Labour Day Classic weekend good, not great as it once was

Mosaic Stadium set for the national anthem on Sunday.

    On the surface, it looks hard to complain about the Labour Day Classic weekend in Regina, but the weekend as a whole has shown cracks in its lustre.

    On Sunday, the Roughriders got a walk off game-winning, 26-yard field goal from kicker Brett Lauther to pull out a 19-17 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium. Lauther and punter Jon Ryan proceeded to lead a charge of teammates to Pil Country in the south end zone for a celebration.

    Most of the sellout crowd of 33,356 revelled in the host side’s victory outside of the sizable contingent that came out to cheer for the Bombers. A number of fans from Winnipeg, Man., make it out to Regina for the annual Labour Day Classic.

Roughriders fans check out the pre-game party at the armory.

    The Roughriders also managed to sneak in a handful of extra bodies as sellout crowds at Mosaic Stadium were usually capped at 33,350 before Sunday’s contest.

    The game itself was a good defensive battle, and the game day presentation around the contest is a spectacle. The Roughriders have done an outstanding job with their game day experience since moving into their new stadium in 2017 and for a sizable chunk of years before that at their long time home in Taylor Field.

    Still, the weekend as a whole seemed to be a bigger event at one point in time not so long ago.

    No matter what, the Labour Day weekend in Regina is always busy. It is the place to be in Saskatchewan on Labour Day weekend.

Bombers fans chill at Wayne’s World.

    A boat competition took place on Wascana Lake on Saturday.

    Usually the Regina Dragon Boat Festival takes place at this time, but it wasn’t run this year as Regina hosted dragon boat nationals in July. The Regina Dragon Boat Festival returns to its normal slot next year.

    The Shake the Lake concert rock festival took over the Conexus Art Centre on Friday and Saturday.

    For people coming in from out of town for the Labour Day Classic football game, it seems in recent years they arrive on Saturday to go to the Roughriders Fanfest in the morning, party later on that night and depart for the home after the game on Sunday. For the out of town folk that do stay Sunday night, they seem to keep a low profile.

    At one point in time, a sizable contingent from out of town arrived in Regina on Friday night. Parties and various concerts or functions happened Friday, Saturday and after the game on Sunday night that had some sort of tie in with the football game.

    The heyday for this type of action seemed to run from 2005 to 2014. I have attended the last 12 straight Labour Day Classic games in Regina and 19 since 1996 and the last time I saw a sizable contingent stay after the game and fill the Dewdney Avenue strip was 2014.

“The Golden Boy” fires up the Bombers fans at Wayne’s World.

    This year I arrived in Regina on Saturday and went out that night. I noticed it was busy out on the town and the presence of people wearing Roughriders and Blue Bombers gear was there.

    It wasn’t like in past years. Most people wore regular clothes you would wear on a night out, and people wearing team gear of the Roughriders and Bombers were in the minority.

    From 2005 to 2014, it seemed like everyone that went out on Labour Day Weekend was wearing some sort of gear from either the Roughriders or Bombers.

    On Sunday, I went out and took part in pre-game festivities in the three hours before the game. After the game, I did take a couple of Halls cough candies to get my voice back from cheering.

Roughriders fans came game ready with fun jabs for their rivals.

    I visited at the stadium for an hour and went to finish an unrelated Labour Day Classic sports story.

    After finishing the sports story, I drove by the Dewdney Strip at around 10 p.m., and it was fairly dead. I opted not to try and find a party and drove back home to Saskatoon.

    In past years after the Labour Day game on Sunday, the restaurants and nightclubs would be full right up to 2 a.m.

    After the Labour Day Classic in 2000, I remember being on Broad Street where two nightclubs in Lauderdales and Barts on Broad existed at the time across the street from each other. There were massive lines to get into both and a party on the street.

    One Roughriders fan was slow driving down the street in a hearse done up in Roughriders colours and signs on the vehicle said the Bombers were somehow located in a coffin inside the vehicle. 

Cody Fajardo (#7) fires a pass downfield for the Roughriders.

    This type of over the top but still good fan thing isn’t seen as much anymore.

    In a weird bit of scheduling, Regina’s two post-secondary football teams in the CJFL’s Thunder and U Sports’ University of Regina Rams were both playing regular season games on the road for this year’s Labour Day weekend on Saturday night.

    The Thunder beat the Rifles in 52-45 in overtime in Winnipeg. The Rams thumped the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 46-16 in Vancouver, B.C.

    For the longest time, the Rams would always try to start the U Sports campaign playing the University of Manitoba Bisons at home on the Saturday night before the CFL Labour Day Classic clash on Sunday. Winnipeg fans that came for the Bombers game usually went to the Bisons versus Rams game on Saturday night and spend a tonne on concessions.

RB William Powell (#29) follows his blocking downfield.

    In 2016, the Thunder hosted the Rifles in a very successful game at Leibel Field on the Saturday night before the Labour Day Classic.

    Those post-secondary games on the Saturday night usually acted as a primer for the CFL contest on Sunday.

    It seemed weird that both the Thunder and Rams would be scheduled to be on the road this weekend.

    Kudos go out to Rod Pedersen, Darren Dupont and the crew from The Rod Pedersen show for organizing the inaugural Rod Pedersen’s All-Star/Celebrity Football Game at Leibel Field on Saturday night. The touch football game was a fundraiser for Regina Minor Football and the Regina Riot of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League.

    Team White downed Team Green 30-28 and a fun time was had by all.

The Roughriders charge into Pil Country to celebrate their win on Sunday.

    The 2010 Labour Day Classic weekend might have been the most busy as the Roughriders were celebrating their 100^th anniversary. Throughout the weekend there seemed to be countless events going on throughout Regina that had a tie in with the CFL contest.

    There was a time around 2013 the Labour Day Classic used to sell out two hours after Roughriders put single game tickets up for sale usually on June 1. In recent years, the game hasn’t sold out until about two to four days before game day.

    The Labour Day Classic weekend is still good, but it is no longer that lost weekend of three nights of parties that it once was. The three nights of craziness might be something that doesn’t return.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Bring on the Bombers – Rider Nation feeling sky high about their Roughriders

Naaman Roosevelt throws his touchdown reception ball into the crowd.

    REGINA, Sask. – “Winnipeg Blue Bombers, we want you!”

    If you are a fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, you are dreaming big dreams right now. On Saturday before 32,328 members of Rider Nation at Mosaic Stadium, the Roughriders hammered the Ottawa Redblacks 40-18 in a CFL regular season clash.

    The win was the fifth in a row for the Roughriders helping them improve to 6-3, while the Redblacks fell to 3-7. In the immediate aftermath of that game, you are likely in an overreaction state of bliss, if you cheer for the Roughriders.

Kyran Moore, right, head up field after making a catch.

    Next up – the Labour Day Classic.

    The Roughriders return to action on Sunday, Sept. 1, when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who lead the CFL’s West Division at 8-2, at 1 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

    As a Roughriders fan, you are thinking, “Blue Bombers, we are going to kick your (explanative)!”

    This should not come as any sort of bulletin board material for the Winnipeg side. Roughriders fans relish seeing the Blue Bombers lose, and that is a safe given fact.

Cody Fajardo (#7) throws a touchdown pass for the Roughriders.

    The only team Roughriders fans likely love to see lose more than the Blue Bombers are the hated Calgary Stampeders.

    Plus, excitement skyrockets because the Labour Day Classic game between the Roughriders and Blue Bombers is usually an annual celebration of Rider Nation. That celebration is usually topped by the fact the Roughriders seemingly never lose that game.

    The Roughriders have won 13 of the last 14 Labour Day Classic games. I have attended 18 editions of the Labour Day Classic and the Roughriders have a 16-2 record against the Blue Bombers in those outings.

    On top of all that, the Roughriders looked great in Saturday’s win over the Redblacks. Coming off the bye week, the Roughriders put together a total team win.

Gainer the Gopher makes his rounds after a Roughriders touchdown.

    The host side was opportunistic putting the boots to Ottawa early scoring 17 points off turnovers in the first quarter to go ahead 17-0.

    Roughriders defensive back Nick Marshall intercepted Redblacks starting quarterback Dominique Davis for the first turnover. That set up a short three-play 21-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a four-yard scoring run by tailback William Powell to give the Roughriders a 7-0 lead.

    On Ottawa’s next series, Davis was picked by Roughriders defensive back L.J. McCray. That set up a short five-play 39-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 14-yard scoring run by rising star quarterback Cody Fajardo, which put the Roughriders up 14-0.

    On Ottawa’s next series, Davis was picked by Roughriders linebacker Derrick Moncrief. 

Redblacks RT Evan Johnson battles Roughriders RE Charleston Hughes. 

    Davis wouldn’t return under centre after that play as he was pulled for backup quarterback Jonathon Jennings.

    Saskatchewan turned Davis’s third interception into a 46-yard field goal from Brett Lauther to give the host a 17-0 lead.

    The Roughriders edge extended to 20-0 early in the second quarter on 43-yard field goal from Lauther.

    While the Redblacks battled back eventually getting the score to a 21-12 advantage in favour of the Roughriders at one point in the second quarter, it never felt like the visitors would rally back all the way.

    Saskatchewan pulled away from that point. Lauther hit a 49-yard field goal to give the Roughriders a 24-12 advantage at halftime.

    Punter Jon Ryan hit a 56-yard punt single in the third quarter to go with his 51-yard punt single in the second quarter to put the Roughriders up 25-12.

Roughriders DT Makana Henry charges at the quarterback.

    After kicker Lewis Ward nailed a 44-yard field goal for the Redblacks to cut the Roughriders edge to 25-15, Fajardo hit Roughriders receiver Naaman Roosevelt for a 15-yard touchdown toss to give the Roughriders a 32-15 lead before the third quarter came to a close.

    In the fourth quarter, a 32-yard missed field goal single from Lauther and a 23-yard touchdown run from Powell rounded out the Roughriders scoring.

    Ward had three other field goals to go with his third quarter kick for the Redblacks. Jennings hit receiver Dominique Rhymes with a 75-yard touchdown toss in the second quarter, but Ward missed the convert after that score.

    On the day, the Roughriders forced five turnovers while not committing any turnovers themselves. Defensive end Charleston Hughes and defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy each forced and recovered fumbles to go with the three interceptions their Saskatchewan teammates caught in the first quarter.

The Roughriders pour off their bench to mark their win.

    Fajardo had a solid game completing 24-of-36 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown. He ran the ball five times for 38 yards and his major score.

    In this game, Fajardo just needed to be a cog in the machine as his team fired in all facets of the game. As a team, the Roughriders piled up 122 yards on the ground.

    When you cheer for the Roughriders, there is always a fear the floor will fall out from under the team without any notice. It always feels like the breaks go against the Roughriders more than they go for the Roughriders over the long haul.

    Currently in the present, this feels like it could be a blessed season.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Roughriders had good season, can’t cannibalize over one game

Kyran Moore celebrates a punt return touchdown for the Roughriders.

    Sheer panic gripped Rider Nation way back in just Week 3 of the CFL season.

    On June 30, the Saskatchewan Roughriders fell to 1-2 dropping a 23-17 decision to the lowly Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium. With that win, the Alouettes halted a 13 game losing streak that dated back to the previous season.

    That was also the Roughriders “Humboldt Strong” game, where the green and white were honouring the junior A Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

The Roughriders defence played tough in 2018.

    The CFL contest was part of the various efforts to rally and support the Broncos in the wake of an April 6 team bus crash that resulted in the deaths of 16 players and team officials and injuries to 13 other players on the team.

    There was a vocal contingent of Roughriders fans that wondered what type of team they were cheering for. A consensus existed in the fan base that 2018 would be a non-playoff year.

    Fast forward five months and the Roughriders finished second overall in the CFL regular season and the West Division with a 12-6 mark. Had they won just one more game, they would have beat out the Calgary Stampeders for top spot overall in the league and first in the West Division.

Special teams ace Jordan Reaves emerged as a fan favourite.

    If any member of Rider Nation was told that would be the type of regular season the Roughriders would have, they would all likely sign up to take it.

    Unfortunately, the overall memory of the Roughriders in 2018 comes from their last game. In the West Division semifinal just seven days ago on Nov. 11, they dropped a 23-18 decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

    In the aftermath of that clash, there was a huge uproar over an unpenalized helmet-to-helmet shot hit delivered by Bombers defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat to Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge in the second last play of the game. That hit knocked Bridge out of the game.

    To add further insult to the Roughriders and their fans, the team lost starting quarterback Zach Collaros in the club’s final regular season game on Oct. 27, when he was hit helmet to helmet by British Columbia Lions defensive lineman Odell Willis in a 35-16 Saskatchewan victory.

QB Zach Collaros missed five total games due to injury in 2018.

    The uncontrollable aspects of the game mounted against the Roughriders at the end of their 2018 campaign.

    Still, they were likely two changed plays away from winning the playoff encounter against Winnipeg.

    In an idealistic world, it would be cool to see most of the roster return to see if they can improve on where they left off. Due to the realities of professional sports, there will likely be medium sized turnover at least.

    The Roughriders defence played strong in 2018. Players like defensive backs Jovon Johnson and Nick Marshall, defensive tackle Zack Evans, linebacker Samuel Eguavoen, and defensive ends Willie Jefferson and Charleston Hughes, despite his legal troubles with charges from an alleged diving under the influence incident that are before the courts, all had outstanding years.

Roughriders DB Jovon Johnson, second from left, was out in the community.

    All were great at dealing with the fans, and in the case of Johnson and Jefferson, getting out into the community.

    Brett Lauther, who was the team’s 28-year-old kicker, played a full CFL season for the first time in his life, and he made 54-of-60 field goal attempts with his long coming from 56 yards out. The Truno, N.S., product played well enough to earn a look from an NFL team. He deserves that chance to come his way.

    Special teams ace Jordan Reaves grew into a fan favourite with his hustle and the fact he got his nose dirty doing unglamourous work like blowing up blocks.

    On offence, the Roughriders bit the bullet and decided to go with a younger group of receivers, and they steadily improved as they gained experience as the campaign moved on. You pass catchers like Jordan Williams-Lambert and Kyran Moore were fun to watch.

Jordan Williams-Lambert, left, became a key receiver for the Roughriders.

    The ground game was in the capable hands of Tre Mason, Marcus Thigpen and Cameron Marshall.

    The offensive line had some ups and downs, but always had a steady base anchored by Brendon LaBatte and Dan Clark.

    If the Roughriders had more consistent play at quarterback, they would have placed first overall in the league. Bridge seemed to regress, which was unfortunate. Bridge is a phenomenal person who is easy to cheer for.

    Collaros appeared in 14 of the Roughriders regular season games and missed four regular season games and the club’s playoff contest due to injury. He was good at reading defences and had a good command of the offence.

HC and GM Chris Jones did a great job guiding the 2018 Roughriders.

    The Steubenville, Ohio, product seemed to struggle throwing the ball deep and throwing wide side outs. There were times opposing defences gave him those options and focused on defending short and intermediate routes expecting him to struggle with deep and wide side out throws.

    Seeing those physical flaws, a few Roughriders fans have gone public with a dream that the team might be able to sign soon to be free agent Edmonton Eskimos star quarterback Mike Reilly.

    Head coach and general manager Chris Jones often takes criticism from the fans. He has always been a great coach, and he is improving in the general manager’s role. Looking at the Roughriders over the past three seasons, Jones is proving to be a good hire by the club.

Rider Nation is always ready to back their team.

    An incoming football operations salary cap next season will mean Jones will be releasing some coaching staff and other football operations staff.

    In 2018, it seemed like the expectations for the Roughriders by the fans increased as the team’s win total grew larger.
    When a loss did happened, it seemed fan criticism went more overboard than normal, which is part of life being with the Roughriders.

    Overall, the campaign was a good one for the Roughriders, and it created a lot of excitement for the fans.

The Roughriders celebrated victory on 12 occasions in 2018.

    The good did overshadow the bad for the green and white in 2018.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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The curious case of the Saskatchewan Roughriders

CFL team’s season could go in many directions

QB Brandon Bridge (#16) calls a play in the huddle for the Roughriders.

    REGINA - The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a 3-3 middle of the pack team like their record says.

    Over their first six outings, they have often been a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of squad being at their best and at their worst in the same game regardless if they win or lose. Saturday’s 34-22 setback to the 6-0 Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium proved to be another example of that trend for the Green and White.

    The Roughriders were at their best on the defensive side of the ball. They limited the powerful Stampeders offence to just 242 total yards for the entire game.

Terry Williams, left, celebrates a punt return TD with Richard Sindani.

    Veteran star defensive end Charleston Hughes, who spent his first 10 CFL campaigns with the Stampeders, is still a beast at age 34. He recorded two sacks for the Roughriders and leads the entire CFL with eight sacks.

    Defensive lineman Tobi Antigha, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 223 pounds, proved he is a heck of an athlete. Dropping into pass coverage, he collected his second interception of the season in the second quarter of Saturday’s game. This time, he returned the ball back 52 yards to the end zone for a pick-six.

    On defence, a myriad of players proved they can continually get the job done like Samuel Eguavoen, Ed Gainey, Mike Edem, Eddie Steele, Zach Evans, Jovon Johnson and Willie Jefferson. Duron Carter, who is normally a receiver on offence, is improving each game since being inserted at defensive back full time in Week 2.

Eric Rogers (#15) reacts to scoring a touchdown for the Stampeders.

    Place kicker Brett Lauther had a monster game on Saturday hitting all five of his field goal attempts including a monster shot from 56 yards out shortly before the end of the first half. The Truno, N.S., product also connected from 35, 48, 32 and 47 yards out.

    The Roughriders were at their worst in the first quarter of Saturday’s game making a bunch of gaffs to fall behind 24-0.

    The surge started early in that frame, when Roughriders running back Marcus Thigpen fumbled the ball away. It took the Stampeders just one play to score, when star quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell hit receiver Marken Michel on a deep corner route for a 41-yard touchdown pass.

The Roughriders celebrate Tobi Antigha’s pick-six.

    After Rene Paredes booted a 52-yard field goal to put the Stampeders up 10-0, the visitors went ahead 17-0 when Terry Williams returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown.

    The bleeding didn’t stop there for the Roughriders. Running back Jerome Messam fumbled the ball away, and the Stampeders recovered it at the Saskatchewan 40.

    Calgary drove that distance in four plays to score another touchdown, when Mitchell hit receiver Eric Rogers with a 15-yard scoring toss.

    The Roughriders offence was not a pretty sight gaining just 247 yards on the night, fumbling the ball away a total of four times and turning the ball over on downs once.

Charleston Hughes hit the big screen with a couple of sack celebrations.

    Thanks to a defensive score and four field goals, the Roughriders were able to trim the Stampeders lead to 24-19 with 5:20 to play in the third quarter. One of those field goals came after Williams fumbled away a punt return.

    Saskatchewan’s offence couldn’t sustain any drives or make any big plays to create some much needed major scores. Running back Tre Mason had the longest play from scrimmage for the Roughriders with an 18-yard run.

    Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge fulfilled the role of game manager completing 19-of-29 passes for 147 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and he wasn’t responsible for any of Saskatchewan’s four fumbles. The Saskatchewan coaching staff didn’t call any plays which would allow Bridge to stretch the field.

Rider Nation signals a first down for the hosts at Mosaic Stadium.

    The breaks didn’t go the Roughriders way either. With the Stampeders holding a 24-19 lead, the Roughriders had an interception from defensive back Crezdon Butler negated by a tough illegal contact on the receiver penalty on Johnson that could have gone either way.

    On the ensuing play after Butler’s interception was taken away, Mitchell hit receiver DeVaris Daniels with a 15-yard touchdown toss to put the Stampeders up 31-19.

    To make things worse on Saturday, the Roughriders couldn’t deliver a win before a sellout crowd of 33,350 – most of whom wanted to see the host side defeat one of their biggest rivals outside of a few pockets of Stampeders supporters.

Mascot “Gainer the Gopher” circles the field.

    Over the first third of their regular season schedule, the Roughriders have hit equal parts of the spectrum of being good and bad. Despite their inconsistencies, they could possibly be 5-1.

    Back on June 30, the Roughriders dropped a 23-17 decision to the Montreal Alouettes, who are 1-5 on the campaign. That was a game that slipped away.

    On Saturday, the Stampeders did not look indestructible like they have at points in the past decade and appeared very beatable. That contest in the end was another that got away from Saskatchewan.

    The Roughriders defence has found its groove. The Roughriders offence looks to be hurt by the fact the deck might have been shuffled too much from last season.

    Bakari Grant, Rob Bagg and Nic Demski, who missed a lengthy stretch due to injury, were all regular receivers last season, and all are no longer with the team. Carter, who had 1,043 yards receiving last season for the Roughriders, has been used sparingly on offence.

    The Roughriders offensive line has had struggles but is getting better. Saskatchewan could draw from the steady influence of veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn last season, but he is now with the Edmonton Eskimos.

QB Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders were opportunistic.

    On the injury front, the Roughriders are due to get defensive back Nick Marshall back off the six-game injured list after he sits out one more contest. Starting quarterback Zach Collaros has spent four contests on the six-game injured list with a concussion.

    When both return, the Roughrider deck will be shuffled in a way that might help the offence. Both will be missing, when the Roughriders travel to Edmonton to face the Eskimos (4-2) this coming Thursday.

    At the moment, the Roughriders are an average team in the CFL. They still can potentially be really good, really bad or finish out the regular season at 9-9.

    They are at a crossroads, and no one can predict with certainty how they will finish.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Roughriders’ victory clunky but very much welcome

Duron Carter (#89) defends a pass for the Roughriders.

    REGINA – The Saskatchewan Roughriders latest victory was so clunky that even the scoreboard operator began to act in similar fashion.

    With 8:54 remaining in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s CFL regular season clash at Mosaic Stadium, kicker Brett Lauther booted a 41-yard field goal to give the host Saskatchewan Roughriders a 12-10 lead over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The scoreboard operator accidently put the three points up on Hamilton’s side of the ledger, and the Tiger-Cats were listed as having a 13-9 edge.

    Some of the 30,594 spectators in attendance had a bit of a short freak out. The mistake was spotted and the scoreboard was eventually corrected in about 30 seconds of real time listing Saskatchewan as holding a 12-10 edge.

    A little over three minutes later, the Tigers-Cats went back in front 13-12, when Hamilton kicker Lirim Hajrullahu nailed a 39-yard field goal.

    The Roughriders went back out in front 18-13 with 1:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, when running back Marcus Thigpen ran home a touchdown from 34 yards out to cap a four-play drive that covered 77 yards. The ensuing two-point conversion failed after the seventh lead change in the contest.

Roughrider receiver Naaman Roosevelt (#82) tries to avoid tacklers.

    The 18-13 scored held up as the final after the Roughriders stopped the Tigers-Cats on their last ditch two-minute drill drive. Both teams saw their respective records sit at 2-2 following the contest.

    While the win wasn’t a work of art, the Roughriders and their fans will gladly take it. The victory helped give relief from the sting of a confidence deflating two-game losing skid.

    Before the win over the Tiger-Cats, the Roughriders were crushed 40-17 on June 21 to the Redblacks in Ottawa. Saskatchewan followed that performance up with a 23-17 setback at Mosaic Stadium to the Montreal Alouettes, who had lost 13 straight regular season games heading into that contest.

QB Jeremiah Masoli (#8) had 333 passing yards for the Tiger-Cats.

    If Rider Nation wasn’t panicking, the fans had their hand over the panic button. If there wasn’t panic, there seemed to be quiet fear the Roughriders were going to embark on a bad season.

    The Roughriders are currently forced to work through key injuries to starting quarterback Zach Collaros and defensive back Nick Marshall. The play of their offensive line had been suspect.

    After two deflating losses, most Saskatchewan fans didn’t think their Roughriders could a Tiger-Cats squad that was coming off two straight impressive wins.

    Even in desperate times, over 30,000 came out to support the Roughriders outside of a sprinkling of Hamilton supporters. There wasn’t much for the home side to cheer about over the first 20 minutes as Hamilton slowly built a 4-0 lead.

    With 5:22 remaining in the second quarter, it appeared Roughriders starting quarterback Brandon Bridge scored on a 15-yard touchdown run.

The Roughriders’ special teams takes down Tiger-Cats KR Brandon Banks.

    On video review, it was ruled he fumbled before crossing the goal-line and the Tiger-Cats recovered the ball in the end zone to end the scoring threat.

    For fans in attendance, Bridge’s fumble seemed like par for the course looking back at the Roughriders two previous games.

    On the Tiger-Cats ensuing possession, Roughriders defensive lineman Charleston Hughes created a huge spark knocking the ball high into the air out of the hands of Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Hughes grabbed the ball in the air and raced 57 yards downfield for a defensive touchdown to give Saskatchewan a 6-4 lead.

Charleston Hughes had a big game on Thursday night for the Roughriders.

    In classic Roughriders form, Lauther proceeded to miss the ensuing conversion attempt.

    Hajrullahu kicked a 30-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to give the Tiger-Cats a 7-6 edge at halftime.

    Despite doing very little on offence, the Roughriders had a legitimate chance to win.

    The teams traded field goals in the third quarter to allow Hamilton to exit the frame with a 10-9 edge. That set the stage for the dramatics in the fourth quarter.

    From a fan perspective, the Roughriders have a tendency to lose games they shouldn’t lose but seem to manage to win games they shouldn’t win.

    Masoli completed 23 of 43 passes for 333 yards to mark the ninth straight regular season game he surpassed 300 passing yards to equal a CFL record held by Sam Etcheverry and Kent Austin. Etcheverry achieved his streak in 1956 with the Alouettes, while Austin accomplished the same feat in 1991 with the Roughriders.

Christion Jones (#22) returns a kick for the Roughriders.

    Despite Masoli’s big game, the Roughrider still won.

    On the Saskatchewan side offensively, no one had an outstanding night.
    The Roughriders offensive really only caught fire for one series, and that was on the 77-yard march that resulted in the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

    That series included an acrobatic 29-yard catch from receiver Joshua Stanford and Thigpen’s 34-yard touchdown run.

    When the game ended, Roughriders fans were elated their team won, but that elation seemed followed by a stunned query of, “Did we actually win that game?”

Members of Rider Nation celebrate the Roughrider victory.

    Going into a bye week, Thursday’s win brings some relief and restores some optimism to the Roughriders and their fans.

    The Roughriders now have ample time to prepare for their next game on July 19, when they travel to Hamilton to face the Tiger-Cats once again.

Back in the Express with NCAA champ

    I was back in the pages of the Saskatoon Express this week with a story on National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I lacrosse champion in Brendan Rooney.

    Rooney is a Saskatoon product who just completed his third season playing for the Yale University Bulldogs lacrosse team. He scored a goal for Yale, when they down the Duke University Blue Devils 13-11 in the NCAA lacrosse championship game on May 28 in Foxboro, Mass.

    A forward with the Yale lacrosse team, Rooney majors in molecular bio-physics and biochemistry in the classroom and aims to get into Yale’s medical school. He has a not so ordinary summer job too.

    The story on Rooney can be found by clicking right here.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Cheering for the Roughriders is not a joyride

Roughriders DB Ed Gainey defends a pass in the end zone.

    REGINA – It was one of those nights you sat in the stands at Mosaic Stadium and asked yourself, “Why do I cheer for this team?”

    The question is asked with both dismay and amusement after the host Saskatchewan Roughriders dropped a 23-17 decision to the Montreal Alouettes in a CFL regular season clash on Saturday. Both sides sport 1-2 records following the contest.

    Going into the game, you thought it was a contest the Roughriders couldn’t lose. The Alouettes had lost 13 straight regular season games dating back to last season and seemed poised to go a full calendar year without a win.

Signs supporting the Humboldt Broncos were all over Mosaic Stadium.

    Saturday was also the “Humboldt Strong” game, where the Roughriders were honouring the junior A Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

    Back on April 6, the bus carrying the Broncos team was involved in a collision with a semitrailer about 30 kilometres north of Tisdale. The Broncos were on their way to Nipawin for an SJHL playoff game against the Hawks.

    The crash resulted in the deaths of 16 players and team officials and injuries to 13 other players from the team.

    The Roughriders played host to the Broncos immediate and billet family members, officials from the Broncos organization, the community of Humboldt and first responders who helped the victims on the day of the crash. Numerous “Humboldt Strong” signs were displayed throughout the stadium and ribbons were painted on the turf at the 29 yard line to represent the 29 people who were on board the Broncos bus.

DL Eddie Steele leads the Roughriders on to the field.

    During the pre-game ceremonies, a rousing video tribute was shown for the Broncos and people involved with the team were brought to the field.

    Defensive lineman Eddie Steele led the Roughriders on to the field and the near sellout crowd of 33,308 listed on the CFL website roared in huge appreciation. Surviving Broncos players took part in the coin toss, which was performed with a Broncos puck, and Steele told the Broncos players the Roughriders were playing for them.

    As a fan, the feeling at that moment was, “We are going to roll the Montreal Alouettes. We are going to make the Montreal Alouettes wish they were never born.”

    On the Roughriders first offensive play, quarterback Brandon Bridge fired a deep pass to wide open running back Marcus Thigpen, who let the ball fall through his hands. Had Thigpen caught the ball, he was in the clear to sail home on a possible 76-yard touchdown reception.

Roughriders DL Eddie Steele (#97) charges to the field.

    It felt like the air was let out of the stadium.

    For Roughriders fans, this was a “here we go again” bad omen.

    From that point, a defensive slugfest ensued that was aided by some really bad offence by both sides. Montreal finished with 287 yards of total offence, while Saskatchewan had 279 yards.

    The Roughriders never led in the game. Montreal held a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, and Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther hit a 39-yard field goal with 4:42 to play in the second quarter to force a 3-3 tie.

    The Alouettes went into halftime scoring 10 straight points to go ahead 13-3 on a 79-yard touchdown toss from quarterback Drew Willie to receiver Chris Williams and a 32-yard field goal from kicker Boris Bede.

Humboldt Broncos players take part in the “puck” toss.

    Williams was the only one that a good night offensively hauling in three passes for 130 yards.

Still as a fan, you are trying to convince yourself the “real Roughriders” would come out in the second half and put the boots to the Alouettes. For a moment, you try to believe what you are seeing isn’t real.

    At the start of the second half, the Roughriders insert 25-year-old David Watford into the game for his first action ever as a CFL quarterback. As a fan, you think this is an act of desperation with the Roughriders coaches stretching to look for a spark.

Members of the Humboldt Broncos watch game action from the sidelines.

    The game grinds into the fourth quarter with the Alouettes holding a 17-6 edge.

    Early in the fourth quarter, there was finally a spark, when Roughriders kick returner Christion Jones bought a punt back 53 yards to the Montreal 17 yard line. Just two plays later, Watford hit Roughriders star receiver Naaman Roosevelt for a five-yard touchdown pass to cut the gap to 17-12. The two point conversion failed but there was life.

    On the ensuing Montreal possession, Alouettes running back Tyrell Sutton fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Roughriders defensive end Willie Jefferson at the Montreal 33 yard line.

QB David Watford, top centre, throws a pass for the Roughriders.

    This was the time the Roughriders were finally going to go ahead. Instead, a pass by Watford to open Roughriders receiver Caleb Holley in the end zone deflected off the upright. The hosts settled for a 25-yard field goal from Lauther to cut the Alouettes edge to 17-15.

    Bede booted two more field goals for the Alouettes before conceding a safety with one second left on the clock to leave the Alouettes holding a 23-17 lead.

    The Roughriders attempted to pull the “Stanford Marching Band” play making a number of laterals in a desperate final kickoff return to score. It appeared Roosevelt found a crease, and he was going to score. He was stopped after a 40-yard gain.

Roughriders DL Zach Evans (#92) looks to get past a blocker.

    As a fan, you come away thinking “typical Roughriders.”

    While you remember great times cheering for the team like Grey Cup wins in 1966, 1989, 2007 and 2013, you are well aware of a history of bad times.

    Roughriders’ fans know the term “Reign of Error” to describe the club’s plight of missing the CFL post-season for 11-consecutive years from 1977 to 1987. You remember hapless stretches like missing the playoffs for four straight years from 1998 to 2001 and a 3-15 campaign as recently as 2015.

    Even Grey Cup appearances can bring back bad memories. Just mention “Too Many Men Game,” and Roughriders fans think of the 28-27 Grey Cup loss to the Alouettes in 2009.

Roughriders kick returner Christion Jones (#22) looks to lateral the ball.

    After Saturday’s game finished and even on radio post-game shows, fans sent criticism the Roughriders way. I found the rage aspect to be subdued this time around in the immediate aftermath compared to the Roughriders 40-17 loss on June 21 to the Redblacks in Ottawa.

    It seemed like there was more quiet disappointment and the acceptance of the possibility that this could be a bad Roughriders season. Too many of the team’s followers have seen this script before.

    With that said, there are still loud voices on social media looking to get their disappointment across.

    On the bright side, it was nice to wake up on Sunday morning and see social media posts from people connected to Humboldt and the SJHL Broncos that they had a great time at Saturday’s Roughriders game despite the final outcome.

The Humboldt Broncos supporters had fun at Saturday’s game.

    It seemed the night out with the larger Saskatchewan community was another step in the healing process. Being out with others in public was important.

    That reaction put into perspective that the Roughriders and Alouettes were just playing a game.

    As a fan, you are reminded of the fact the Roughriders play through lots of downs and ups in the past, and they will play through those in the future.

    Even during a down game on the field, it is still a nice distraction from regular life.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.