Hughes leaves mark on Riders’ O-line

‘Couldn’t control emotions’: Dennis

CALGARY Derek Dennis provided a candid assessment of his rough first half against the Calgary Stampeders. That was all the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive tackle could do after being manhandled by Calgary’s defensive line in Saturday’s 27-10 CFL loss at McMahon Stadium.

“I’m a realist and I know that I have to play better than I did in the first half,’’ Dennis said. “I was really sloppy and I didn’t play like myself.’’

Defensive end Charleston

I was playing out of control and that’s why I looked the way I looked in the first half.

Hughes inflicted most of the damage, recording three of Calgary’s five first-half sacks. James Vaughters had Calgary’s other two sacks.

Saturday’s game was Dennis’s first against the Stampeders since signing with the Riders as a free agent. The CFL’s reigning most outstanding offensive lineman spent two seasons practising regularly against Hughes and was looking forward to facing him in a game.

“I was just a little too excited and a little too juiced up and I couldn’t control my emotions,’’ Dennis said. “I was playing out of control and that’s why I looked the way I looked in the first half. You can’t play like that against a great defensive end like Charleston and a great defensive line and unit like Calgary’s.’’

The Riders, who trailed 17-0 at halftime, rebounded on their opening possession of the second half with their lone touchdown of the game. The offensive line regrouped and didn’t allow a sack over the final 30 minutes.

Dennis plans to focus on the Riders’ second-half performance while preparing for Saturday’s visit from the Argos. “We have to watch the film and figure where we went wrong. We just have come out firing in the first half (against Toronto) like we did in the second half.’