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The BC Lions entered 2024 determined to finally beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the playoffs. They structured their team with this in mind, to finally overcome the obstacle they have faced over the past two years. And what better year to do it than when Vancouver hosted the Gray Cup?

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They won’t have to worry about the Western Finals and Gray Cup rematch, well, they can watch that on TV like most of us will. THE Saskatchewan Roughriders ended the Lions’ season with a 28-19 victory Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium in the West semifinals.

The Riders have been a story of resilience this year; a nine-game streak in which they won just once was followed by a four-game winning streak that saw them move past BC into second place in the West. This gave them the all-important home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and a stadium full of Gang Green wearing a full-throated toque that helped disrupt the Leos’ offense.

Vernon Adams Jr. surpassed the 300-yard mark, going 20 of 33 for 317 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions. The final two picks came when BC was trailing and were forced to throw deep balls to overcome a two-point deficit.

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Riders quarterback Trevor Harris finished 26 of 33 for 279 yards and a touchdown, while AJ Oullette rushed 14 times for 70 yards and two scores.

BC made just 8 of 18 on second-down attempts, which largely explains the Riders’ 10-minute advantage at the time of possession (34:48-25:12). Jevon Cottoy led the way for the Lions receivers with three catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, followed by Justin McInnis (5/66, 1 TD). BC linebacker Ben Hladik had a game-high 10 tackles.

The Lions got the start they needed; a seven-play, 91-yard opening drive that ended with a touchdown — a 56-yard catch and scooter by Jevon Cottoy to the end zone.

They limited the Riders to just two field goals on their next two possessions, but after former Lion Marcus Sayles picked off Adams in the second quarter, the Riders turned things around and found themselves in front with a touchdown from Oullette.

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With two minutes left in the first half, Adams lined up as if they were going for third-and-3 at midfield, but caught the Riders with a sneaky punt that trapped them inside from their 10. Saskatchewan went two-and-out and British Columbia ended up with the ball on the Riders’ 22nd after a muffed punt and a zero-yard penalty.

They turned it into another touchdown, this one an 11-yard strike to McInnis to head into halftime tied at 13-13.

On Saskatchewan’s first possession of the second half, they marched to the BC side and saw Kian Schaffer-Baker get blasted after picking off a first down by Lions linebacker Ace Eley. Eley was flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving the Riders 15 more yards, and Ouellette scored his second of the night on the next play, hitting it from the 30-yard line.

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The swirling winds at Mosaic Stadium were a challenge all night, as White hit the upright on the convert on the Lions’ first touchdown, and again on a 39-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter that would have brought British Columbia to within one point.

It also made life difficult for Saskatchewan’s Adam Korsak, who twice had his attempts blown away by the wind and turned into no yardage penalties when returner Terry Williams recovered them from the crowd.

Whyte kicked a 17-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but it took a sharp right turn going through the uprights when the wind caught him.

But Saskatchewan immediately fought back, driving 70 yards in just four plays, capped by an 11-yard touchdown run to Jerreth Sterns. This two-point conversion made it a two-point game, giving the Riders a 28-19 lead.

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The Lions were pressuring in the fourth quarter, driving inside the Riders’ 45, but trying to make things happen, Adams threw a ball to Hatcher in double coverage and it was spotted by Nelson Lokombo – just his first of the year – with 4h30 to play.

Hatcher had a rough night, a combination of drops and tight coverage limiting him to two catches for 12 yards on a game-high eight targets.

A pick by Rolan Milligan Jr., the likely winner of the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, sealed the game with less than a minute to play, allowing the Riders to bring the game to its knees.

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