No offence to the B.C. Lions, but it’s safe to say most of Canada will be cheering for a Saskatchewan Roughriders win in the West Semifinal on Sunday. As they should.
The 101st Grey Cup takes place at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Nov. 24, and if the Riders can win their next two games it would mark the third consecutive year the host city would have its team compete in the CFL’s championship game.
We saw what the atmosphere at Fenway Park was like during the MLB playoffs and World Series this year. Roaring, passionate fans enamoured with their team and their city.
Sure, on a global scale the CFL playoffs and Grey Cup don’t quite as much clout as a World Series or Super Bowl, but don’t tell that to CFL fans. Riders supporters are as fervent as any fan base in North America and the prospect of having the Green and White play in the Grey Cup in front of their home crowd would be a best-case scenario for the league.
The CFL has been spoiled the last two years with the host city not only having their team compete, but win the Grey Cup at home. The Lions won the Cup at B.C. Place in 2011 and the Argos were crowned CFL champs last year at the Rogers Centre in the historic 100th Grey Cup.
It’s an added element that makes an already special annual event that much more memorable. There’s a different energy when a team lifts a championship trophy at home as opposed to on the road or at a neutral location. There’s no denying it. The winning squad will hoist the trophy, soak their locker room in champagne and get big, shiny rings regardless of where the game takes place. But in that moment — that championship moment when a team and its players realize a lifelong dream — there’s nothing like doing it in front of your own crowd.
But outside of the fairy tale notion of the Riders potentially playing and winning a Grey Cup at home — which would immediately become one of the great moments in Canadian sports history — the on-field matchup with the Lions this weekend is quite intriguing in its own right.
Getting by the Lions won’t be an easy task; they’re on a bit of a roll since the return of running back Stefan Logan. Add that to the strong play of Andrew Harris and the Lions’ two-headed monster at running back will be priority No. 1 for the Riders defensive front.
Believe it or not the two teams have met in the playoffs just five times since 1988. Their last meeting was in 2010 when the Riders edged the Lions 41-38 in overtime. The Riders beat the Lions in two of three matchups this year, outscoring them 88-55, but split the two games played at Mosaic.
The Riders were 6-3 at home, while the Lions were 3-6 on the road. Advantage Riders, right? Possibly—but a more telling sign of who will win is which team is leading after three quarters of play.
The Lions were 0-6 when trailing after 45 minutes, while the Riders were just 2-6 when down after three. The Riders haven’t won since their Week 17 matchup against the Lions, who bounced back to win their final two games of the regular season.
There are so many questions heading into this game. Can Travis Lulay be effective or will Buck Pierce or Thomas DeMarco have to come in as relief? Can Geroy Simon be a difference maker against his former team? Do Darian Durant and Kory Sheets have what it takes to wear out the Lions D that boasts five CFL West all-stars? How will the frigid weather impact the offensive coordinators’ play calling? So many storylines. So many variables.
But the most intriguing query for most fans across the country is: Can the Riders get the win and complete the first leg of what could become the most memorable championship run in CFL history?
On Sunday, we get the answer.
