Roughriders knock off defending champions
Saskatchewan defeats Redblacks in Ottawa
OTTAWA — Kevin Glenn threw a TD pass and ran for another to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a record-setting 31-20 East Division semifinal win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday afternoon.
Saskatchewan visits the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division final next Sunday. The Roughriders will try to become the first crossover team to reach the Grey Cup since the rule was adopted in 1996.
Glenn finished 18-of-28 passing for 252 yards in his 12th career playoff start. Marcus Thigpen ran for a game-high 169 yards on 15 carries, including a key 75-yard TD scamper.
Trevor Harris, in his first career playoff start, had over 400 yards passing with two TDs and two interceptions for Ottawa. Harris is scheduled to become a free agent in February.
Saskatchewan and Ottawa combined for three touchdowns on the game’s first three possessions. That set CFL playoff records for fastest two TDs (4 minutes 7 seconds); fastest three touchdowns (5:54); and was the first time that the opening three possessions resulted in a touchdown.
Vernon Adams Jr. and Bakari Grant had Saskatchewan’s other touchdowns. Tyler Crapigna added the converts and a field goal.
Juron Criner scored Ottawa’s other TD, while adding a two-point convert. Brett Maher booted two field goals.
The Redblacks came in as the defending CFL champions, having upset the Calgary Stamperders 39-33 in overtime at last year’s Grey Cup in Toronto.
The Roughriders have won the Grey Cup four times in their existence — 1966, 1989, 2007 and 2013 — but never out of the East.
Eskimos beat Blue Bombers in exciting West semifinal, 39-32
WINNIPEG — Adarius Bowman caught two touchdown passes and C.J. Gable added a pair on the ground as the Edmonton Eskimos beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 39-32 in Sunday’s West Division semifinal.
It was Edmonton’s sixth straight victory and earned the Eskimos a trip to Calgary for next Sunday’s division final against the Stampeders (13-41).
Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly completed 23-of-33 pass attempts for 334 yards with three TDs and no interceptions.
Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols, who didn’t appear to be hampered by a calf injury, was 35 of 48 for 371 yards with three TDs and no picks in front of 27,244 fans at Investors Group Field.
The loss bumped up Winnipeg’s Grey Cup drought to 27 seasons.
Edmonton played in last year’s East Division final as the crossover team, losing to eventual Grey Cup champion Ottawa.