Riders beat Lions in OT thriller

It might have been the only mistake by Casey Printers all day, but it was costly.

The British Columbia Lions quarterback was intercepted in the end zone by Saskatchewan’s James Patrick, giving the Roughriders a 33-30 overtime win in front of a sold-out crowd at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

“I never saw [Patrick] and it was just my fault,” said Printers, who was playing in his first game for the Lions since 2005.

The interception was the lone blemish on an otherwise outstanding game for the Lions quarterback, who completed 19 of 31 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns.

Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant had to work some magic in the late stages of the game, as his team’s offence struggled for most of the second half.

For the second consecutive week, the Roughriders scored an eight-pointer late in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

“Don’t count this team out ever,” said Durant, who completed 27 of 46 passes for 319 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. “We’ve been in this situation many times and we’ve come through many times.

Luca Congi’s 29-yard field goal on the Riders’ first possession in overtime stood up as the winning points.

The Roughriders battled back after allowing two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Saskatchewan led 22-16 in the fourth quarter but was forced to come back after Printers hit Michael Bumpus for a 20-yard touchdown, and Barron Miles returned an interception for a touchdown to give B-C a 30-22 lead.

Durant was resilient and found Johnny Quinn in the end zone and Chris Getzlaf for the two-point convert to tie the game 30-30.

Prevailing in tight games is good preparation for the playoffs, Durant says.

“If this is any sign of this year’s playoffs and how it’s going to go down to the wire, then that’s what it’s all about,” Durant said.

“That’s what you play the game for. What quarterback doesn’t want the ball in their hands with three minutes left and a chance to win or a chance to put it in overtime?”

The Riders’ Canadian receiving core stepped it up again, in place of the injured Weston Dressler.

Rob Bagg had eight catches for 124 yards and one touchdown. Fellow Canadians Getzlaf, Quinn and Andy Fantuz all made key receptions down the stretch.

Congi had a chance to win the game for Saskatchewan on the last play of the fourth quarter with a 50-yard field goal attempt, but he hit the left upright.

With the win, Saskatchewan (9-6-1) clinches a CFL playoff spot and moves into a first-place tie with the Calgary Stampeders.

The three points that separate B.C. and Saskatchewan put the Riders in a great position to host their third consecutive playoff game.

“We want to finish first in the West,” Riders head coach Ken Miller said. “That’s our intermediate goal.”