Nathan Rourke
Photo credit: Matt Smith/CFL

BY HARPREET PANDHER 

Broadcaster on Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi and

BC Lions Football Punjabi

IG/X/TikTok: @harppandher

Harpreet Pandher
Photo submitted

ON Saturday, November 8, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the BC Lions 24–21 in a frigid, hard-fought West Final at Mosaic Stadium. The Lions entered Regina as slight underdogs in what was widely expected to be a tight matchup, and the game lived up to that billing from start to finish.

Early on, BC struggled to find rhythm. A few dropped passes and a missed Sean Whyte field goal made it difficult for the Lions to build early momentum, but despite those moments, they carried a 7–3 lead into halftime. While most players downplayed the role of the weather, it was clear conditions affected execution at key moments — something even Riders quarterback Trevor Harris openly acknowledged after the game.

The game began to tilt in Saskatchewan’s favour in the third quarter, as they put together back-to-back scoring drives to go ahead 14–7. But the Lions answered with resilience. Nathan Rourke connected with Keon Hatcher on a precision strike to tie the game, and moments later, Rourke delivered one of his trademark highlight plays — escaping pressure, keeping the drive alive, and finding the end zone himself to give BC a 21–14 lead. For much of the night, Rourke was nothing short of brilliant.

Then came the heartbreak.

With under three minutes remaining, the Lions were unable to close the door. Forced into back-to-back punts, BC’s offense couldn’t secure the first downs needed to drain the clock. On the other side of the ball, the defense — which played tough for most of the night — couldn’t get the final stop.

Saskatchewan took full advantage. With just 11 seconds left on the clock and facing first and goal from the three-yard line, Trevor Harris found Tommy Neal in the end zone for the decisive score. The play went to a lengthy command centre review, but the ruling on the field stood, sealing the Roughriders’ win. BC finished the game without registering a single sack — a rare and costly stat in such a close contest.

Despite the disappointment, the Lions’ 2025 campaign cannot be defined solely by this loss. The team rebounded impressively from a difficult mid-season stretch, rallied late in the year, and delivered a dramatic West Semi-Final victory over the Calgary Stampeders on a walk-off Sean Whyte field goal. Their surge down the stretch showcased growth, determination, and the emergence of key playmakers.

Still, this one stings — a season ending just seconds short of another Grey Cup appearance. Saskatchewan now advances to face the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup, while the Lions head into the offseason with both frustration and optimism. The progress made this year was significant, but Saturday’s final moments will linger.

 

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