The green and Whyte will be on display in the CFL\u2019s Western Final.<\/p>\n
Sean Whyte\u2019s last-second, 43-yard field goal on Saturday gave the B.C. Lions a 33-30 victory over the visiting Calgary Stampeders \u2014 and a berth in the West Division championship game against the top-seeded Saskatchewan Roughriders (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re super-excited,\u201d Saskatchewan linebacker A.J. Allen said. \u201cThe stakes are high and that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n B.C. got past Calgary even though the visitors had a decided advantage in first downs (26-15), net offensive yards (476-298) and time of possession (36:12-23:48).<\/p>\n Calgary\u2019s Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 334 yards and two scores, whereas B.C.\u2019s Nathan Rourke \u2014\u00a0who on Thursday was named the West\u2019s Most Outstanding Player \u2014\u00a0registered just 223 aerial yards and did not throw for a score.<\/p>\n However, Rourke was at his finest in the game\u2019s most crucial stages.<\/p>\n After Calgary\u2019s Rene Paredes kicked a game-tying, 38-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Rourke moved the Lions 48 yards in just three plays. Whyte proceeded to settle matters and punch the Lions\u2019 ticket to Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n \u201cThey never give up and they play hard,\u201d Roughriders centre Logan Ferland said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think their effort is the main thing that holds them together. You can tell. They play for each other and they won\u2019t stop until the final whistle.\u201d<\/p>\n That was clearly the case on Saturday, when the Lions outlasted the Stampeders and set up a fourth matchup with Saskatchewan this season.<\/p>\n The Roughriders won the regular-season series, 2-1. The third meeting, on Oct. 25 at Mosaic Stadium, did not have a bearing on the standings for a Saskatchewan team that had clinched first place 15 days earlier.<\/p>\n In the regular-season finale, the Lions \u2014\u00a0needing a win to nail down second place \u2014\u00a0scratched and clawed for a 27-21 victory even though an assortment of Saskatchewan starters were used selectively or not at all.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just instills confidence that when everyone\u2019s healthy and we\u2019re in our best state and our best form in playoff football, we\u2019re going to be able to go out there and compete at a high level,\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n The victorious team on Nov. 8 will represent the West Division in the 112th Grey Cup Game, to be played on Nov. 16 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n The Eastern Final, also slated for next Saturday, will pit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats against the visiting Montreal Alouettes.<\/p>\n Before the Lions and Stampeders squared off, Montreal defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 42-33 at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n Winnipeg, which finished fourth in the West, was a crossover participant in the East playoffs. Saturday\u2019s outcome snapped the Blue Bombers\u2019 string of consecutive Grey Cup appearances at five.<\/p>\n After Winnipeg defeated the visiting Saskatchewan side 38-22 in last year\u2019s Western Final, the Roughriders resolved to play the game at home in 2025.<\/p>\n Mission accomplished.<\/p>\n The Roughriders are preparing for the fourth home-field Western Final since the CFL adopted the sudden-death playoff format in 1972.<\/p>\n Previously, best-of-three or two-game-total-points series were the norm.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan won Western Finals on home turf in 1976 and 2009. Winnipeg won a 20-13 nailbiter at Mosaic Stadium in 2019 to begin its skein of Grey Cup appearances.<\/p>\n The balance of power changed in 2025 when Saskatchewan posted a league-best 12-6 record. The Roughriders improved to 12-4 while securing top spot. Thereafter, quarterback Trevor Harris played barely 1\u00bd quarters over the final two regular-season games.<\/p>\n \u201cI really feel good about where this group is at,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gearing up to be the team we need to be the third Sunday in November but, to get there, it\u2019s just about the aggregate of marginal gains every day.<\/p>\n \u201cFor us, it\u2019s just about approaching every day with a championship mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n The Roughriders are to return to the practice field on Tuesday. The timing coincides with the beginning of extended hours at the Roughriders\u2019 ticket office<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Mosaic Stadium outlet will be open from\u00a010 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to accommodate in-person or over-the-phone purchases of seats for the Western Final.<\/p>\n Tickets are also available anytime by visiting Riderville.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n