RIDERS HIT THE ROAD
QB Kevin Glenn’s status uncertain
WINNIPEG The road doesn’t get any easier for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Riders were beaten 48-28 by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saturday’s Banjo Bowl at Investors Group Field, where the Green and White’s winning streak was snapped at three games.
There are also doubts regarding the health of starting quarterback Kevin Glenn, who injured his throwing hand Saturday. There likely won’t be an update on Glenn’s status until Monday when the Riders return to practice.
The loss, meanwhile, dropped the Riders’ road record to 1-4 and their overall mark to 5-5. The Blue Bombers improved 8-3 while winning the rubber match of the season series between the CFL West Division foes.
The Riders are to play three of their next four games away from Mosaic Stadium, beginning Friday against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Saskatchewan then opposes the visiting Calgary Stampeders on Sept. 24 before playing backto-back road games — against the Ottawa Redblacks (Sept. 29) and Toronto Argonauts (Sept. 7).
“We’ve been talking about the schedule and the next few games a lot,’’ Riders middle linebacker Henoc Muamba said. “Our coach has a good plan for us in terms of practices and taking care of our bodies. We can approach the games like that and be mentally focused because the practices aren’t going to be physical with so many games and so much travel involved.’’
Adding to the challenge is the uncertainty about Glenn, whose right hand was injured after contacting an onrushing Blue Bomber with 4:07 left in the third quarter.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, told CKRM on Saturday that the team didn’t think Glenn’s hand was broken, but “even that’s premature.’’
Glenn’s replacement, Brandon Bridge, capped the possession on which Glenn was hurt by scoring a 10-yard touchdown run and throwing for a two-point conversion, narrowing Winnipeg ’s lead to 38-28. The Blue Bombers scored the final 10 points.
Bridge doesn’t plan on changing his approach, regardless of Glenn’s status. “I’m going to approach it like I do every week — as if I am starting,’’ Bridge said. “I’m going to watch film, have a great week of preparation and a great week of practice.’’
Glenn threw touchdown passes to Duron Carter (88 yards) and Naaman Roosevelt (75). Glenn also directed a touchdown drive that was capped by Kienan LaFrance’s one-yard run.
Glenn completed 15 of 22 passes for 327 yards, with two TDs and two interceptions. Bridge was 4-for-8 for 67 yards, with an interception.
“(Bridge) played like a young kid,’’ Jones said. “He made some good throws and we have to catch the football when we throw it.’’
The Riders were outplayed in all facets of Saturday’s game, something the Riders had done to the Blue Bombers in a 38-24 win over Winnipeg on Sept. 3 at Mosaic Stadium.
Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols threw three touchdown passes — to two Clarence Denmark and one to Ryan Lankford. Winnipeg’s Maurice Leggett scored on a 97-yard punt return and a 54-yard interception return. Dan LeFevour, on a one-yard run, had the Bombers’ other TD.
“They executed and we didn’t play a full game from beginning to end,” Muamba said. “We played well in some parts of the game, but not enough to get the win. A shoutout to them because they did a good job in all three phases of the game and that was the difference.”
The Riders have to rebound during another tough stretch if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive. They occupy the basement in the five-team West.
“That doesn’t mean we are regressing because we’re still going in the right direction,’’ cornerback Jovon Johnson said. “This football team has taken many tremendous strides and in the end we’ll be where we need to be.’’
Saskatchewan had a 3-2 record in a five-game stretch against West opponents. The Riders are also 3-1 after beginning the season at 2-4 — with the first two victories coming against teams from the weak East Division.
“A .500 record is good considering the way that we started,’’ Johnson said. “To be at .500 right now means we are trending in the right direction. We have a tough Hamilton team to play and hopefully we come out with that one.’’