The Saskatchewan Roughriders secured a 24-21 victory over the B.C. Lions in the West Division final with Tommy Nield’s three-yard touchdown catch in the final 11 seconds of the game. This win catapulted the Riders into the Grey Cup. Trailing 21-17 with just over a minute left, the Riders orchestrated a 74-yard drive in seven plays to clinch the win and secure their spot in the Grey Cup against the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg on November 16.
In the East Division final, the Montreal Alouettes advanced to the Grey Cup following a 19-16 triumph over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Riders initially led 14-7 in the third quarter before the Lions surged ahead with two touchdowns, taking a 21-14 lead.
The pivotal moment came when the Riders, positioned at the B.C. five-yard line with three minutes remaining, opted for a field goal by Brett Lauther after two unsuccessful pass attempts, narrowing the score to 21-17. The Saskatchewan defense then forced consecutive two-and-out possessions, providing the offense with a chance to secure the victory.
The first half of the game, witnessed by a packed crowd of 33,350 at Mosaic Stadium, was dominated by both defenses, resulting in a total of 11 punts – six by the Riders and five by the Lions. B.C. managed the sole touchdown of the half through a nine-play, 103-yard drive late in the second quarter, with quarterback Nathan Rourke scoring on a four-yard run to grant the Lions a 7-1 lead.
Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther closed the first half with a successful 22-yard field goal, narrowing the deficit to 7-4. This victory marks Saskatchewan’s return to the Grey Cup for the first time since their 2013 triumph over the Tiger-Cats.