Rourke’s 366 yards send Lions past Riders 33-26

VANCOUVER: Nathan Rourke threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns as the B.C. Lions beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-26 in the CFL West semifinal at BC Place on Saturday, ending the defending champions’ season.

The Lions advance to the West Final, where they will travel to Edmonton next weekend to face the top-ranked Elks, TSN reported.

Jevon Cottoy finished with eight catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions. Brett Lauther kicked six field goals, including two from 55 yards. Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris threw for 291 yards and an interception. The Roughriders went 1-for-3 in the red zone, which TSN said exemplified their failure to score touchdowns instead of field goals.

Saskatchewan controlled the first half, running the ball effectively against what had been the league’s top rushing defence in the regular season. The Riders carried a 17-13 lead into halftime on three Lauther field goals and a short rushing touchdown from Tommy Stevens. The Lions’ first-half touchdown came on a 69-yard pass from Rourke to Stanley Berryhill, who was wide open after Rourke dodged an unblocked rusher and extended the play.

The Lions came alive in the second half. Cottoy caught a short pass on a hot route and ran 70 yards untouched for a touchdown. Later, he caught a 13-yard scoring pass to give B.C. its first lead of the game at 27-23.

Saskatchewan had one last chance. The Riders reached the Lions’ 35-yard line with a drive in the closing minutes that could have tied the game, but Harris was sacked, ending the threat.

The Roughriders-Lions game was among the most-searched topics in Canada on Saturday, according to Google Trends. The Elks-Lions West Final is next weekend, with the winner moving on to the Grey Cup. See our guide: Grey Cup 2026: date, time, teams and how to watch. Earlier coverage: Roughriders beat Elks 16-9, set up West semifinal in B.C. and Bombers clinch playoff spot with 34-10 win over Lions.

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