FIRST-PLACE DREAMS
Riders could still finish at the top
CALGARY Talk about a statement game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Riders defeated the host Calgary Stampeders 29-24 on Saturday, adding fresh life to the Green and White’s hopes for a first-place finish in the West Division.
“It showed the whole world that we’ve got Calgary,” Riders linebacker Sam Eguavoen said. “We’re not afraid to play Calgary and we’re going to play our best game. We see a lot of other teams that just fold up when they come into Calgary because they are the best team in the CFL. We never fold and we look forward to playing Calgary.”
Saskatchewan will finish first in the West and play host to the division final Nov. 18 if it beats the visiting B.C. Lions on Saturday and Calgary loses its remaining two games — Friday against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Nov. 3 at B.C. A tie in either of those games would give Calgary top spot.
“We can’t look at the big picture like that, because we can only control what we can control,” Eguavoen said. “It’s nice knowing that we’re still in there and we can get that first-round bye. Right now, we have to focus on B.C. and move on.”
The Riders improved their record to 11-6 while Calgary dropped to 12-4. Saskatchewan won the season series (2-1) with Calgary and would therefore get the nod if the teams finish tied for first.
Saskatchewan has finished first only once since 1977, having won the West in 2009.
On Saturday, quarterback Zach Collaros enjoyed his finest game as a Roughrider, throwing for 352 yards while running an offence that did not turn the football over. The Riders also generated 469 yards of net offence, compared to just 170 when it faced the Blue Bombers.
Collaros led the Riders on a 15play drive that culminated in a 49yard Brett Lauther field goal.
A four-yard run by Tre Mason in the first quarter snapped Saskatchewan’s streak of 38 consecutive possessions without an offensive touchdown.