Riders are no longer CFL West pushovers

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are close to taming the CFL’s West Division.

Saskatchewan improved its record to 5-4 — and 3-3 against West Division teams — with Sunday’s 38-24 win over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The surprising aspect of the Roughriders’ resurgence has been their performance against West Division opponents. On Aug. 5, the Riders dropped to 3-22 against teams in the West since mid-September of 2014 as a consequence of a 30-15 loss to the host B.C. Lions. That was the first of five consecutive games against divisional foes.

The Riders rebounded to beat the Lions (41-8 at Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 13), the host Edmonton Eskimos (54-31 on Aug. 25) and most recently the Blue Bombers.

The Riders are 3-1 against West Division teams in a five-game stretch that is to conclude Saturday in Winnipeg. Saskatchewan was 2-4 after the Aug. 5 loss in Vancouver.

“The biggest thing is offensively we’re moving the ball and getting on teams early,’’ Riders centre Brendon LaBatte said. “When we allow our defence to work from being ahead and not having to turn the ball over and force the issue, we’re letting them go out and do their jobs.’’

Sunday’s win moved the Riders from last in the West to fourth, ahead of the Lions (5-5) and behind the third-place Blue Bombers (7-3). The Riders own the tiebreaker against the Lions by virtue of having won the two-game season series (based on points for and against differential between the teams).

Why the turnaround?

“It’s believing in each other and understanding that if we don’t make mistakes on defence it will be tough for teams to beat us,’’ cornerback Jovon Johnson said.

“We put a unit on the field every week and we have experience as a group by doing things off the field that have helped us come together.’’

The Riders could add to their list of accomplishments this season with a win over the Blue Bombers on Saturday. Such a result would keep the Green and White on a roll and secure the season series, which is tied 1-1.

“You know that it’s going to be real tough,’’ Saskatchewan defensive halfback Ed Gainey said.

“(The Bombers) never stopped fighting and they played to the end. Going into their house, their fans are going to be loud as they were here (on Sunday). We’re going to have to focus and communicate in all phases of the game and take the fight to them.’’