Riders clinch first West Division title since 1976

Nov 8, 2009 - 3:31 AM REGINA, Saskatchewan (CP) - Rob Bagg's second-quarter touchdown reception stood up as the difference maker as the Saskatchewan Roughriders clinched their first West Division title since 1976 with a 30-14 win over the Calgary Stampeders in CFL action Saturday.

With the win, Saskatchewan earns a bye to the West Division final Nov. 22 while Calgary will face the Edmonton Eskimos in the West semifinal Nov. 15.

Both teams entered their final regular season game a win away from clinching first in the West.

Calgary (10-7-1) led the Roughriders in the standings by two points entering the game but Saskatchewan (10-7-1) held the upper hand in the season series - the CFL's first tiebreaker among tied teams - thanks to a win and a tie in its first two meetings with Calgary.

The Stampeders made things interesting after Saskatchewan staked out an 18-1 second quarter lead, trailing 21-14 at the three-minute warning.

But the Stamps curiously conceded a safety on the next play to go down by nine and Riders fullback Chris Szarka put the game out of reach with a one-yard touchdown run on the next Saskatchewan possession.

Chris Getzlaf opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown reception on Saskatchewan's first drive of the game.

The Roughriders also scored on two 37-yard field goals by Luca Congi and a kickoff single from Louie Sakoda.