Riders defence ties CFL record
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are an opportunistic bunch when it comes to scoring on defence.
The Riders tied a CFL singleseason record with 11 scoring returns on defence en route to finishing the regular season with a 12-6 record. The Green and White tied the record, set in 1987 by the B.C. Lions, during Saturday’s 35-16 win over the visiting Lions.
On Saturday, defensive tackle Zack Evans scored on a one-yard fumble recovery and defensive back Ed Gainey returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown.
“It’s just being hungry on the defensive side of the ball,” said Riders defensive end Willie Jefferson, who has two interception-return touchdowns this season.
“You have me on one end and (Charleston) Hughes on the other and Zack in the middle. The linebackers and defensive backs do what they do and everyone is selfish when we get the ball. Everybody wants the ball and everybody wants to make a play.”
There is more to the Riders than simply being in the right place at the right time for a defensive score. They regularly practise creating turnovers in drills involving tipped balls and scooping loose footballs.
Some of those drills paid off in the third quarter when Jefferson stripped Travis Lulay of the ball while sacking the B.C. quarterback. Evans scooped up the loose ball for a touchdown that gave the Riders a commanding 25-9 lead after Brett Lauther’s convert.
“We’ve been a stand-up defence all year,” Gainey said. “As a defence, things happen. When you score as much as we did, you can’t say anything negative about that.
“Honestly, the defence has been playing lights-out this year. That’s what we need going into those playoffs because defence wins championships.”