That’s more like it
New lease on life for Roughriders’ season after they pummel injury-plagued Eskimos
REGINA — With the outcome no longer in doubt, the time came for the Edmonton Eskimos’ Mike Reilly to pass the quarterbacking torch — and it was intercepted.
Such was the lot of the mistake-prone Eskimos during an uncommon Friday evening at Commonwealth Stadium, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders administered a 54-31 beating.
The score, lopsided as it was, actually flattered the Eskimos. They trailed 47-15 midway through the obligatory fourth quarter before Reilly’s understudy, James Franklin, engineered a pair of garbage-time touchdowns.
Not so long ago, the Roughriders’ were in the Eskimos’ cleats. On Aug. 5, remember, the Roughriders lost 30-15 to the host B.C. Lions — who led 30-0 before backup quarterback Brandon Bridge threw two touchdown passes in the final five minutes.
That loss, coupled with a 27-10 eyesore in Calgary against the Stampeders on July 22, prompted considerable screaming about the Roughriders’ disparate sides.
In four games at home, they have not scored fewer than 37 regulation-time points. But over their first three road games, they eked out a not-so-grand total of 41 points (including the stats-padding points late in the B.C. yawner).
Then came Friday, when the Eskimos were dismantled like old Mosaic Stadium.
Saskatchewan cleared a hurdle in the same fashion as tailback Cameron Marshall, who leapt over a wouldbe tackler while scoring on a 21-yard reception in the wan- ing seconds of the first half.
So much for the incessant “can they win on the road?” clatter.
So much for “can they beat a West Division team?” bleating (much of it emanating from this cherished space).
So much for any uncertainty as to whether the Roughriders — in their second season under head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones — are progressing.
So much for caustic critiques of the defence, which has enjoyed back-to-back stellar outings. (On Saturday, the Roughriders scored on two interception returns for the first time since Sept. 12, 1976 — when James Marshall and Bill Manchuk did the honours during a 34-7 win at Edmonton’s Clarke Stadium. On Friday, Jovon Johnson and Kacy Rodgers II had the pick-sixes, with Rodgers The Second fittingly scoring the second such TD.)
So much for the “is Chris Jones wearing too many hats?” angle.
The Eskimos’ hats were handed to them on Friday, when Saskatchewan amassed its highest regulation-time points total since Sept. 13, 2009. That afternoon, the Roughriders eviscerated the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers 55-10.
Now the Roughriders are preparing to play host to Winnipeg, which is to visit the $278-million pigskin palace on Sept. 3, and there isn’t any reason to scoff or snicker at the Labour Day Classic label.
In 2015, Saskatchewan had a robust 0-9 record as the annual long-weekend showdown with Winnipeg loomed. Last year, the Roughriders were infinitely better — courtesy of the one victory they carried into the Labour Day Classic.
Once upon a time, a .500 record (the Roughriders are 4-4) radiated mediocrity. However, Roughriders fans had endured nearly 2 1/2 seasons with a losing record (the glory days of 0-0 excepted) until Friday’s breakthrough.
The heroes were too numerous to mention in full.
Kevin Glenn threw two first-half touchdown passes — one of which was Naaman Roosevelt’s spectacular endzone grab for a touchdown.
Duron Carter, who played on offence, defence and special teams, returned a missed convert 113 yards for a deuce.
Willie Jefferson — a ubiquitous presence on defence — blocked a punt and, for good measure, retrieved the ball and sped for an easy touchdown.
A hyperactive defence, co-ordinated by Jones, created confusion for an overwhelmed Eskimos team. Reilly, one of the league’s elite players, had a microscopic quarterback-efficiency rating (43.8).
The ratings for Jones, by contrast, are soaring.
After incurring the wrath of Rider Nation due to recurring fines, losses, controversial player moves and criticism of his choice of eyewear, Jones can finally enjoy his moment in the sun.
Presumably, nobody will complain if he wears sunglasses.