With the final regular season game in the works, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are now playing the waiting game.

This is already testing CJ Reavis’ patience.

“I wish we could go play tomorrow,” the Roughriders linebacker said after Saturday’s 27-12 CFL loss to the visiting Calgary Stampeders – a result that had no impact on the standings .

Reavis and his teammates will have to wait until next Saturday, when the BC Lions travel to Mosaic Stadium for the West Division semi-final.

Kick-off is set for 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available HERE.

The Roughriders had hoped to punch their ticket to first place, but those hopes were extinguished earlier Saturday when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the Montreal Alouettes 28-27 on a last-play 51-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo. .

Castillo’s decisive kick gave Winnipeg an 11-7-0 record, first place in the West, and a bye and hosting privileges for the division final on November 9.

Saskatchewan (9-8-1) placed second, three points behind Winnipeg and one ahead of British Columbia (9-9-0).

“I’m excited for the home game,” Reavis said. “I’m excited for the playoff game. I’m excited to still be playing in November when it counts.

The Roughriders will host an opponent who lost 39-8 at Mosaic Stadium on October 12. However, cornerback Marcus Sayles expects a different Lions team in a do-or-die game.

“It’s an explosive team,” he said. “They’ll probably have VA (quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.) playing as well, and we saw what he did earlier in the season.

“We’re going to be locked down. It will be someone who will try to push the ball deep. He’s going to be able to get out of the pocket and make plays for himself.

“At the same time, we have a good defensive line, we have good linebackers and good defensive backs. We’re going to be a hawk and we’re going to force him to make his mistakes.

Sayles can understand what the Lions will face next weekend.

He was a member of the visiting Blue Bombers when they traveled to Mosaic Stadium for the 2019 West Final.

“(The Lions) already know it’s going to be tough here,” Sayles said. “The word around town is that we have one of the best fan bases in the league and we’re going to prove it.

“They are going to have to come here in a difficult environment. Hopefully we’ll have a full match and it’ll be lit, so I’m excited. I know everyone here is excited.

“We’re going to empty this.” We’re going to come back tomorrow, we’re going to watch this movie and we’re going to be better.

THE GREAT LAUTHER

On Saturday, Brett Lauther became the first Roughrider since 1991 to reach 200 points in a season.

His second field goal of the game, from 50 yards, gave him 201 for the season.

This is the fifth best total in franchise history. The first four places belong to Dave Ridgway, who recorded a total points of 233 (in 1990), 216 (1989 and 1991) and 215 (1988).

Lauther’s 53 field goals also place him fifth in team history. Ridgway led the way with 59 (in 1990), 55 (1988) and 54 (1989). Lauther is next with 54 (2018) and 53 (2024).

He finished the regular season making 22 field goal attempts in a row – and 28 of his last 29. The only failure was a desperate 60-yard shot into the wind.

Including converts, which Lauther attempts from 33 yards, he has made 43 of his last 44 field goals.

With 201 points, he was just behind Lirim Hajrullahu (202) of the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL scoring race.

During the 2024 season, Lauther has made five field goals of at least 50 yards. Ridgway set the standard of six for Saskatchewan in 1988. Ridgway (1995), Lauther (2024) and Paul McCallum (2002) are tied for second with five shots on goal of 50 or more in a season.

ADDITIONAL POINTS

• Roughriders linebacker AJ Allen finished with 22 special teams tackles and is tied for the league lead with Toronto’s Jack Cassar. Allen is the third Roughrider to win at least a share of first place. Ray Bernard led the CFL with 32 special teams tackles in 1992. Walter Spencer, with 29, was co-leader in 2005. The CFL officially introduced special teams tackles as a statistic in 1991.

• Rolan Milligan Jr.’s eight interceptions made him the seventh Roughrider to lead the CFL in picks. Milligan Jr., who was rested for Saturday’s game, joins a list that also includes Dale West (10 interceptions in 1963), Bob Kosid (eight in 1968), Lorne Richardson (seven in 1976; tied at four), Ken McEachern (10 in 1980; tied both ways), Patrick (nine in 2010) and Ed Gainey (10 in 2017).

• The Roughriders led the league in turnover differential (plus-26) for the first time since 1994, when the club record of plus-27 was set.

• Saskatchewan set a league record for fewest fumbles lost (four) in a season. The previous record of five was set last year by Toronto.

• Saskatchewan finished the 2024 regular season with 47 different starters and 72 active players over 18 games. Receiver Joe Robustelli, who made his CFL debut on Saturday, became the 2,184th player listed in franchise history.

• Defensive lineman Benoit Marion, playing only his second game in green and white, recorded his first sack with the Roughriders on Saturday.