Riders’ air show made up for err show
It was Johnny Football versus shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-ball.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders ultimately won in spite of themselves, outlasting the Johnny Manziel-quarterbacked Montreal Alouettes 34-29 at Percival Molson Stadium on Sunday.
The Roughriders had the game well in hand, only to become careless after assuming a 31-17 lead over the CFL’S worst team.
Tackling was optional when Montreal’s Stefan Logan emerged from a cluster of humanity en route to scoring a 74-yard punt-return touchdown.
Saskatchewan was poised to counter with at least a field goal, only to serve up an interception that led to a Montreal major.
Again, the Roughriders responded by moving the ball inside the Alouettes’ 20-yard line, only to have Marcus Thigpen drop a pass on second-andsix that would have produced at least a first down, and perhaps a touchdown.
Saskatchewan settled for a Brett Lauther field goal that ultimately concluded the scoring.
The Roughriders’ defence forced a two-and-out. Then the offence, which amassed a season-high 502 yards, bounced back once more by registering three consecutive first downs — a nine-yard run by Thigpen being a key play — and ultimately extinguishing the clock.
It was one of those “whew!” games for Rider Nation. Most importantly, it was the sixth victory in a span of seven games for a Saskatchewan team that is well-positioned to earn its first home playoff game since 2013.
As it stands, the Roughriders have a 9-5 record and are in sole possession of second spot in the West Division with 18 points — four more than the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos, both 7-7.
A Thanksgiving Monday home date with Edmonton is next on the agenda. Then comes an Oct. 13 game in Winnipeg.
The timing of the Roughriders’ offensive awakening is just as convenient as the scheduling.
Although there were gaffes, Collaros and friends also demonstrated a potency through the air, as evidenced by 394 passing yards — the Roughriders’ highest total since Darian Durant rang up 399 in a 28-25 loss to the visiting Blue Bombers on Sept. 4, 2016.
Collaros was most effective in situations that were theoretically advantageous for the defence.
While throwing on secondand-five or more, Collaros went 10-for-14, with all 10 completions producing a first down. One of them was a 26-yarder to Kenny Shaw on second-and-17.
Montreal was also flagged for illegal contact on one secondand-10 situation.
Additionally, the Roughriders had nine-yard runs by Collaros and Thigpen on second-and-10, after which Saskatchewan moved the chains on third-and-one.
Also consider a 26-yard pass from Collaros to Shaq Evans on first-and-20.
At times, it appeared the Roughriders were prone to clutching their throats. Ultimately, though, they made clutch plays and were rewarded with a sweep of back-to-back eastern road games — never an easy feat.
The same can be said for holding an opponent below 200 yards of net offence, as the Roughriders did Sunday.
Manziel made some plays, such as touchdown passes of 47 yards (to Adarius Bowman) and 20 yards (to Ernest Jackson).
Subtract those scores, though, and Johnny Football was 7-for-14 for 71 yards, in addition to being sacked five times.
Manziel did make some strides, but the Roughriders took the biggest step — toward a home playoff game.