Quarterback Drew Tate recovered from getting his "bell rung" to marshall the Calgary Stampeders to their first CFL playoff win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders since 1994.
Calgary's 36-30 victory over Saskatchewan in Sunday's West Division semifinal propels the Stampeders to the division final against the B.C. Lions. The victor in Vancouver next Sunday advances to the Grey Cup Nov. 25 in Toronto.
Tate hit Romby Bryant on a 68-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining in the semifi-nal. A two-point convert attempt failed, Stampeder kicker Rene Paredes booted the subsequent kickoff 90 yards and the visitors conceded a single point.
"I knew no one was going to catch him," Tate said. "I was just hoping the ball was going to be a good ball."
The Roughriders had taken a 30-29 lead just 32 seconds before Bryant's heroics on a Darian Durant 24-yard throw to Gregg Carr.
Tate says he didn't remember much after taking a late helmet-to-helmet hit from Saskatchewan's Tearrius George early in the second quarter.
"I don't even remember the first half," Tate said. "I got my bell rung. All I remember is the second half."
Tate rose to his feet slowly after the George hit. He was flattened later on the same drive by Shomari Williams, who was called for roughing the passer as George was. Calgary's starting quarterback remained in the game and completed 22 of 36 pass attempts for 363 yards and two touchdown throws.
In his post-game comments, Stampeder coach and general manager John Hufnagel said he was unaware of Tate's mental state after the George hit. Tate insisted after the game that he wasn't concussed.
Calgary receiver Jabari Arthur scored his first career playoff touchdown and Calgary third-string quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell finished short-yardage plays for a pair of touchdowns.
Paredes was good on attempts from 50 and 40 yards.
Stampeder running back Jon Cornish, a finalist for the CFL's most outstanding player award, finished with 109 rushing yards on 18 carries.
