![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Buck-Pierce-768x432-1.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nThe Saskatchewan Roughriders have recently been a thorn in the side of the BC Lions, ending their Grey Cup hopes in back-to-back post-seasons. Now the stage is set on Halloween, for the third installment of this playoff rivalry.<\/p>\n
This time around, the Lions will have home field advantage, as they enter this matchup as one of the hottest teams in Canadian Football. After a brutal 1-5 start to the season, B.C. has won nine of their last 12 games with a lot of their success coming from their commander in chief, Nathan Rourke.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal every single year is to feel like I\u2019ve grown, I feel like I\u2019ve done that, but ultimately great players separate themselves this time of year,\u201d said Rourke.<\/p>\n
Rourke was elite during the latter half of the regular season campaign \u2013 notching 4500 yards with 24 touchdowns through the air this season. The Victoria native says there\u2019s a special kind of intensity when playing against the Roughriders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve felt that the last 3 times we\u2019ve played them this year, and certainly with the amount of respect that we have for them and their club I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going anywhere anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
The passing game has been the driving force for the Lions success all year, with three of Rouke\u2019s wideouts eclipsing 1000 receiving yards this season. But head coach Buck Pierce says it\u2019s up to his defence to set the tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve done a great job of continuing to improve each week and just playing hard,\u201d says Pierce.<\/p>\n
The Lions defence were among the top in the CFL and were the best in the league at shutting down the run this year. Building on that success, Pierce, a former Lions quarterback, was named a finalist for CFL head coach of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey gave me an opportunity, and I\u2019m thankful for that. I just want to work and I\u2019m excited to see our guys play.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lions hope to break the Roughriders curse on Halloween with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. at BC Place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tB.C. Lions head coach Buck Pierce speaks during a news conference at the CFL team’s practice facility, in Surrey, B.C., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Darryl Dyck) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
Add CityNews Vancouver as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n
![\"Add](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1793435535_42_google-trusted-badge.png\"){kind=icon}