Lions defeat Roughriders in Mosaic Stadium farewell

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were unable to turn out the lights at Mosaic Stadium on a good note, falling 24-6 to the BC Lions on Saturday.

The contest was the final CFL game at the site where the Roughriders have played home games since their creation in 1910. Next season, the franchise which struggled to survive on a year-to-year basis during several periods before evolving into one of the biggest brands in Canadian sports will move a few blocks away into a $278-million new stadium.

An announced crowd of 33,427 saw a game where the Lions (11-6) and quarterback Jonathon Jennings - in spite of a half-dozen clear drops by his receivers - did enough offensively to retain control of their destiny in the race to host the West Division semifinal. The Roughriders (5-12) were unable to generate much offensively, with veteran quarterback Darian Durant rotating with newcomer Jake Waters during stretches in the first half. The Lions got to the Roughriders' passers for seven sacks, including a pair each from Adam Bighill and Solomon Elimimian.

The teams finish the regular season with a return game at BC Place on Nov. 5. The Lions get second in the West and a home playoff game with a win or if the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-7) tie or lose against the Ottawa RedBlacks.

Whether Saturday marked Durant's last home game in 'Riders green is up in the air. The 34-year-old veteran is in contract negotiations with the Roughriders about an extension.

The Lions opened a 16-6 halftime lead on the strength of two touchdown drives. Slotback Emmanuel Arceneaux, playing in his 100th game for BC, made a spectacular 36-yard scoring grab in the end zone midway through the second quarter.

The final CFL touchdown in the stadium came with 13:09 left in the third quarter. Jennings found Terrell Sinkfield for a 16-yard TD on the next play. The score was set up by Marco Iannuzzi's 50-yard punt return.

Jennings was 19-of-32 for 241 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Running back Jeremiah Johnson scored a touchdown and racked up 137 yards from scrimmage (16 rushes for 101 yards, two receptions for 36). Arceneaux had four receptions for 68 yards, including a two-point convert to go with his touchdown.

Lions kicker Richie Leone, who has been erratic all season, was 0-for-2 on field goals and also shanked both of his convert attempts. Leone chipped in four singles, three on punts.

Durant was 15-of-28 for 163 yards, while Waters was 3-of-5 for 40 yards. Rookie SB Caleb Holley led Roughriders receivers with seven receptions for 80 yards, while Ricky Collins Jr. contributed six for 67 yards. Tyler Crapigna was 2-for-2 on field goals.

The Lions have not finished second in the West since 1986, although they have finished first eight times in the last 30 seasons.

Durant had the last Roughriders touchdown in the stadium with a 10-yard rush against Montreal on Oct. 22.