The Lions knew that they were in tough against the visiting Roughriders as well as Cody Fajardo who led the drive for a 23-16 win.
To no surprise for the fans they were waiting to watch Michael O’Connor make his debut on the field in what continues to be one of the strongest rivalries in the CFL.
Along with O’Connor, the fans enjoy watching the “dancing” style of Lucky Whitehead whose magical style of running brings the fans to the edge of their seats.
This play saw O’Connor get the Lions to the end zone on the opening drive, but failed to march in for the major with a pair of passes falling short.
Surrey resident and off-season hockey player Sean Whyte continued to impress the fans and on this occasion managed a 35 yard field goal giving the Lions the early three point lead.
To the disbelief of the fans this would be the only score in the first quarter that saw the Riders manage only 65 total yards to the Lions 68.
The second quarter was more entertaining that saw an eight play scoring drive, but again they came up short once again calling on Whyte to add a 42 yard FG giving the Lions a six point lead.
Anyone who follows the Riders knows they fight through hard plays and this game saw Fajardo send one down field to Kian Schaffer-Baker who managed a 49 yard reception.
The Riders were facing a second and five, but were stopped by Lions D-lineman Nathan Cherry who sacked Fajardo putting a stop to any scoring play.
Both teams would rely on their kicker’s to work magic and it was Brett Lauther who split the uprights from 20 yards out giving the Riders their first points cutting the Lions lead.
With the second drawing to an end the Riders managed an 85 yard TD play putting the Riders up 10-6 forcing the Lions to regroup sending in Antonio Pipkin late in the quarter.
Lions QB Michael O’Connor was taken out with an apparent injury that saw Pipkin complete three of five passing yards with another 10 rushing getting to the Riders 12 yard line.
An attempted pass to Dominique Thymes fell short and again the Lions called on Whyte who connected for his third yard FG cutting the Riders lead.
With the second end and no time showing on the clock Riders QB Lauther completed a 22 yard line field goal attempt putting his squad up 13-9 at the half.
The third started with the Lions on a tear with sacks from both D-lineman Emmanuel Rugamba and Obum Gwacham who stopped any drive the Riders set up.
The Riders continued a scoring drive with Hickson getting a 22 yard gain only to have any drive stopped by the Lions defence forcing the Riders to manage a field goal putting them up 16-9.
When they needed points Pipkin hit Scarfone for a short seven-yard TD getting the Lions within eight which was his first TD pass since week 1 of the 2019 season, when he was with Montreal.
The Lions played a strong game but came up short and as they head into week 13 they have a bye week before heading to Montreal in week 14.
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