Thigpen’s score wasn’t enough to kick Riders into high gear
Marcus Thigpen provided an early spark, but it wasn’t enough to ignite a fire.
Even though Thigpen returned Saturday ’s opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, the Roughriders couldn’t build on the auspicious start and lost 30-25 to the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium.
“Sometimes that’s the kiss of death when a team has won four in row and they are very confident,” Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones said.
“A big play offensively or a kick return, sometimes it can be one of the worst things that can happen. (The players) think it’s going to be easy and it’s never easy.”
Thigpen scored the Roughriders’ first kickoff-return touchdown since June 25, 2005, when Corey Holmes went 81 yards with the opening kickoff against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“Usually a play like that demoralizes a team,” Thigpen said. “That’s a great team over there and a great opponent. They responded well and they made a lot of big plays.”
The Riders weren’t done on special teams as Kyran Moore returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. He also has a 65-yard punt-return touchdown this season.
“I’m just trying to show everybody what I can do,” Moore said. “I never had any doubt in my mind about making those kind of plays when I was on the practice roster. I observed and I watched (injured returner) Christion Jones. I learned a lot from just watching him.”
Saturday marked the first time the Riders had returned both a punt and kickoff in the same game since Aug. 17, 2003. Kevin Nickerson (96-yard kickoff return) and Holmes (87-yard punt return) accomplished the feat in a 51-41 win over the Ottawa Renegades.
The Riders have recorded a team-record 12 non-offensive touchdowns this season — six interceptions, three punt returns, two fumble returns and one kickoff return.
The offence has scored 14 touchdowns, including one late in Saturday’s game.
“We didn’t do as well as we should have offensively,” Thigpen said. “We train hard every day and we just didn’t bring it to the field.”