The first week of the CFL season ended on the biggest night of the CFL week. Friday Night Football kicked of it’s 19 week run as the last game of week one. The BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders renewed acquaintances after last seeing each other in last year’s West Division semi-final which the Lions won 33-12. Would the Friday night showcase live up to the last two CFL matchups of week one or would be a bore like their last game.

BC 24 @ Saskatchewan 28 – The battle of West Division rivals started as though the home side would coast to the win. Instead, the game turned into the third near classic of the first week. In the end, the Riders were able to get their win over the Lions. It was just eight months too late.

The Green Riders were first on the board when QB Darian Durant called his own number on a 10 yard touchdown run. Luca Congi notched the next two points as he made the conversion and scored a rouge on the ensuing kickoff to give the Riders an eight point lead. When the Lions finally managed to get on the board, the offense wasn’t able to put those points on the board. Ryan Phillips picked off a Durant pass and ran it back 60 yards unabated for the major. Two minutes later Congi got his first field goal of the game when he booted a 37 yard kick. The second quarter was all Saskatchewan. Less than five minutes in, Hugh Charles charged the final two yards needed for the major. On the next possession, a dropped punt attempt was picked up by Stu Foord who took the loose ball 12 yards for the score. The Lions were able to scrape out one score before the half ended. Buck Pierce found Emmanuel Arceneaux for a 23 yard score to cut the Riders lead to 25-14 after the opening 30 minutes.

The third quarter was highlighted (or lowlighted) by four turnovers (though one was later denied on penalties) during the 15 minute period. The Lions had the only score of the frame when Buck Pierce scrambled six yards for the touchdown after an interception. However, they missed the two-point convert. They did get a point to cover for the missed conversion when Paul McCallum booted a punt deep enough for Saskatchewan to concede the rouge and make it a four point game. Luca Congi made his second field goal of the game from 22 yards out to make it a seven point game. With two minutes to go, McCallum was able to pull the Lions back within four on a 38 yard field goal. The Lions had a last minute drive for the win but Ryan Grice-Mullen dropped a wide-open game-winning catch before Jarius Jackson’s Hail Mary attempt was picked off by James Patrick.

This wasn’t a very pretty game. The teams combined for 15 turnovers over the course of the game and more than a few dropped passes. Despite good numbers (18/32, 315 yds.), Damian Durant had an otherwise miserable game with three interceptions and only a rushing touchdown. Pierce wasn’t much better. He went 17/33 for 186 yds., 1 TD, 2 int., and a rushing TD.

Offensive Player of the Night: Weston Dressler (SSK) – 7 rec., 154 yds.
Defensive Player of the Night: Omarr Morgan (SSK) – 6 tkls., 2 int., 1 fumble recovery

East Division Standings
1. Montreal 1-0
2. Toronto 1-0
3. Winnipeg 0-1
4. Hamilton 1-0

West Division Standings
1. Saskatchewan 1-0
2. Edmonton 1-0
3. BC 0-1
4. Calgary 0-1

Week 2 Schedule:
Thursday: Edmonton Eskimos (1-0) at Montreal Alouettes (1-0)
Friday: Calgary Stampeders (0-1) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1)
Friday: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) at BC Lions (0-0)
Saturday: Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-0) at Toronto Argonauts (1-0)