CFL SIM: BC UPSETS SASKATCHEWAN 16-11
REGINA – Virtual Mike Reilly was vintage Mike Reilly on Thursday Night Football in the 2020 CFL Sim season.
In a computer-simulated game on Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football, the 35-year old quarterback led the BC Lions on a 93-yard 4th quarter touchdown drive and capped it with a 3-yard run to provide the winning points in a 16-11 comeback victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Lions came into Mosaic Stadium sporting an 0-3 record and were facing a Riders squad who was looking to go to 3-0. It was another classic CFL West Division meat-grinder of a game which saw Saskatchewan leading 1-0 after the first quarter and 8-3 at halftime.
The kickers – BC’s Sergio Castillo and Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther – appeared to be their teams’ most dangerous offensive weapons until Reilly took over. His fourth quarter drive, capped with a successful 2-point convert, came with 4:39 remaining and the Lions never relinquished the lead from there.
Reilly finished the night 21/42 for 245 yards and an interception. WR Lemar Durant was the Lions’ workhorse catching 10 passes for 96 yards and returning all kicks. RB Brandon Rutley had 24 yards rushing on 16 carries. Defensively, Chris Casher had two sacks and Kevin Francis counted one while O’Shane Samuels had an interception. Castillo was 2/3 on field goals.
Saskatchewan failed to pick up where they left off in a high-powered 26-4 win at Hamilton in Week 3. The Riders couldn’t find the endzone as QB Cody Fajardo went 23/45 for 235 yards and a pick. Kyran Moore and Jordan Williams-Lambert each caught five passes as Fajardo spread the ball around to seven different receivers (Moore, Williams-Lambert, Mitch Picton, Carlos Henderson, Max Zimmerman, Brayden Lenius and William Powell). Henderson left the game with injury and was immediately placed on the 6-game injured list.
The Riders weren’t able to to get near Reilly – registering no sacks on the night – however LB Solomon Elimimian came up with an interception. Lauther was 3/6 on field goals.
Saskatchewan won the turnover battle 2-1.
The Facebook Live broadcast of the game on The Rod Pedersen Show channel featured live performances by national anthem singer Teagan Littlechief and halftime act Darryl Anderson of the Saskatoon band River’s Edge.
The Roughriders (2-1) return to action on Saturday, July 11 when they host the Toronto Argonauts. The Lions (1-3) are home to the Ottawa Redblacks that same night.
Week 3 in the CFL SIM schedule includes Ottawa at Montreal, Winnipeg at Edmonton and Calgary at Toronto. All games will be simulated and available for viewing at www.twitch.tv/nhacker49.
