1,000-YARD TALLY WILL BE TWICE AS NICE
William Powell aspires to become a two-time 1,000-yard rusher — this season!
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ tailback momentarily reached that milestone during Friday’s 27-19 CFL victory over the host B.C. Lions.
A seven-yard gain in the fourth quarter had put Powell at an even 1,000 yards. But on his next carry — his last of the game — he was cornered for a loss of three.
Therefore, Powell is at 997 yards heading into Saturday’s game against the host Edmonton Eskimos, who are to visit Mosaic Stadium one week later.
“I didn’t really feel it at all, because I didn’t know it at the moment,” Powell told reporters earlier this week. “We had a good game running the ball, so we’re just going to try to build on that this week.”
Powell does get that chance ... unlike Dave Hampton.
Hampton was a 1,000-yard rusher — and then he wasn’t — for the NFL’S Atlanta Falcons in 1972.
He gained six yards to increase his season total to 1,001, whereupon the game was stopped and he was presented with the football. There was only one problem.
Hampton carried the ball one more time in the Falcons’ season finale. A loss of six resulted, as did a season total of 995.
The snake-bitten Hampton approached the 1,000-yard mark the following year, only to finish with 997.
Hampton finally enjoyed a 1,000-yard season — with two yards to spare — in 1975.
Despite Saturday’s Hamptonesque misfortunes, Powell had plenty to celebrate. He rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown to help Saskatchewan improve its record to 11-5.
Also worth noting is a fumble recovery by Powell that extended the drive on which he ultimately scored.
In the second quarter, quarterback Cody Fajardo ran for first-down yardage on secondand-one, but the ball was jarred loose. Powell retrieved the loose ball and, three plays later, scored from one yard out.
Powell also assisted with pass protection, as did receiver Cory Watson, when Saskatchewan scored its other offensive TD — on a nine-yard pass from Fajardo to Kyran Moore.
Fajardo, by the way, feels responsible for the three-yard loss that was credited to Powell. A poorly executed option play resulted in the Roughriders’ tailback being surrounded behind the line of scrimmage.
“I felt really bad about that, because a big part of me was the reason why he took that loss,” Fajardo said.
“I probably apologized to him maybe five or six times and I just told him I owe him. Everyone was juiced up, because he got 1,000 yards, and now he’s three yards short.
“I told him, ‘Well, we’re just keeping you hungry for the next game.’ He laughed it off and he’s a good sport about it and he understands that, obviously, hitting the 1,000-yard mark is a great accomplishment, but that’s not the end goal. The end goal is winning a Grey Cup.
“When you have guys like that who put their statistics aside for winning football games, you know you’ve got a chance to make a late run in November.”
Hopefully not for a loss of three.