The Saskatchewan Roughriders secured a 24-21 victory over the B.C. Lions in the West Division final, thanks to Tommy Nield’s three-yard touchdown catch with only 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Trailing 21-17 with just over a minute remaining, the Riders mounted a 74-yard drive in seven plays to clinch the win and secure their spot in the Grey Cup. They will face off against the Montreal Alouettes in the championship game in Winnipeg on November 16.
Earlier on the same day, the Montreal Alouettes booked their ticket to the Grey Cup with a narrow 19-16 triumph over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division final. Despite initially leading 14-7 in the third quarter, the Riders allowed the Lions to score two touchdowns and take a 21-14 lead.
The game, witnessed by a full house of 33,350 fans at Mosaic Stadium, saw a defensive battle in the first half, resulting in a combined total of 11 punts between the two teams. B.C. managed the only touchdown of the half through a nine-play, 103-yard drive late in the second quarter, with quarterback Nathan Rourke scoring on a four-yard run.
Saskatchewan’s kicker, Brett Lauther, reduced the deficit to 7-4 with a successful 22-yard field goal on the last play of the half. The Riders will make their first Grey Cup appearance since 2013 when they claimed victory over the Tiger-Cats.