Emilus scores three TDs as Roughriders edge Lions 31-27

Samuel Emilus snatched his third touchdown of the game with less than a minute remaining, lifting the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a dramatic 31-27 victory over the B.C. Lions. The decisive six-yard reception from quarterback Trevor Harris capped a comeback that saw the Riders secure their sixth straight season-opening win.

“

I just had an out route, and I had inside leverage, so I knew I had to keep my leverage and race to the ball. Trevor threw me a perfect ball, and that’s what happened.

Emilus, who finished with six catches for 91 yards, described the winning moment as feeling like "slow mo." He beat his defender on a corner route, securing a perfectly thrown ball from Harris. This score came after the Lions had taken a brief 27-24 lead with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, following a one-yard touchdown plunge by James Butler.

“

To be honest, it just felt like slow mo. I’ve just got to catch it because I know I beat my man. I’ve just got to catch it, secure the catch and do my job, which is catch balls, and that’s what I did.

The Riders' game-winning drive faced an early setback with a holding penalty, pushing them back to their own 18-yard line. However, a pivotal pass interference call, confirmed after a review, kept their hopes alive. Head coach Corey Mace credited his upstairs staff for spotting the infraction, admitting he hadn't seen it himself. "We needed that, obviously, in that situation. It was looking pretty grim for us at that moment," Mace stated, highlighting the call's crucial role in extending the drive and ultimately securing the win.

“

I’ve got to give credit to the people upstairs on that one because I didn’t see it. I was looking at the box, and they were in my ear, like, ‘Give me a second, hold on.’

This was the first game of the 2026 regular season for both West Division teams. The Lions' go-ahead drive was also kept alive by a significant completion, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Roughriders' late surge.

“

We ended up throwing the flag there, so I can’t take any credit for that one, that was a team one, but we needed that, obviously, in that situation. It was looking pretty grim for us at that moment, but able to move up a little bit and start the set of downs back over again, it was crucial for us.