DEFENCE COMES THROUGH
Green and White get first win in B.C. since 2014; face ‘dangerous’ Bluebombers
Riders halt late surge by Lions
VANCOUVER The defence came through when the Saskatchewan Roughriders needed it the most Saturday in a 24-21 victory over the host B.C. Lions.
The Riders stopped short-yardage quarterback Cody Fajardo inches shy of a first down on a third-and-one gamble with 31 seconds remaining in the CFL game.
“It was the difference in the ball game,” Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones said. “A lot of teams would give that up and let you have the yard and a half, whatever it was. Our group came off the football and we were fortunate enough to keep him behind the line and win the game.”
Saskatchewan’s defensive linemen came into the stand with a plan in mind.
“In situational ball, you have to know when and where to shoot the gap and make a play,” said Riders defensive end Willie Jefferson. “It was the end of the game and if they get the first down and kick the field goal, then it’s overtime. We knew as a defence that it was now or never and we did it.”
Defensive tackles Mic’hael Brooks and Zack Evans were the key pluggers for the Riders. They limited the surge of the Lions’ offensive line and kept B.C. from gaining the required yardage.
“I just tried to fire off the ball first,” Brooks said. “When you have big guys coming at you, all you can do is hit them first and see what happens. You have four guys on the defensive line going against five of them, so it always feel good when you beat your guy one-on-one.”
Saturday’s win, the Riders’ first at B.C. Place since 2014, snapped a four-game losing skid in Vancouver. It was also the first home-field loss of the season for the Lions, whose overall record dropped to 3-6. Saskatchewan improved to 5-4.
“Nothing was perfect, certainly,” Jones said. “We gave up a couple of big plays defensively that resulted in points. We gave up a kickoff return that resulted in points. Offensively we stubbed our toe in the middle parts of the game.
“We did enough to win a football game in a tough environment where no one else has beaten B.C. They play well at home and I’m proud of our football team.”
The Riders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are to meet Sunday in the Labour Day Classic. The Blue Bombers are 5-5 after Saturday’s 39-26 loss to the host Calgary Stampeders.
The teams appear to be headed in different directions, with the Riders on a two-game winning streak and the Blue Bombers having lost two straight.
However, Jones knows the Blue Bombers will be ready regardless of their record.
“Winnipeg is a dangerous football team,” Jones said. “They are very explosive and they have a lot of trick plays. They are good in all three phases and every week they make a play in the kicking game. We’ll have our hands full against a good group.”
Quarterback Zach Collaros knows the Riders will have to perform better offensively if they are to get by the Blue Bombers.
Collaros started off Saturday by connecting on seven of eight pass attempts for 113 yards in the first quarter. The Riders also raced into a 17-6 lead over the Lions when rookie Jordan Williams-lambert scored on a six-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
But Saskatchewan’s offence cooled off as Collaros completed 19 of 32 passes for 215 yards overall, with one TD and an interception.
“We’re going to have a lot of good film to look at,” Collaros said. “It’s easy to sweep things under the rug when you win, but you can’t do that.”
Brett Lauther connected on three of four field-goal attempts. A miss in the third quarter snapped his streak of 16 consecutive field goals.
Nick Marshall scored on a quarterback sneak and now has four touchdowns in four games for the Riders — two on offence and two on defence. He has scored every time he has touched the ball.