Saskatchewan vs. B.C. - West Division final
Comments (6)
Sunday, November 12, 2006 | 03:01 PM ET
By Jesse Campigotto
Time for the CFL's West division final. In case you're just joining us, the B.C. Lions can complete their long and arduous journey to the Grey Cup with a win today in their first playoff game. This is what happens when you have an eight-team league. Of course, the alternative involves allowing the Ticats into the playoffs.
To be fair, the Lions (13-5 in the regular season) probably would have made it this far anyway. With no other team, West or East, winning more than 10 games, B.C. was the CFL's only true juggernaut this season.
Challenging the supremacy of Dave Dickenson and company are the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who scored 25 unanswered points last week en route to a stirring 31-20 comeback win over Calgary in the West semifinal.
At stake today, a trip to Winnipeg for the 94th Grey Cup next Sunday (CBC, 5:30 p.m. ET). And a date with Chris Walby. Maybe.
GAME OVER
Thanks for joining us today. We'll be back with more game blogging next week. In case you missed it, the 94th Grey Cup game goes on Sunday. At 5:30 p.m. ET. On CBC. Canada's Olympic Network. Home of the Champions. Good night, now.GAME OVER
The stars of the game: Dickenson (27-for-37, 273 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT), Smith (19 carries, 116 yards, TD), McCallum (5/5 FG, 4/4 EP)GAME OVER
Final score: Riders 18, Lions 45. B.C. will take on Montreal in next Sunday's Grey Cup game (CBC, 5:30 p.m. ET).4th quarter, 14:18
If I may use a U.S. college/NFL reference, Joseph has played like a bankrupt man's Vince Young today. It seems every time he drops back he gives only a fleeting thought to attempting a pass before pulling the ball down to rush it. And he just threw an interception.4th quarter, 12:05
Riders 18, Lions 45. That'll do it. Smith powers in for another TD. Book the tickets to the Peg.4th quarter, 8:08
Riders 18, Lions 38. McCallum caps a clock-killing B.C. possession by drilling a 41-yarder, his fifth field goal of the game. Sask., looks to be all but done.4th quarter, 3:35
Riders 18, Lions 35. A McCallum chip-shot makes it a three-possession game again.4th quarter, 2:45
I like how the Lions use third-string QB Jarius Jackson for short-yardage plunges (they just did this for a first down). How about this, though: why don't teams let their running back work on taking snaps in practice so he can run the short sneaks instead of the quarterback?4th quarter, 0:05
The Rider fans in attendance (always a vocal group) are starting to look hopeful. Indeed, we've got a game on our hands.3rd quarter, 15:00
Riders 18, Lions 32. B.C.'s Dante Marsh is whistled for unintentional pass interference, setting up a pitch to Keith for a TD as the third quarter expires. Keith proceeds to taunt the Lions, then gets bumped to the ground by Otis Floyd. This is the latest in a series of post-whistle scrums today. Gotta love bad blood. Especially playoff bad blood.3rd quarter, 13:10
Do you believe in momentum? The resurgent Riders recover a fumble in B.C. territory.3rd quarter, 13:00
Riders 11, Lions 32. Saskatchewan has found the end zone. Kenton Keith takes a short pass from Joseph and races untouched for a 37-yard TD.3rd quarter, 12:00
CBC cameras provide us a glimpse of Ms. Pamela Anderson in the crowd. Considering her recent appearance in the wildly popular (and wildly hilarious) Borat movie, that's a feather in the CFL's cap.3rd quarter, 11:00
Here's a (semi-poignant) question: How come no one in the CFL can punt a spiral? At pretty much every other position, it's hard to tell the difference between a CFL player and an NFL player. But CFL punters are noticeably worse than their U.S. counterparts. Does it have something to do with the ball? Or is it simply that the planet Earth contains only 32 human beings capable of booting a spiral?3rd quarter, 9:00
Another weak punt from Congi. Maybe he's hurt.3rd quarter, 6:30
I love CBC's "Mic'ed Up" feature. One of the Lions just used a swear word. I'm giggling like a school girl.3rd quarter, 5:22
Riders 4, Lions 32. B.C. extends its lead on a McCallum field goal. The Leos could be playing Winona Ryder at this point and it wouldn't be any more of a blowout.3rd quarter, 3:45
B.C. is into Sask. territory. Say, why do some guys wear the new helmets with ventilation holes while some guys still wear the old non-ventilated buckets? Who's against ventilation? Personally, I like it a lot. The equipment managers should have a sit-down with the non-ventilated guys and try to get them to convert.3rd quarter, 2:00
The Lions take over at their own 32. This seems like a good time to mention their uniforms and oragne helmets, which make them look like the Cincinnati Bengals. If Geroy Simon mock-proposes to a cheerleader after his next touchdown, I'm outta here.Halftime
A subplot to watch out for in the second half: Former Lions QB/spotlight fiend Casey Printers is in the house. CBC's halftime panel is not impressed.Halftime
Hard to imagine the opening 30 minutes going any better for B.C. And what d'ya know, I missed a single. They're worse than safeties for me. Anyway, the halftime score: Riders 4, Lions 29.Halftime
The Riders win the challenge, but Congi misses a chip shot. Luca, if Danny Barrett tells you to go to a meeting with Solozzo at halftime... don't.2nd quarter, 14:58
We have our first coach's challenge of the game as Wally Buno contests a long catch by the Riders' Matt Dominguez. This is excruciating. Football coach's challenges are possibly the worst U.S. export of all time. "Dancing With the Stars" notwithstanding.2nd quarter, 14:39
Riders 3, Lions 29. D-Dick can do no wrong. He throws into double coverage but Jackson makes a leaping grab for a 35-yard TD. Looked like pass interference, but no call.2nd quarter, 14:00
Congi shanks another punt. Maybe that short-kickoff strategy wasn't a strategy after all.2nd quarter, 13:34
Riders 3, Lions 22. B.C. settles for a 20-yard McCallum field goal.2nd quarter, 13:00
Now the B.C. special teams is into the act of being awesome. Tyson Craiggs (terrific name) recovers a muffed punt return. The Lions take over deep in Sask., territory.2nd quarter, 10:30
I flat-out missed a safety for the Lions a few minutes ago, so I've updated the score in the entry below. This always happens when I watch CFL games. Those things just sneak up on me. Does anyone else have this problem? Should I see a doctor?2nd quarter, 9:40
Riders 3, Lions 19. The Maestro (Dickenson) hits Smith with a short TD pass.2nd quarter, 9:25
Can't decide whether Lions receiver Jason Clermont is a poor man's Darren Flutie or a poor man's Ben Cahoon.2nd quarter, 5:00
The Riders are employing a strange strategy on kickoffs. In what I suppose is an effort to limit the Lions returners, Congi is kicking the ball very short and very high, creating a punt-like effect. The returners have nowhere to go because, by the time the ball reaches them, the Saskatchewan cover team is all over them. However, they're already near mid-field. I'm not sure I'd want to give Dickenson that short a field.2nd quarter, 4:45
Have I mentioned that I think the Lions are good at football?2nd quarter, 4:13
Cue the Lions D, a fine unit that spends a lot of time in the shadow of the offence. Another 2-and-out for the Riders.2nd quarter, 2:46
Riders 3, Lions 10. You can't stop the B.C. offence, you can only hope to contain it. The Riders did a good job of the latter in the first quarter, but Paris Jackson makes a diving catch of a Dickenson pass in the back of the end zone to give the Lions the first TD of the game early in the second.1st quarter, 15:00
Following two impressive scampers by the less-than-fleet Dickenson, the first quarter ends with the teams tied but the Lions driving.1st quarter, 12:21
Riders 3, Lions 3. A Luca Congi field goal ties it.1st quarter, 12:10
Spoke too soon. The Riders take two straight delay of game penalties, then Joseph gets wrestled to the ground on second down.1st quarter, 11:20
This could be the break the Riders need: Their D gang-tackles Lions running back Joe Smith, and he coughs up the ball. Saskatchewan takes over near the B.C. 20.1st quarter, 11:00
"Dear Jesse, you are the best game blogger in the--" ... I know that!!!1st quarter, 9:20
A play you can only see in the CFL: Operating from very deep in his own end, Riders QB Kerry Joseph uses the goal posts to fend off the Lions pass rush, the fires a long completion to Jason Armstead along the left sideline. Once again, we are indebted to the 20-yard end zone.1st quarter, 7:10
Well, not quite at will. I'm pretty sure Dickenson didn't willfully miss a wide-open Geroy Simon for what would have been a sure touchdown, as we just saw.1st quarter, 6:20
Dickenson finds Kendrick Jones up the right sideline for a big gain. The Lions QB and his well-oiled offence are chewing up yardage almost at will.1st quarter, 3:40
Roughriders 0, Lions 3. Moments ago, Paul McCallum made a short field goal to give the Lions an early lead.1st quarter, 0:05
Oddsmakers have installed B.C. as a 7.5-point favourite in today's game. Not sure that information is of use to anyone. With the possible exception of Marty York, does anyone wager on CFL games?MOMENTS TO KICKOFF
The East final just wrapped up, with Montreal beating Toronto 33-24. So the winner of our West showdown will meet the Alouettes in the Grey Cup. You follow?« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »
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Comments (6)
Mike Sharp
Victoria
Hello Darlene: that's why it's called home field advantage. Geez, we even let them bring Gainer. I hate gophers.
Posted November 13, 2006 03:00 PM
darlene bosche
i am from sask. and i have never seen a game that b.c. has played that they were not trying every trick in the book, but today's game has made me more ashamed to tell people i live in b.c.
Posted November 12, 2006 11:37 PM
Steve
The BC/Saskatchewan game was a farce! BC cannot
really be allowed to say they won that game!
Saskatchewan was never allowed to play! And that
wasn't due to BC's defence. People want to see
teams play honest football, each giving what
they have and the best team takes it. That did
NOT happen today. Saskatchewan can take BC. They know it, BC knows it, and the fans prevented it.
How can you commentators say the Riders shot
themselves when you, yourselves early in the
game made reference to the riders backing up
due to inability to communicate.
I have every respect for good players but I
really hope it's freezing cold in Winnipeg
for Buono and crew. Let's see 'em play real
football on a real field!!
Posted November 12, 2006 07:36 PM
Blair Gohlke
parksville,B.C.
I am 14 years old and i really admire the B.C. lions is saw them play in B.C. place one time. And that made me want to play football and now i do play....I love it so much.I play for the Ballenas Whalers.And like everyone knows....the LIONS ARE GOING TO WIN THE GREY CUP!!!!!!!!!!
Posted November 12, 2006 06:59 PM
Greg Fulmes
Calgary
re: challenges. Watching the Rider/BC game this afternoon Matt Dominguez made a reception late in the second quarter. Congi was lining up for a field goal, time was whistled in and then BC throws a challenge flag.
The challenge flag is a great idea but there should be a time limit as to how long after the play you can challenge. Once the teams have lined up for the next play you should be unable to challenge the previous play.
Posted November 12, 2006 05:46 PM
Jon Papple
Please can you have Walby and Lee do the game calling for the Grey Cup. Steve Armitage and Darren Flutie half the time got the players named wrong as far as players making the plays. And then they could not even state when there was an obvious first down. I want to hear an intelligent game called and I think Walby and Lee do a way better job, just due to their knowledge of the CFL game. I like to hear a game where they have done their homework, prior to game calling. I was more mad at the poor game calling by Flutie and Armitage than I was by the final score in the game.
Posted November 12, 2006 04:55 PM