Riders picked to move onto Grey Cup

By Lethbridge Herald on November 5, 2025.

Graham Kelly

Inside the CFL

As Jerry Reed wrote. “When you’re hot, you’re hot; when you’re not you’re not” Saturday’s Western Final features red hot BC vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders. While the Lions have won seven in a row, the Green are on a two game losing streak, because they gave some of their stars a rest. Bad strategy or will the home team bounce back?

The teams clashed in Regina the last game of the regular season.

It was a game B.C. absolutely had to win in order to finish second and host the Western Semi-Final. A loss would mean a fourth place finish and crossing over to play in Montreal. Despite so much riding on the outcome, they had to rely on a bad call from the Command Centre in Toronto to barely beat a Roughrider team resting most of its stars, 27-21. Earlier in the season, the Riders beat the Lions 37-18 at Mosaic and 33-27 in Vancouver. Unless they are rusty from their rest, the Green and White should advance to Winnipeg and a match-up vs. Montreal in the 112th Grey Cup.

When I made my fearless football forecast in June I picked Saskatchewan for first. Because of their defence, I wrote the Lions would “have a steep mountain to climb”. In a way I was right: they gave up the most points, 499. But with Nathan Rourke in charge they scored the most, 559. The key to a Roughrider victory is containing Most Out Standing Player and Canadian nominee, Rourke, Captain Canada.

A great running quarterback, I compared Rourke to another roadrunner, Doug Flutie. In the 1995 Grey Cup at Saskatchewan played in gale force wind, Don Matthew’s Baltimore Stallions faced Calgary and won. After, he told me, “We played a lot of three man rush and kept everybody looking at him because we didn’t want him to scramble. In man coverage you have everybody running off, so when the quarterback scrambles, eight of your players never see him go because they are in coverage. In zone, those players are looking at him and go get him when he takes off.” Flutie ran the ball ten times for 45 yards. A cautionary note: The worst thing a defensive back can do is think Rouke’s being sacked so you let up on your coverage. Before you know it Kevin Hatcher or Justin McInnis blow right by you on their way to the end-zone.

Expect the Riders to rush Mike Rose, Micah Johson and Malik Carney. Pressure Rourke and let the secondary led by Trevaughn Campbell, Rolan Milligan, Jr. and Marcus Sales do the rest.They should keep MLB A.J. Allen at home to cover Rourke. Both teams have superb passing attacks. A slippery field favours the receivers because they know where they’re going.

An average of ten yards per game separated the teams rushing attacks during the season. But the Riders led the league in defending against the rush, B.C. was seventh in that category. Ten Roughriders made the Western All-Star team, three on the offensive line, four on defence. The Lions placed six on the dream team, quarterback Nathan Rourke most notable, along with place-kicker Sean Whyte. Only one defender was selected, DE Mathieu Betts. I think the tank-like, A.J. Ouillette will out gain Leo James Butler.

Special teams? Sean Whyte is the best kicker in the CFL. Rider Brett Lauther is the worst. GM Jeremy O’Day brought in Michael Hughes for the last game and he was perfect. But if a misguided sense of loyalty makes Corey Mace stay with Lauther and the game is close, the home team will lose. Saskatchewan has the better return game, B.C the better punter.

The Lions are a big play team, the Riders favour a short yardage, grinding possession game. Saskatchewan is the better fourth quarter team.

You would think the 27 year old Rourke will have several more opportunities to win a Grey Cup if he loses Saturday. Trevor Harris is 39. This is likely his last chance to win it as a starter. His teammates will be extra motivated to get it done for their beloved quarterback. The forecast for Regina calls for a high of -4C and snow. The team with the best running attack and defence almost always win s those games. That would be the prairie tough Roughriders.