Riders turn to Mason Fine as Lions roar to victory

Not much was fine Friday night for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, except the team turned to the quarterback who carries that name.

Mason Fine was given the reins for the final drive of the second quarter and played the rest of the way in the Riders’ 28-10 loss to the B.C. Lions.

Fine, who came in for starter Cody Fajardo, led a 61-yard touchdown drive in his first game action. He connected with Justin McInnis for the four-yard score.

Fine finished the game with 16 completions in 26 attempts for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Before being pulled from the game, Fajardo had completed eight of 13 passes for 41 yards and two interceptions.

The Lions, who now have an 8-1 record, showed why they were among the CFL’s best teams in the game, scoring a touchdown on their first drive of the game and never looking back.

B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke was once again playing at a most-outstanding-player calibre, but he left the game in the fourth quarter after being sacked. He did not return after that play due to a foot injury.

Rourke finished the game with 375 yards passing, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Michael O’Connor went 5-for-5 passing for 36 yards in relief of Rourke.

The Riders fell to 5-5 on the season. Saskatchewan is to travel to B.C. for a rematch next Friday.

More to come.