Riders vs. BC Lions: West Final 2025

For only the 9^th time in our hundred-plus year history and only the third time in the past 49 years the Riders are hosting the West Final. We played in one last year. We have not hosted one since 2019. We have not won one since 2013. This is a pretty big friggin’ deal. The stakes are higher than Ricky Williams in Denver (I am prouder than I should be of that line. Its witty on multiple levels). I am pumped! 

I am super pumped because it is on the verge of selling out. I legit thought we’d get 27,000. The prospect of a packed stadium amps me up even more. Now I can here some of you griping “but they gave away a lot of tickets” to which I say… good! I have been calling on the Riders for years to do what it takes to pack the stands. The best marketing for the team is experiencing an exciting win with 30,000 other people. I assure you the Riders will get more marketing benefit from giving away a few tickets and packing the stands than all the Tikky Tokkies in the world could muster.

The narrative on BC is their high powered offense led by Nathan Rourke. They have won 7 straight game (including playoffs). They have been held under 30 points just 3 times since Week 6. (Though I will give you one guess as to which team held them under 30 two of those three times it happened.) The sweat from Nathan Rourke's brow could cure most communicable diseases. And the thing is, the narrative is true (well except the curing part, that is only true in Suitor’s world). They have a great offense. 

But I am not scared. For one, we happen to have a great defense and will be as healthy as you could hope for at this time of year. But also, we have played BC really well this year. Now when you look at the 3 games you have to ignore the first one because Masoli started at QB and letting him pass at this point in his career is akin to putting only 8 players on the field in terms of how likely it is to lead to victory. You also have to ignore the second half of the last game where we did not care or play any important players (and still had a chance to win). Last you have to ignore the 4^th quarter in the 2^nd game where we were nursing a massive lead and playing prevent. If you look only at the 5 quarters of meaningful Harris vs. Rourke play this season we outscored them 51-32. 

Now do I think we can take them lightly or that this will be easy on my ticker? No but I have a healthy confidence that we should not fear BC. 

I am glad to have our full starting secondary back (begrudgingly yes, even Lokombo), we will need them. But as always it starts up front. Rider football is stop the run, make them throw and pressure them until sacks/turnovers happen. That formula doesn’t change now. BC allows the fewest sacks (thanks in large part to Rourke’s mobility) so sacks may be at a premium but we need our front 4 to be disruptive. Hurry his throws. Make him move. Get some hits on him. For all his offensive stats, Rourke also finished tied for the league lead in interceptions. You know how much I have mocked Collaros for his inability to throw to the right team. Well Rouke is as error prone. Hell he even threw one to Lokombo. Remember?!? I honestly expect a ton of passing yards but believe the defense can hold BC to FG tries instead of majors more often than not. That will require limiting the big plays. If we can force long drives I trust our front 7 to impact things. 

The reality is despite our strong defense, BC will put up points. Probably at least 25. So the game really hinges on whether Trevor Harris can put up 30. If he does, I like our chances. BC leads the league in sacks but find themselves near the bottom in pretty much every other statistical category. 7^th in points allowed, 7^th in run D, second most big passing plays allowed. Rourke putting up 30 per game wasn’t just a luxury, it was a necessity to balance their defensive shortcomings. They have guys who can make plays but if we can get the ball out quick to neutralize the pass rush Harris can put yards up. We will have Myers (who put up 130 and 2 TDS last time he played BC), Emilus, Baker (who put up 75 in the first half in the regular season finale), hopefully Johnson. Pick your poison. Oh an even if you stop all them Nield and Busby can make plays too. More importantly, playoff football in the cold is exactly why you bring in an AJ Ouelette. Feed that man the ball and let’s be the hammer in this game not the nail (hammer, Ouelette, what another great display of writing by me). Him running hard or catching swing passes will open up so much for our receivers. One big thing is we need our offense to capitalize when the D gets a big play. Too often we fail to score off turnovers. This is the two best teams in the West you can’t miss opportunities to make a team pay as they will not come often. 

Special teams advantage probably goes to BC as they have the best kicker in the CFL and we have a kicker (I think). Our kick coverage and return game probably level the field a bit. We do have the advantage in discipline. BC took the most penalty yards in the regular season. If we can stay disciplined it gives us an edge. 

Look, I am a faithful Rider die hard and I don’t ask much. Its been 12 years since we’ve been to a Cup. This is the best roster we have assemble since then. This is the healthiest and most rested a team could hope to be. This is our chance. Please let us be happy. Once a decade does not seem like asking too much. I’ll do my part by using Rye as antifreeze and screaming my lungs out. The team just needs to do theirs. 

Based on how this season has gone expect an ugly, frustrating, closer than it should be game that brings you to the brink of either crying or punching someone/something. But I believe in this team and I believe that while BC is used to smoking the green, on Saturday the Green will be smoking BC. 

Riders by an Ouelette TD.