Image

The Riders left their fans disappointed this weekend

 

Three weeks of positivity turned negative quickly on Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium as the Saskatchewan Roughriders fell to the BC Lions 42-5.

 

It was a big game for the Riders as they came in with a chance to tie BC for the final playoff spot in the CFL’s West Division, but they laid an egg and now sit two games back.  (BC also leads the three-game season series 2-0)

 

Lions quarterback Travis Lulay barely had to break a sweat in throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns.  He was 19-for-27 on the day.

 

BC controlled the ball and the clock to start the game, taking their opening drive 12 plays down the field and finishing with three points on a 16-yard field goal by former Rider Paul McCallum.

 

McCallum finished the game 4-for-4 to extend his streak to 26 consecutive FGs made.

 

The game was blown wide-open late in the first quarter when a Marc Parenteau snap sailed over Darian Durant’s head and BC recovered on the Riders 22-yard line, leading to a 13-yard score by running back Tim Brown and a 13-0 lead for BC.

 

After another two-and-out by Saskatchewan’s offence, Milo pinned the Lions at their own five with a great punt, but two plays later BC was back in the end zone again as Lulay hit Arland Bruce streaking up the sidelines for a 100-yard TD strike.

 

That pretty much put the game away for BC.

 

The Riders offence remained ineffective for the rest of the game as Durant finished 15-for-25 with 188 yards and two interceptions, one return for a touchdown by Ryan Phillips, before being pulled in favour of Ryan Dinwiddie for the fourth quarter.

 

Efrem Hill was the Riders top receiver on the day catching five balls for 80 yards.

 

Not much happening on the ground as Wes Cates was held to just 16 yards on six carries.  Durant had 22 yards.

 

Saskatchewan now has to look east and to a possible crossover into the East Division as their playoff hopes out west look bleak.  They head to Calgary next Saturday.