Roughriders stagger into BC Place, get knocked out by B.C. Lions (& other thoughts)

Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders staggered into BC Place on Sunday night after a gut check loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 11 and ended up being knocked out by the B.C. Lions 30-16.

Saskatchewan has lost two games in a row to fall to 6-4 in the West Division, two games behind Edmonton and one ahead on B.C. and Winnipeg for second.

Costly mistakes

Three critical errors cost the Riders at least 17 points in the game.

American running back Quali Conley, who returned to the lineup after missing Week 11 with a hamstring injury, produced a highlight reel 49-yard catch-and-run touchdown. However, all-star right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick was flagged for an illegal block, hands to the face penalty on Levi Bell. That infraction brought the long major all the way back.

Next series, Trevor Harris dropped a football in perfectly to Johnny Johnson III down the right seam. As he was fighting for extra yards, former Green and White defender Deontai Williams ripped the football away for a turnover.

B.C. tried to hand the Roughriders points — literally — but Saskatchewan would not take them.

Lions returner Stanley Berryhill put an Oscar Chapman punt on the turf, Canadian linebacker Nick Wiebe promptly picked up the football and returned it for a touchdown. But not to be, Canadian special teamer Melique Straker was called for a no yards penalty, which negated the major.

Add those plays up and without the mistakes, the result could have been different.

Penalties: Saskatchewan seven for 72 yards; B.C. two for 20 yards.

TH7 TWP

Harris usually takes care of the football, but he put it in harms way at BC Place too often.

In the first quarter, Johnson III was streaking down the left seam, but the 40-year-old’s throw was short and Canadian safety Jackson Findlay dropped what should have been an interception.

With Saskatchewan driving in the second quarter, second-and-three at B.C.’s 27-yard line, the Lions sent seven defenders at Harris. As weak-side linebacker Parker McKenna shed Johnson III in the backfield, the Riders’ QB threw a fadeaway pass with pressure in his face.

KeeSean Johnson had a step on T.J. Lee III running a go ball down the left seam, but the throw was well behind the intended target, and the veteran cover man nabbed his 31st career interception.

One possession after that, second-and-15, the six-foot-three, 212-pound passer tried to fit a deep curl ball in to Samuel Emilus, but there were at least three defenders in the area. Middle linebacker Darnell Sankey put himself in position for a pick, but could not secure the football.

During the third quarter, first-and-20, Canadian receiver Dylan Djete ran a slant route. No. 7 let a late throw go and CFL rookie Stantley Thomas-Oliver drove hard downhill and made his first career interception in the three-down league.

Harris was visibly frustrated as he went to the sideline and firmly put his helmet down on a table. Head coach Corey Mace challenged for pass interference, although the ruling on the field was upheld.

“Miscommunication-type stuff that we’ll always keep in-house. I’ve gotta make sure that I don’t do that emotionally, but when you’re invested like we are, you’re going to have some emotions fly out. I was pissed off in the moment. Stuff that we’ve gotta make sure we talked about, we hammer out and get better, I promise you we will,” Harris said post-game.

The 40-year-old entered Week 12 with 18 turnover worthy plays, as per Pro Football Focus, ranked third in the CFL. He added two more to his total and finished completing 28-of-42 passes for 356 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Harris took responsibility for the turnovers post-game and said “miscommunication” was a key issue on both picks.

Action Jaxon

Jaxon Ford had quite an interesting second half.

Late in the third quarter, the 26-year-old safety had a chance to either intercept a Nathan Rourke pass or separate Stanley Berryhill from the football — he did neither.

Berryhill appeared to be running a skinny post, Ford timed his hit fairly well, but it was not enough to break up the completion as the play resulted in a 58-yard gain.

One snap later, Ford hit Jermaine Jackson late after an incomplete pass and was called for unnecessary roughness. That flag, albeit a soft one, put B.C. on the goal line and led to a Zander Horvath touchdown run.

Two plays into the fourth quarter, Rourke was looking down the field for Jackson on a corner route. Ford followed the QB, moved over and made a great diving interception. His effort appeared to infuse some energy into Saskatchewan’s sideline as the Roughriders took the football 73 yards on five plays in two minutes and one second, capped by a Harris to Dhel Duncan-Busby 32-yard touchdown.

Later in the fourth, Ford missed a tackle on Jevon Cottoy as he broke away for a 29-yard gain. Then Horvath hurdled him for a 14-yard run up the middle.

Ford needs to improve and fast.

Emilus 100?

The 112th Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian was clearly playing at less than 100 percent after coming off the six-game injured list with a foot issue, however he won’t use that as an excuse.

Case in point: Saskatchewan’s last offensive play. Third-and-12, Emilus ran a deep curl route. Harris threw him a high ball, he went up to try and secure it, but Sankey put a hit on him. No. 19 landed hard on the turf, as did the football. Athletic trainers came out to check on the star receiver and appeared to be looking at his right leg.

After missing three games, Emilus was targeted a team-high 12 times. He recorded seven receptions for 66 yards with one notable drop on a corner route down the left sideline in the first quarter.

Cottoy catch?

B.C. receiver Jevon Cottoy may have caught a key pass — or may not have.

With less than 13 minutes on the second quarter clock, Rourke appeared to complete a 24-yarder to the six-foot-six, 235-pound target. That connection was ruled a catch by Justin McInnes’ referee crew on the field.

B.C. decided to quickly switch to a no-huddle offence, which did not allow Mace and his coaching staff enough time to check the replays and potentially throw a challenge flag.

Two plays later, the 29-year-old Cottoy ran down the left seam for a 23-yard touchdown. The Lions took a 13-6 lead due to situational recognition.

Big man DJ

Daniel Johnson earned at least 15 minutes of attention with his 17-yard reception and yards after catch in the third quarter.

The six-foot-five, 307-pound offensive lineman broke the huddle and initially lined up as a tight end. He proceeded to motion straight down the line and set up as the wide out to the right. Harris found him wide open and No. 65 stepped over T.J. Lee III on his way down the sideline.

Johnson has a background catching the football, as he originally committed to Kent State University as a tight end before converting to offensive tackle.

His brother, George Johnson, was an All-Canadian receiver at Western University from 2012 through 2016. He was selected in the fourth round, 29th overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2016 CFL Draft and played two seasons in La Bell Province, recording 23 receptions for 264 yards with three touchdowns.

The younger Johnson looked like his brother while recording his first career CFL grab.