‘We never flinched’: Late comeback punches Roughriders’ ticket to Grey Cup, defeat Lions 24-21 in dramatic West Final

Saskatchewan Roughriders' receiver Tommy Nield played hero in the Western Final, making a game winning touchdown catch with 12 seconds remaining to win the game

In a game which lasts 60 minutes, the 2025 Western Division Final came down to the final one – and a single play with 12 seconds left.

First and goal on the three-yard line, down four points and needing a major, Trevor Harris found Tommy Nield in the endzone for a game-winning touchdown to send the Saskatchewan Roughriders to their first Grey Cup in more than a decade.

“You can’t really put it into words,” Nield told reporters after the game. “It’s just a super exciting moment. [I’m] thankful to be put in that position. That’s a play you dream about making and I’m grateful to make a play for my team.”

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The Riders’ final drive began on their own 34-yard yard line with 1:02 left on the clock.

The seven-play, 76-yard drive capped off with Nield’s touchdown, but featured six necessary prerequisites to get the opportunity to find the endzone.

“It’s the CFL. There’s plenty of time,” Harris said following the win. “And, so we just kind of meticulously drove the ball down the field. We were able to shoot it over their heads on a couple intermediates, which was pretty fun.”

“And then Tommy Neild, option route inside the ten; touchdown. We move on,” he added.

Throughout the season, the team says it has been preparing itself for big moments, like the one Saturday night.

Confident when it appeared, they would execute to perfection.

“That [late game] situation, we practice it every week,” Nield said. “It really felt like practice out there. We played together as a unit and it shows on a drive like that.”

“I told you guys the moment wasn’t going to get too big for this group,” Harris added. “We never flinched.”

Harris ended the game with 305 yards passing on 26 completions, 38 attempts and two touchdown passes.

Defensive stands

Prior to the winning touchdown drive, head coach Corey Mace put his team’s season in the hands of his defense.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions, led by Rourke, would take control of the momentum – scoring 14 unanswered points to take a late lead before the Riders’ comeback.

With under three minutes remaining and down seven points, Mace opted for a Brett Lauther field goal attempt from 13 yards, versus a third and goal from the five to try for a touchdown.

“[I] was very close [to going for it],” Mace admitted to media after the game. “Last year, I probably just would have said, ‘eff it, let’s do it.’ But to take the points knowing what we’re capable of doing and taking points.”

“Cause if we didn’t make it, we have to do the same thing just to tie the game,” he added.

The defense then responded, forcing a B.C. two-and-out.

Saskatchewan would then be forced to punt after a two-and-out of their own, a decision which drew audible ‘boos’ from the Rider faithful.

And with a second down and three yards to go with Nathan Rourke calling a QB draw, the defense stopped the Lions again.

“That was pretty much pretty darn close to being it for us,” Mace said. “We knew we had to make a play. With a little bit of time left, we had another timeout; just put the faith in the defense. And then ultimately the faith in the offense.”

“I’ve made aggressive decisions before for this team and it didn’t work out for us and in, games prior. I totally get [the boos]. Just have faith,” the coach added.

In a game which featured multiple momentum swings, Mace says his team showed a fight which he knew they had all season.

“I didn’t learn anything more [about our team],” he said. “It solidified what I probably already knew about the group. They’re not going to turn their back on each other. They’re going to lock up and bite down.”

Riders’ Grey Cup drought ends

Saskatchewan’s win ends a 12-year Grey Cup appearance drought for the franchise.

The Roughriders last played in the CFL’s championship game in 2013 in Regina, the scene of their fourth Grey Cup in team history.

“This fanbase deserves it,” said Harris. “They were awesome tonight. It was really cold out there but they stuck with us.”

The Riders will play the Eastern Division Champion Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Man. Nov. 16.

Montreal and Saskatchewan last played against each other in the Grey Cup in 2010, a game which the Als won as part of two-straight victories over the Riders in championship games.

Playoff cold

Both offenses struggled to get things going in the cold Regina evening, with a combined 320 yards of total offense in the first half which ended at 7-4 in favour of B.C.

Temperatures were -7°C at kickoff but with the windchill, it felt like -12°C.

Harris had just 94 yards passing on 10 completions in the first two quarters.

“It was cold,” he said. “It was tougher to stay loose on the sideline. It’s an excuse, but there were a couple times where I couldn’t feel the ball.”

Rourke countered for the Lions going 8/15, 130 yards passing, adding a four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

“Both teams are playing in it,” the Lions’ pivot said. “Ultimately to win in this league, you’ve got to play well in cold environments. If it wasn’t this game, it was going to be the next game, right?”

While the passing game struggled in the first half, the run game flourished.

Riders’ running back A.J. Ouellette 52 yards on eight carries in the first two quarters. He would go on to run for more than 100 yards, ending the night with 113 yards on 17 touches.

The team’s punters also saw additional load with 12 punts in the first half alone, 16 total for the entire game.

Lions season ends

On the other side of the coin is B.C. Lions team which had their season end in heartbreaking fashion Saturday night.

“There’s missed opportunities in all three phases,” Lions’ head coach Buck Pierce said after the loss. “That’s playoff football. It usually comes down to make making key plays when you’re trying to make plays. And they ended up making more plays than us.”

Rourke showed throughout this game why he was nominated for the league’s Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian awards this season.

Almost miraculously working himself out of pressure on more than one occasion.

“We were we were right there,” Rourke said. “That’s probably the toughest part.”

“We expected a close game. This time of year, you’re not expecting it to be a blowout. It’s going to be a 60-minute ball game and that’s exactly what was.”

Rourke finished the night 20/30, 290 yards, one touchdown and an interception through the air, adding six yards on four carries and two touchdowns on the ground.

Riders’ QB Trevor Harris admired the few plays Rourke made in the game.

“It was a really hard fought game,” Harris said about his opponent. “Nathan Rourke’s an outstanding player. Him might win the MVP of the league and very deservedly so.”

“He made some big plays tonight. Some of the stuff where he’s stepping up in the pocket and he’s caught up and he flips it with his hand. It was pretty awesome.”