Roughriders’ defence delivers to stop Stampeders’ unbeaten season
Saskatchewan head coach and general manager Chris Jones has been criticized for some of his tough personnel decisions and stubbornly sticking to a quarterback rotation. But there’s no questioning his acumen as a defensive co-ordinator.
The Roughriders defence registered five sacks and five turnovers in its 40-27 home win over Calgary on Sunday night.
The win not only moved the Saskatchewan (4-4) into fourth in the West Division, it also knocked the Stampeders (7-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten.
What’s more, the Riders beat the Stampeders at their own game.
Calgary’s defence entered the game leading the CFL in fewest yards allowed (255.2 per game), rushing yards (72.3), passing yards (199.7), offensive points (11.1), touchdowns (six) and passing TDs (three).
Offensively, the Stampeders were tied with Winnipeg for fewest sacks allowed (nine) and had committed a league-low eight turnovers.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw four TD passes but was sacked five times. He also fumbled once and had an interception Nick Marshall returned 67 yards for a touchdown.
Marshall, a former quarterback at Auburn, also had a three-yard TD run for the Riders, while Matt Elam and Charleston Hughes both had two sacks apiece.
Marshall became the first CFL player to score two different ways in a game since Winnipeg’s Milt Stegall had a 37-yard touchdown catch and a 52-yard fumble return off a blocked punt on July 15, 1999.
Hughes played 10 seasons in Calgary before being dealt twice — first to Hamilton, then Saskatchewan — this off-season. He has a league-best 11 sacks, the sixth time Hughes has had 10-plus sacks in a season.
Saskatchewan QB Zach Collaros was a tidy 25-of-34 passing for 270 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The Riders also managed to run for 112 yards.
Saskatchewan also scored when Sam Eguavoan blocked a Calgary punt, then returned it to the end zone.
The win was redemption of sorts for Saskatchewan, which fell behind 24-0 to Calgary on July 28 in a 34-22 loss at Mosaic Stadium.
Sunday’s game tightens things up in the West Division. Calgary still remains first but only two points ahead of Edmonton (5-3) and four in front of third-place Winnipeg (5-4). The Roughriders broke a fourth-place tie with B.C. (3-5).
Calgary and Saskatchewan return to action Saturday night. The Stampeders host Winnipeg while the Riders visit B.C.
RARE LOSS
Stampeders starter Mitchell’s record stands at 63-11-2 in 76 career starts.
Mitchell remains a win away from joining Sam Etcheverry (64-57-1) in the top-20 all-time. He needs three more wins to surpass Kent Austin (65-59-1).
HISTORIC EFFORT
Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris ran for 72 yards and a TD on 12 carries in the Bombers’ 44-21 loss to Ottawa on Friday night.
That gives Harris 7,060 career yards, making him the 12th player in league history to reach the 7,000-yard plateau. He’s currently tied with Jim Evenson for 12th in all-time CFL rushing.
Harris stands second among Canadianborn rushers behind the late Norm Kwong (9,022).
Harris, the league’s top rusher last year, is leading again this year with 792 yards (6.0-yard average).
B.C. BOLSTERED BY AWE
Micah Awe is heading back to the B.C. Lions.
The team announced Monday that it has agreed to terms on a contract with the six-foot, 220-pound linebacker.
Awe spent the 2017 campaign with the Lions, appearing in 18 regular season games — getting the starting nod in the final nine — and collecting 54 tackles along the way.
The 24-year-old was released by the club in January to pursue an opportunity in the NFL.
He signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets. But he was waived by the Jets at the end of April.
“Micah reached out to the club about the possibility of a return and we’re very pleased to have him back,” said Lions general manager Ed Hervey. “As a free agent who had a very impressive CFL debut last year, he had the opportunity to potentially sign with any club in the league and I believe his desire to return to the Lions speaks to the culture we are building here in B.C.”
LET’S GO TO THE EX
A season-high 18,104 spectators watched the Toronto Argonauts rally for a 24-23 win over the B.C. Lions on Saturday afternoon.
It was a second straight home win for Toronto (3-5), which overcame a 24-point deficit to beat the Ottawa Redblacks 42-41 on Aug. 2.
Ideally, Toronto would be able to ride the momentum of the two wins with yet another home date during the Canadian National Exhibition, which opened last week. That would give the Argos, who’re averaging 13,881 fans at home, a terrific opportunity to attract more spectators to BMO Field.
Instead, Toronto visits the Montreal Alouettes (1-7) on Friday night before heading to Tim Hortons Field to face arch-rival Hamilton on Sept. 3. The Argos’ next home game is Sept. 8 against the Tiger-Cats.
TD MACHINE
Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly leads the CFL in touchdown passes (19) and TDs scored (eight). The league’s outstanding player last season is on pace for 54 scores, which would move Reilly into a very rare grouping with former all-star Doug Flutie.
Flutie is the only CFL quarterback ever to register 50-plus TDs in a season, doing so four times. He had 56 in 1994 with Calgary (48 TD passes, eight rushing touchdowns) and 55 in 1993 with the Stampeders (44 TD passes, 11 rushing). Flutie also had 52 twice (38-14 in 1991 with B.C., 47-5 in 1997 with Toronto).
RIDERS ACQUIRE RECEIVER
TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have traded wide receiver Brian Jones to Saskatchewan for a seventh-round pick in the 2019 CFL draft.
The 24-year-old Jones is in his third CFL season after being selected fourth overall by Toronto in the 2016 draft out of Acadia. Jones caught 24 passes for 128 yards and one TD in 24 games with Toronto.
The native of Enfield, N.S., also chipped in on special teams for the Argos, recording nine tackles and one blocked punt in his career.