From http://www.cfl.ca
REGINA -- Jason Clermont scored his first touchdown as a Roughrider as Saskatchewan beat the B.C. Lions 41-38 in double overtime and advance to the Western Final.
Clermont scored on a 24-yard catch and run from Darian Durant for the win on the Riders second possession in overtime. Paul McCallum had stepped up to hit his fifth field goal of the game on the Lions second possession to give B.C a 38-35 lead.
The Riders will now travel to Calgary for a Western Final matchup with the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium next Sunday.
The Riders had the first possession in the first overtime mini-game and Wes Cates scored on a one-yard run. Durant hit Andy Fantuz on the two-point conversion attempt to put the pressure on B.C.
Travis Lulay responded with a five-yard keeper for the Lions. The Lions then took a time-count violation on the two-point convert attempt forcing them back five yards to the 10-yard line. Lulay hit Geroy Simon on the second attempt though to force the second mini-game.
The dramatics didn't just come in overtime as the Roughriders staged a big second half comeback ralliying from a 16-6 halftime deficit to take a 27-20 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Travis Lulay connected with Emmanuel Arceneaux on a hail mary on the final play of regulation though to tie the game at 27-27 and send it to overtime.
After struggling in the first half Durant got things going in the second half and finished the game with 310 yards and three touchdown passes.
All of the Roughriders’ points in the first half came off the foot of kicker Warren Kean. Kean was 2-of-3 on field goals in the half connecting on a 29 and 22-yarders while missing from 40 yards out. The Lions conceded a single on the miss.
Travis Lulay found a wide open Steven Black in the endzone midway through the second quarter for the half’s only touchdown. In his first CFL playoff start Lulay threw for 352 yards and two touchdowns with one interception while rushing for 39 yards and another TD.
Paul McCallum added three field goals for the Lions in the half, connecting from from 44, 37 and 20 yards out as the Lions took a 16-6 lead into the half.
The Lions outgained Saskatchewan 221 yards to 92 in the first half.
The Lions also scored the first points of the second half on McCallum’s third field goal of the game
Saskatchewan made some adjustments at the half though and cut into the Lions lead in the third quarter as Durant hooked up with Weston Dressler for a four-yard touchdown.
The Riders kept the momentum going into the fourth taking the ball deep into Lions territory again on their next possession. This time the Lions D held firm though as the Riders were forced to settle for a 22-yard Kean field goal.
The Lions defence continued to struggle Paul McCallum was forced to punt for a second straight time. McCallum’s punt rolled into the Rider endzone for a single point to make it a 20-17 Lions lead.
The Riders took their first lead since the opening quarter on the ensuing drive as Durant hooked up with Dressler for the second time in the half, this time on a deep 75-yard pass for the touchdown. Dressler finished the game with eight catches for 150 yards and two TDs.
The Lions finally looked to be putting together their first sustained drive of the fourth quarter on their next possession before Lance Frazier intercepted Lulay and returned it to the B.C. 28-yard line.
The Riders converted the Frazier interception into three points as Kean hit his fourth field goal of the day, this time connecting from 25 yards out.
The Lions came back though as Lulay and Arceneaux hooked up on the desperation heave with time expired in regulation.
The Roughriders scored majors on both of their overtime possessions for the win after B.C. was forced to settle for three on their second possession.
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