Before we dive into the game credit has to be given where it’s due AND what an atmosphere in and around B.C. Place Stadium on Saturday afternoon. I will be the first to admit that its’ been a long time since I took in a CFL game on the west-coast let alone a Riders/Lions clash.
I made my way to the stadium my normal three hours prior to the game and fortunately, due to our hotel’s proximity to the stadium I was able to walk with colour analyst Luc Mullinder and Saskatchewan Roughrider Director, Communication Arielle Zerr. The moment we turned the corner towards the stadium, you could see orange and green as far as the eye could see. The closer we got to the stadium the more you could feel the excitement, hear the sounds of music, have fans tell us that there team was going to win and smell the food from the food trucks. (I’m sure there were no calories associated with that smell… or at least that’s what I am telling myself).
Although, I was at the stadium way too early for the Watermelon Smash festivities, as part of the Riderville Tour, the plaza was packed when I arrived with mullet haircuts being offered in a variety of your favorite players style. There was face painting, games and activities and even Trevor Harris signing autographs. What a way to start the game! Hats off to all involved who made it happen.
To the game itself, nobody’s perfect right?
The Saskatchewan Roughriders entered the game looking for their first 5-0 start to a season since 2013. The Green and White knew that it wasn’t going to be easy against a team that many picked and consider to be the best in the west, the B.C. Lions.
The Lions, 7.5-point favorites, did not disappoint. They came out and moved the ball thanks to some big plays by Vernon Adams Jr. to his favorite receiver Justin McInnis. As the afternoon would wear on, McInnis would wear on the Riders secondary. His ability to find separation from Rider defensive backs in both man and zone coverage was impressive. McInnis would finish the day with 14 catches for 243 yards and 1 Touchdown, despite missing a portion of the game due to injury.
As far as Vernon Adams Junior was concerned it was a typical 2024 day at the office for him. Completing 62% of his passes for 451 yards with only 1 touchdown and two interceptions. Additionally, he would run the ball 4 times for 39 yards and of course that doesn’t count the handful of times where he was able to extend passing plays with his legs. AND it is says here that he did all of this while former Lion pivot, now with the New York Giants, Nathan Rourke was watching on from the stands.
Rourke’s presence raised a lot of eyebrows in the media centre. What if he returns to the CFL? He has said he wants to play in B-C in front of family and friends if he comes back, so what does that mean for Vernon Adams Jr. who is on an MOP pace? Could one of the two get traded? Of course, all of this is speculation as most fans of football are cheering on the Canadian QB and hoping he gets some kind of legitimate shot with the Giants.
Defensively the Lions were able to make plays at big times. The Riders on numerous occasions would seem to have found some momentum and tempo but B.C.’s defence was able to stop the Green and White when they needed to. The Lions ‘D’ would stop the Riders on third down, once after a first and goal inside the five yard-line, they came up with a fumble recovery and intercepted Shea Patterson’s first pass of the day.
To the Riders, the running game looked more effective in the second half after the Green and White looked to the short game initially to move the ball. The Passing of Shea Patterson was effective as he threw for 278 yards and could have had more if not for a tough play in the endzone where Jerreth Sterns lost sight of the ball in flight. That said, Patterson’s passing efficiency (88.4) was higher than Adams Jr. (86.5).
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that the Riders were without their starting Right Tackle and team leader Jemarcus Hardrick who had to be carted off the field in the third quarter, before returning to the sideline on crutches before the end of the game. That was definitely a big blow to the morale of the Riders, but the team found a way to respond by moving guard Logan Ferland out to Hardrick’s spot after Zack Fry entered the game. The offence just couldn’t seem to string enough plays together or stop the Lions pass rush at critical times. (B.C. would rack up 4 sacks on the afternoon)
Defensively the Riders once again showed their ability to stop the run game. B.C.’s William Stanback only had 14 yards on 12 carries. The secondary, however, couldn’t stop McInnis on second down and were beat on a couple of long throws after Vernon Adams Jr. extended the play by moving the pocket.
The talk of the D, however, will be their inability to stop the passing game and in particular Justin McInnis.
As Head Coach Corey Mace said post-game, “you learn about yourself in a loss.” Now we will have to wait and see what the 4-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders have learnt as they get set to host 2-4 Winnipeg on Friday night. A game that will see the Riders wearing their Rider Nation obsidian green jerseys for the first time.
Kick-off is at 7:30pm on Friday night.
