B.C. Lions Beat Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-26 in West Semifinal as Rourke Throws for 366 Yards

The B.C. Lions beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-26 in the CFL West Division semifinal at BC Place in Vancouver on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Nathan Rourke completed 21 of 32 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns, and B.C. came back from 14 points down to end Saskatchewan's season.

The win sends the Lions to the West Division final at the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, November 7. It also knocks out the reigning Grey Cup champions, who had ended B.C.'s season in the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025.

Down 17-3 in the second quarter

Saskatchewan controlled the first half. The Roughriders led 17-3 midway through the second quarter, and their only touchdown of the game came in that stretch.

Tommy Stevens ran four yards for the touchdown, and Trevor Harris then found Samuel Emilus for the two-point convert that stretched the lead to 14 points. Brett Lauther did the rest of Saskatchewan's scoring, kicking six field goals, two of them from 55 yards.

The matchup was even. Both teams finished the regular season 10-8, and B.C. hosted after winning the season series between the two clubs 2-1.

B.C. started the season 1-5, then won nine of its next 10 games to reach the playoffs.

Cottoy turns the game in the third quarter

The comeback ran through Jevon Cottoy. Rourke hit Cottoy for a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter that tied the score 20-20, and Cottoy scored again late in the third quarter to put B.C. ahead 27-23.

Rourke's third touchdown pass went to Stanley Berryhill III. Head coach Buck Pierce pointed to that play when he talked about his quarterback after the game.

"He never ceases to amaze me. That play right there, you just look at the effort, the will he had to get something going for the offence, get something going for the team. And it ignited the crowd, it ignited the sideline," Pierce said.

Sean Whyte gave B.C. steady points all game. He kicked four field goals, the longest from 48 yards.

Rourke said the group kept its nerve while the early lead slipped away.

"We knew our defence was still going to keep playing well, special teams were going to make their plays. And offensively, we just had to remember what we are capable of and just try to string a couple of plays together and try to get into a rhythm," Rourke said.

Saskatchewan's last drive stalls

Saskatchewan still had a chance at the end. Whyte's 49-yard field goal attempt fell short with 49 seconds left, and the Roughriders drove back the other way before their final drive stalled at B.C.'s 34-yard line.

The loss ends the title defence of the Grey Cup champions one game into the playoffs. Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace kept his message short after the game.

"We had an opportunity, man. Proud of those guys. They fought until the very last second," Mace said.

Edmonton next, with the Grey Cup in Calgary

B.C. now travels to face Edmonton in the West Division final on November 7, 2026. The Elks finished the regular season 13-5, the best record of the two finalists.

The winner goes to the Grey Cup in Calgary on November 15, 2026. B.C., 1-5 early in the season, is now one win from that game, after beating the club that put them out in each of the past two postseasons.