B.C. receiver Paris Jackson fends off Saskatchewan defender Sean Lucas for a catch during Friday's game. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Sean Whyte connected on his fourth field goal of the game with just five seconds left as the B.C. Lions held off the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a 19-16 victory.

Whyte made a 33-yard attempt to quell any kicking controversy. He had missed two earlier attempts in a game that came during a week when veteran kicker Paul McCallum expressed his displeasure with being shunted to the sidelines in favour of Whyte. McCallum did not dress for Friday's game at BC Place.

B.C. (6-7) led for nearly the entire game but needed the kick after Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant rallied his team with a touchdown pass and two-point convert with just over two minutes left.

Riders slotback Andy Fantuz leapt in the air to beat Barron Miles to the ball on the 24-yard toss from Durant.

Lions quarterback Buck Pierce put forth a gutsy effort, shaking off several bruising hits to throw for 343 yards on 29-of-43 passing.

It was almost a shame for him that the team's only offensive touchdown came when Travis Lulay was inserted onto the field, connecting with Paris Jackson in the third for a 38-yard passing touchdown.

Jackson would finish with eight catches for 114 yards.

Saskatchewan dropped to 7-6 in the tight CFL West, opening the door for Calgary to take the outright division lead Saturday against Hamilton.

Durant struggled much of the game, throwing two interceptions before his late drive. He finished 18-of-29 passing for 240 yards.

B.C. could have up been 10 points after their first two drives of the game but came up completely empty.

Pierce completed all six of his passes to march the Lions down the field on the opening drive but Riders linebacker Ray Williams stood up B.C. running back Martell Mallett just shy of the goal-line on third down. Whyte on the next drive sent his field goal attempt off the right post.

QB Pierce takes a beating

The Lions would go up 6-0 on two Whyte field goals, but Pierce was taking a beating from the Saskatchewan rush.

Durant could not get untracked, throwing an ill-advised pass into double coverage that was picked off by Ryan Phillips in the first half.

The Riders would get on the board with a Luca Congi field goal for a 6-3 deficit at the break. The Lions had outgained the Riders 275-114 at that point.

After five Pierce completions early in the third, Lulay came in to connect with Jackson on the major for a 13-3 Lions advantage.

Pierce caught a huge break deep in his own territory when Mike McCullough of the Riders got cited for a debatable holding penalty on a play where the Lions quarterback fumbled the ball away.

Saskatchewan clawed back on a conceded safety and Congi field goal to cut the margin to five, but Durant continued to struggle.

In the waning seconds of the third, he overthrew an open Fantuz.

The Riders also didn't capitalize on defence, with Tad Kornegay dropping a potential interception.

Saskatchewan appeared to be in business when defender Sean Lucas forced a Ryan Grice-Mullen fumble at the beginning of the fourth, with teammate Donovan Alexander taking the ball into B.C. territory.

But Durant immediately threw a pass intended for Rob Bagg that hung in the air, allowing Miles to nab his 61st career CFL interception.

Pierce would take advantage, finding O'Neill Wilson for a first down before scampering 20 yards himself to set up another Whyte field goal.

The Ridres finally woke up offensively. Wes Dressler rumbled down the sideline for a 46-yard recpetion to set the Riders up, with Fantuz making his scoring grab.

Durant then fought off a B.C. rush and bided his time until finding Gerran Walker for the two-point convert and a tie game.

Pierce was unbowed, completing passes to Wilson and Geroy Simon to set up Whyte's winning kick.

Saskatchewan failed to gain any ground on a desperation kickoff return on the game's last play.

The Lions have taken two out of three in the season series, with the home team coming out on top each time.