The weather co-operated for the Riders first pre season game of the year, as the rain stayed away and the sun even came out for a while as the Riders battled the BC Lions in front of almost 23,000 people at Mosaic Stadium.
For both teams it was the first chance to run plays at “game speed”, with just two weeks to go before the start of the regular season.
One of the things fans and media watch for, is the battle of the backup quarterbacks. Trevor Harris is assumed to have the top job, and he didn’t play after celebrating the birth of his third child with his wife.
Quarterback Jake Dolegala was given the keys to the offence in the first half for the Riders, guiding the team to 9 points before the half was out. Dolegala dove across the goal line in the 2nd quarter after a drive that featured a couple of good plays, and a couple of penalties, including a PI which put the Riders at first an goal. The point after was missed by kicker David Solie.
Solie, a Regina Rams product did make a 30 yard field goal, but missed a longer attempt from 51 yards.
That miss came on the final drive of the first half with less than a minute left with quarterback Shea Patterson checking in to the game for the Riders. He managed to move the chains with three good passes setting up up the field goal attempt.
As for the BC Lions, they are auditioning several quarterbacks, rolling out Dom Davis, and Dane Evans in the first half to run the offense.
In the second half the BC Lions put up a quick 10 points on consecutive drives.
In the fourth it was a tough first series for Rider quarterback Mason Fine, His first snap led to a pick six, giving the BC Lions back their ten point lead 27-17.
Fine made up for the miscue by driving down the field, and completing a pass to a wide open Mitch Picton to draw Saskatchewan back within four points, but again a Rider kicker missed the point after, leaving BC with a four point lead.
Fine again found Mitch Picton for another touchdown with 2:44 left in regulation, on a similar passing play in the endzone, as Picton beat the defender and made a great catch to put the Riders up 30-27, after a successful point after.
The Riders D stood tall in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, forcing the BC Lions to turn over the ball with just under a minute and a half left in the fourth quarter.
The Riders then ran out the clock for the win.
The Roughriders will head back to Saskatoon to continue preparations for the season, and their next pre season game Friday in Winnipeg.
The curtain goes up on the regular season with Saskatchewan starting on the road in Edmonton Sunday June 11th, before returning for the home opener when Saskatchewan will host the Blue Bombers Friday June 16th at Mosaic.
