Riders’ late rise bodes well for future
ROUGH START, STRONG FINISH: Saturday’s win in Toronto more proof of Saskatchewan’s strong turnaround
TORONTO — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ rebuild continues to trend in the right direction.
The latest step forward occurred Saturday with a 29-11 win over the Toronto Argonauts before a crowd of 15,023 at BMO Field.
After losing 10 of their first 11 games this season, the Riders have won four straight — including two consecutive contests on the road — to improve their record to 5-10.
“It takes a young team time to jell,” Riders quarterback Darian Durant said after Saturday’s game. “If you look at the receivers that I’ve been playing with in the past, we’ve been together basically since 2007 and 2008. It takes time to build that type of chemistry. I’m building that with the receivers.
“The defence is coming together and they’re learning what (head coach Chris Jones) expects out of them. It’s a learning experience.”
It’s too little, too late for the Riders in regards to the 2016 season. They won’t advance to the CFL playoffs regardless of how well they have played of late, or how well they perform in their remaining three regular-season games.
That scenario doesn’t sit well with Jones when he thinks about what might have been had the Riders not started so slowly.
“We’re not in the playoffs and it makes me sick to my stomach,” Jones said.
Durant also wondered how things would have unfolded if the Riders started better.
“We always think about the whatifs,” Durant said. “At the same time, you have to be realistic and we know that we’re playing for next year.”
There are signs of good things to come for the Riders in 2017, based on Saturday’s showings by a few recent additions to the roster.
Tailback Joe McKnight, signed on Sept. 21, rushed for 150 yards on 17 carries in his first CFL start.
Ricky Collins, who has dressed for 12 games this season, had seven receptions for 113 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown. Collins had a highlight-reel, one-handed grab while racing down the sideline. The 54-yarder set up a Riders touchdown.
Joe Craig returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown in just his fifth game on the Riders’ active roster.
Henoc Muamba had his first extended action at middle linebacker since signing with the Riders Oct. 5. Muamba had three defensive tackles, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble and three special-teams tackles.
Saturday’s 20-0 halftime lead provided the Riders with an opportunity to play some of their prospects. The lead was built thanks in large part to the touchdowns by Collins and Craig.
Tyler Crapigna connected on field goals of 41 and 27 yards and converted both touchdowns. Caleb Holley hauled in a five-yard pass from Durant in the third quarter and Crapigna’s convert gave the Riders a 29-0 lead before Toronto rallied a bit with an 11-point fourth quarter.
Regardless, the Riders celebrated two wins on a road swing through Ontario. Durant felt those wins — including the 32-30 overtime decision over the Ottawa Redblacks on Oct. 7 — were easily the highlights of the nine-day trip, which included Tuesday’s walk-through on the lawn at Parliament Hill.
“The two wins were (the highlight) because that’s what we came out here to do,” Durant said. “Meeting the prime minister was a very big deal and that was unexpected.
“Our plan was to come out and win two games. We have a young team and it’s hard taking guys out of their routine. To be able to do that and get two big wins on the road is huge.”
The Riders’ next game is Saturday against the visiting Montreal Alouettes.