pointers —from 31, 42 and 33 yards — to give the Lions a 16-6 advantage.
Lauther’s 14-yard field goal, with 1:53 remaining, pared the Lions’ lead to 16-9.
The Lions then recovered Saskatchewan’s onside kick attempt, putting themselves in position for another Whyte field goal — from 42 yards.
Mason Fine, starting at quarterback for Saskatchewan in place of the injured Trevor Harris, completed 32 of 41passes for 284 yards. He threw two fourth-quarter interceptions.
EXTRA POINTS
- Long snapper Jorgen Hus, a Roughrider since 2015, registered his first CFL fumble recovery.
- Roughriders defensive back Amari Henderson, playing in his 19th CFL game, notched his first career interception.
- Saskatchewan middle linebacker Larry Dean recorded six defensive tackles, fattening his career total to 508. He is tied with Tracy Gravely for 38th on the CFL’s all-time list after moving past Barron Miles (504) and Don Moen (503) on Saturday.
- Dean, Robertson, Micah Johnson and Miles Brown had the Roughriders’ sacks. Dean added a forced fumble.
- Shawn Bane Jr. (10 catches for 70 yards) and Tevin Jones (seven for 75) were the Roughriders’ leading receivers.
- The Lions had put up 13 offensive touchdowns over their first five games before facing Saskatchewan.
- Next up for the Roughriders is a July 29 game against the Toronto Argonauts in Halifax — the team’s second consecutive meeting in Touchdown Atlantic.
