Roughriders 34, Lions 29: Livid comeback falls quick for B.C.

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The B.C. Lions dug the opening too deep, left the comeback too late, and left Mosaic Subject as 34-29 losers to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday evening.

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The house facet jumped to an 18-point lead, and held the benefit 4 minutes into the fourth quarter, when the Leos got here charging again.

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However the Lions (7-3) couldn’t discover the tip zone on their ultimate offensive sequence, getting two cracks from the Riders’ 23-yard line, with Keon Hatcher having a landing ball go off his fingers ultimately zone. Sean Whyte kicked a 30-yard area aim to drag B.C. inside two, however that was as shut as they’d get.

Vernon Adams Jr. had 200 go yards by halftime, then simply eight within the third quarter, earlier than exploding for 124 yards and two TDs within the fourth quarter. He completed the evening 25-of-40 for 436 yards and three touchdowns, and did it virtually on one leg, having injured it simply earlier than halftime. He additionally had one interception.

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Saskatchewan Roughriders punt returner Mario Alford (2) runs the football against BC Lions during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Saskatchewan Roughriders punt returner Mario Alford (2) runs the soccer towards BC Lions throughout the first half of CFL soccer motion in Regina, on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Picture by Heywood Yu /The Canadian Press

Jake Dolegala, making his first begin of the 12 months for Saskatchewan, was 18-of-29 for 239 yards and three touchdowns for the Riders (5-5), though he confirmed his inexperience on a time rely violation with 1:24 left, giving the ball again to B.C.

The sport began very similar to their first assembly in Week 7 at B.C. Place, with the Riders’ entrance dominating their counterparts on the Lions. On the second play of the sport, Adams was sacked — the primary of 5 on the evening — and fumbled the ball. The Riders scored off the following turnover.

It was a litany of penalties, head scratching play calls, turnovers and missed alternatives from there for the Lions. The street again was lengthy, exhausting, and so they practically made it, however had no reply for the Riders’ go rush when it mattered.

Alex Hollins and Fortunate Whitehead each had their first triple-digit receiving video games of the season for B.C.

Hollins had seven catches for 161 yards and a landing, whereas Whitehead had 5 for 122, together with 78-yard landing catch.

Hatcher completed the sport with 94 yards and a landing.