The B.C. Lions extended their winning streak to five games Saturday and took strides to securing a playoff spot, with a 42-5 rout of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
B.C. (6-6) got on the scoreboard first with a 16-yard field goal by kicker Paul McCallum and never let up. Lions' Arland Bruce had a 100-yard touchdown and there was an interception by Ryan Phillips who returned it 81 yards for the major.
The Lions dominated possession in the first quarter, holding onto the ball for 13 minutes.
Saskatchewan (4-8) blew one 18 yard kickoff return with a holding 10 yard penalty -- one of several penalties that would drag them down in the first half. The green and white ended the first quarter with a bad snap that sailed over quarterback Darian Durant's head, leading to their first turnover.
B.C. recovered the ball on Saskatchewan's 22 yard line and used the Rider's mistake to their advantage, starting the second quarter with their first touchdown.
The Lions opened the second quarter with a pass from quarterback Travis Lulay to Arland Bruce who ran 100 yards into the end zone.
The Riders went into Saturday's game looking for their first win over a West Division rival in 2011.
Instead, they were their own worst enemy, racking up penalties.
Rider Nick Graham was tossed from the game. The ejection and ensuing penalties cost the Riders 40 yards and led to a McCallum field goal.
B.C. followed up with an interception by Ryan Phillips who ran 81 yards run for another touchdown. The Lions led 30-0.
Saskatchewan finally got on the board with a field goal in the dying minutes of the second quarter.
The Lions kept roaring in the second half, starting with a touchdown by Geroy Simon in the third quarter.
Saskatchewan continued to rack up penalties, including a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness by Dario Romero. A long punt return by Tristan Jackson was wiped off the board when the ball was called back because of an illegal block by Saskatchewan.
The Roughriders brought in back-up quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie late in the fourth quarter, who led a drive that brought Saskatchewan to the one-yard. But a pass intended for Efrem Hill was incomplete.
McCallum then conceded a safety.
The Lions' win on Saturday means they have won the season series with the Roughriders.
The last time these two teams met on Aug. 5 they had a combined record of 1-9 --B.C. had yet to win and Saskatchewan was 1-4. The Lions won that game 24-11.
Saskatchewan and B.C. will meet again Oct. 16 in Regina.
