Feel good football Saturday for folks in Saskatoon

Roughriders, Valkyries provide sweet moments at SMF Field

Roughriders players meet their fans at SMF Field.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Saskatoon Valkyries brought out the warm and fuzzy feelings.

On Saturday, the CFL’s most popular franchise and the WWCFL’s most decorated powerhouse club took centre stage at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Roughriders were hosting their Green and White Day during the afternoon and the Valkyries hosted and downed their provincial rivals the Regina Riot in a night time WWCFL regular season contest to improve to 3-0 on the 2024 campaign.

Overall, it was a great day for football, and if you stayed for both events, you spent a fantastic nine hours at the storied football facility that dates back to 1960.

The festivities started at 1 p.m. with the annual “Rider State of the Nation” fan forum held in the main hall at the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds. Dave Thomas, who is the new play-by-play voice of the Roughriders, moderated a panel discussion that included the team’s first year head coach in Corey Mace, vice-president of football operations and general manager Jeremy O’Day and president and CEO Craig Reynolds.

Along with the panel discussion, a question and answer period was held for the fans in attendance.

Mace was the most popular person with the fans representing Rider Nation due to being the team’s new head coach. The sideline boss drew cheers when he said he wanted to build a team that reflected the natural makeup of the people of Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Pep Band plays on Saturday.

He said he plans for the team to field an aggressive defence. Mace added for another Grey Cup championship to be won the team and the province will do it together and hopefully have a celebration soon. Those words drew another ovation.

Outside in the plaza area that is shared by the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building, SMF Field and Joe Gallagher Field, all sorts of activities were happening during the time the fan forum was going on up until the Roughriders took part in on field activities at SMF Field.

There were kids’ games and also a play area for the youngsters. 

The Saskatchewan Roughrider Pep Band put on a performance and members of the Rider Cheer Team were stationed at the main gates along with wandering the grounds to meet the team’s supporters. Fans also got to interact with the team’s famed mascot in Gainer the Gopher.

On field activities started around 3:15 p.m. They started with a performance by the Rider Cheer Team, the introduction of Gainer and the Roughriders came out to their traditional “Bring ’Em Out” entrance.

In most past years, the on field activities usually saw the Roughriders hold an intrasquad game. With the Roughriders slated to host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in an exhibition contest on Monday at 2 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the Roughriders on field activities on Saturday focused more on preparation leading to the tilt with Winnipeg.

The Rider Cheer Team performs at SMF Field.

The team did special teams return drills, some scrimmage drills, seven-versus-seven drills, offensive line versus defensive line drill and field goal drills. Those activities wrapped up about 4:45 p.m., and the players and coaches proceeded to meet the fans hanging along the fence line.

Once the Roughriders departed the scene, the Valkyries and Riot took over SMF Field for their clash that kicked off at about 7:15 p.m. The contest was played under a setting sun that gave way to night fall with the game continuing under the stadium’s lights.

The clash turned into milestone night for the Valkyries, who rolled to 32-7 lead at halftime and cruise to a 41-7 victory. 

The win allowed the Valkyries to improve to 3-0 and lock up first place in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference. The Riot fell to 1-2.

The victory improved the Valkyries overall winning streak to 30 games. Their last loss came way back on June 24, 2018, when they dropped a 14-10 decision to the Riot in the WWCFL’s Championship Game played at Mosaic Stadium. Saskatoon has since won the last three WWCFL title games that have been played.

Alex Eyolfson fires a pass downfield for the Valkyries.

Valkyries star quarterback Alex Eyolfson completed 19-of-29 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. 

Valkyries star receiver Haley Girolami, who missed much of last season with a leg injury, showed she was back in top form catching five passes for 120 yards.

Star slotback Reed Thorstad hauled in seven passes for 99 yards and one touchdown for the host side. Star running back Sarah Wright led the Valkyries with 76 yards rushing coming on 13 carries. She scored one touchdown along the ground and one through the air.

Veteran receiver Ricki Obed had a receiving and a rushing touchdown for the Valkyries. Kicker Grace Moehler had a field goal, five converts and a single.

Riot star quarterback Aimee Kowalski completed 25-of-49 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown. 

Riot star receiver Shanelle Rioux caught nine passes for 112 yards and one touchdown. Morgan Taylor converted the Riot’s major score.

The Riot now take on the Manitoba Fearless (0-2) on May 26 at 1 p.m. at Leibel Field in Regina.

The Valkyries close their regular season schedule by traveling to winning on June 2 to face the Fearless at St. Vital Mustangs field at 1 p.m. local time.

The Valkyries are all smiles after their win on Saturday.

Overall, Saturday both day and night were alright at SMF Field. The Roughriders and Valkyries made it a feel good time for football fans in “The Bridge City.”

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

-------

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.