UNTIL NEXT YEAR
Saskatchewan one and done in playoffs after 2017’s near miss at spot in CFL final
Roughriders backup quarterback David Watford comforts starter Brandon Bridge after the team’s loss to the Bombers in the West Division semifinal Sunday. Bridge had to leave the game after taking a hit to the head during the second-last play.
REGINA The Roughriders took two steps forward and one giant step back in their third season under Chris Jones.
The steps forward were the Riders finishing the 2018 CFL season with a 12-6 record, good for second place in the West Division, and playing host to a home playoff game for the first time since 2013.
The step back was the Riders’ 23-18 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Sunday’s West Division semifinal at Mosaic Stadium.
In 2017, the Riders were one defensive stop away from reaching the Grey Cup game. The Toronto Argonauts converted a key thirddown gamble late in the fourth quarter en route to defeating Saskatchewan, a crossover team, 25-21 in the East Division final.
This year, the Riders didn’t even reach a division final despite moving up two spots in the West standings.
“I don’t want to say the word failure, but we didn’t even accomplish our goal,” said Riders defensive tackle Eddie Steele. “We set out to do one thing and that was to reach the Grey Cup and we came up short.
“We had a better year recordwise than last year, but we didn’t get as far in the playoffs. Being an older player, I know how few and far ( between) those opportunities are and it hurts that much more.”
The Riders have improved record-wise each year under the current regime.
Saskatchewan was 5-13 in 2016 — Jones’ first season as the head coach, defensive co-ordinator, general manager and vice-president of football operations.
The Roughriders improved to 10-8 in 2017 before adding two more victories this season.
“The regular season was good to win 12 games and win home field, which was big,” said Riders receiver Naaman Roosevelt. “That’s what coach Jones talked about last year with home-field advantage and taking that next step.
“For now, we have to keep going. Next year we have to get that (playoff ) bye week and get the homefield advantage where we’re only one game away from the Grey Cup.”
The road to the Grey Cup was rougher given the uncertainty at quarterback heading into Sunday ’s playoff game.
Backup quarterback Brandon Bridge had the majority of repetitions with the first-team offence during practice, leading to a speculation about the health of starter Zach Collaros.
Collaros missed the final three quarters of the Riders’ 35-16 win over the B.C. Lions Oct. 27 after absorbing a hit to the head.
When the Riders returned from a bye week, Jones said that Collaros was fine and he had cleared the CFL’S concussion protocol.
Jones, however, stopped short of naming Collaros the starter. The reason for Jones’ caution was revealed Sunday when Collaros was scratched before kickoff.
“(Collaros) just said he didn’t feel quite right,” Jones said. “He didn’t say it was a concussion. He just said he didn’t feel 100 per cent and I just didn’t want to risk another situation like we had with Ottawa earlier in the year.”
Jones was referring Week 2, when Collaros was knocked out in the second quarter of a 40-17 loss to the host Ottawa Redblacks. Collaros spent four weeks on the injured list with concussion and neck issues.
On Sunday, Bridge completed 12 of 22 passes for 100 yards with no touchdown passes and one interception. He was the Riders’ leading rusher with 86 yards on five carries.
Jones was asked whether the Riders would have fared better with Collaros, who had nine touchdown passes against 13 interceptions during the regular season.
“That’s hard to say,” Jones said. “Brandon did a really nice job of standing in for him. (Winnipeg) pressured a lot and who’s to say that either guy would have been any better?”
Nick Marshall scored the Riders’ lone touchdown on a one-yard run. Roosevelt led the Riders’ receivers with seven catches for 79 yards. He was targeted on 12 of the team’s 23 passes.
Brett Lauther accounted most of the Riders’ scoring, kicking four field goals in as many attempts.
Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris, whose 1,390 rushing yards led the CFL during the regular season, had 19 carries for 153 yards.
Harris (two-yard run) and Drew Wolitarsky (20-yard reception) scored Winnipeg’s touchdowns. Justin Medlock added three field goals for Winnipeg, which is to face the host Calgary Stampeders in Sunday’s West final.