SO MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE STAMPS SCHOOLED THE RIDERS
The Calgary Stampeders embraced the back-to-school spirit shortly after classes were dismissed for the summer.
On July 6, the Stampeders delivered a stern tutorial to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, eviscerating the home side
37-10 at Mosaic Stadium.
Calgary lived up to its reputation as a CFL powerhouse while handing Saskatchewan its third loss in its first four games.
At that point, it was difficult to imagine that the thoroughly schooled Roughriders would ultimately be in the conversation with the Stampeders as the West Division race unfolded.
Well, guess what? With a 5-3 record, Saskatchewan is actually ahead of Calgary (5-4).
While the Stampeders spend their bye week wondering how an 11-point lead evaporated late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 40-34 loss to the visiting Alouettes, the Roughriders are sporting a four-game winning streak.
That skein will almost certainly be extended Saturday when the Roughriders play host to the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6).
What a strange, unpredictable season this has been.
The Roughriders kicked off the 2019 campaign in inglorious fashion, losing 23-17 to the host Hamilton Tiger-cats on June 13.
Even though quarterback Zach Collaros was concussed on the third play from scrimmage, the Roughriders dominated the time of possession (36:05) — albeit without demonstrating any explosiveness.
Entering a June 20 game in Ottawa, it was reasonable to wonder whether the Roughriders had any capacity for moving the football through the air. To that point, Cody Fajardo had not demonstrated any inclination or ability to throw downfield.
So, naturally, Fajardo adopted a bombs-away approach, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-41 loss at TD Place.
Saskatchewan scored five offensive touchdowns but nonetheless lamented a defeat and an 0-2 record.
The Riders responded with a 32-7 victory over the hapless Argonauts on July 1, only to experience a bitter reality check five days later against Calgary.
Since then, Saskatchewan is 4-0. Calgary is 3-3.
One could attribute the Stampeders’ recent mediocrity to the absence of starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, except for one thing: His replacement, Nick Arbuckle, was 31-for-36 for 370 yards on Saturday, with four touchdowns and nary an interception. The Stampeders still lost.
Consider, too, that Calgary is hardly alone when it comes to dealing with an injury to the starting quarterback.
The season had barely begun when Fajardo stepped in for Collaros.
In Winnipeg, the 7-2 Blue Bombers are about to find out what life is like for the underappreciated Matt Nichols, who is on the six-game injured list with an arm or shoulder issue.
Hamilton is also 7-2 even though its No. 1 pivot, Jeremiah Masoli, is lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Toronto’s best option behind centre, James Franklin, injured a hamstring against the Roughriders and has not played a down since Canada Day.
A concussion sidelined Montreal’s Vernon Adams Jr. for one game — a storm-shortened, 17-10 loss to Saskatchewan on Aug. 9 at Percival Molson Stadium. Considering the manner in which Adams performed Saturday in Calgary, the Roughriders are certainly lucky that he was unavailable when they played in Montreal.
Saskatchewan should also benefit from fortuitous scheduling on Saturday, when the regressing Redblacks provide the opposition.
The anticipated victory would move Saskatchewan one full game ahead of Calgary at the midpoint of the 2019 season.
Who could have envisioned that on July 6?