CALGARY -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders officially have a Calgary Stampeders problem.
Facing the Stamps for the second time this season on Saturday night at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, the Riders got off to a slow start and after a second-quarter comeback had no answer for the Stampeders in the second half, going on to drop a 32-15 decision.
As a result, Calgary has now defeated Saskatchewan in both their regular season meetings, though the Roughriders continue to hold down first place with an 8-2 record in the Canadian Football League’s West Division. The Stampeders are now 7-3 and remain in second in the West.
Outside of a 13-point second quarter, little went right for Saskatchewan on the night, and it all started right off the hop -- a dropped pass in the end zone, a missed field goal and a dropped pass along the sideline on their first couple drives set the tone for what would happen most the rest of the game.
Calgary, on the other hand, drove the length of the field on their first possession and got a touchdown from Dedrick Mills for a 7-2 lead out of the first quarter.
The Riders found their mojo after the first 15 minutes, though, with Dohnte Meyers and Dhel Duncan-Busby hauling in touchdown passes as Saskatchewan took a 15-14 lead into halftime.
After that? Zero, zilch, nada when it came to success on the football field, and 18 unanswered second-half points would see the Stampeders run away with things.
“We had some miscommunication early to put us in a hole, but ultimately our offence kept us in the game,” head coach Corey Mace said on the Rider Broadcast Network post-game show. “Then we started at the half with the lead and the first drive they went down and scored and it went downhill from there. Defensively we’ve certainly got to be better.”
A Daylen Baldwin touchdown and Rene Paredes field goal made it 27-15 after the third quarter, with an Erik Brooks touchdown and Vernon Adams Jr. two-point convert in the fourth quarter capping scoring.
“Honestly, we didn't get the job done today and we didn't feel like we played to our standard,” Meyers said when asked what the Riders take away from such a loss. “So the message is to make plays when they come our way and to learn from them. Every game is an opportunity to learn and the eye in the sky doesn't lie. So we look at the film and see where we can make adjustments and go back to work. That's the recipe throughout the room, and that's supposed to be great.”
That was also the focus Mace was taking after losing to Calgary for the second time this season -- learn and repair and get ready for the football that really matters now that the season is moving into September.
“I think the good thing about this team is we've already been preparing like that, but [we need] a little bit more sense of awareness, the sense of urgency,” Mace said. “These games, especially in the West right now, things are tight. People are starting to nip on our heels, getting closer and closer. We have to maintain and focus on ourselves, trying to get better as a football team so when the back end of the season rolls, we're finally closer to what we want to be.”
Roughriders' quarterback Trevor Harris was kept uncomfortable by Calgary defensive pressure all night and finished 15-of-23 for 205 passing yards with two interceptions to go along with his two passing majors. Harris was also sacked four times on the night, including a big hit by Justin Sambu in the fourth quarter that appeared to rattle the veteran pivot. Jake Maier came in not long after and finished things off, completing six-of-10 passes for 52 yards. KeeSean Johnson caught four passes for 112 yards, A.J. Ouellette had 15 carries for 65 yards.
Calgary’s Adams Jr. completed 14-of-22 passes for 222 yards with three touchdowns and was also intercepted twice, Baldwin had 84 yards receiving and Mills 78 yards rushing.
The Roughriders turn their attention to the most anticipated regular season game of the season as Saskatchewan takes on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Labour Day Classic on Sunday, August 31. Meyers said the team will look to simply get back to work at practice this coming week and get ready for the Bombers in front of what will be a sellout crowd at Mosaic Stadium.
“Especially coming off this loss, there's a heightened sense where it's a bad taste in our mouths,” he said. “We have a long week and I want to rest up, get some of our guys back, look at that film so we go out there for the Labour Day Classic, go right at them and get back in that win column.”
Game time for the Labour Day Classic is 5 p.m. and be sure to check out all the coverage during the week on the Riders Broadcast Network and SportsCage.com.
