Because the Saskatchewan Roughriders proceed to climb up the standings of the CFL’s West Division, quarterback Trevor Harris is adamant the workforce is just not wanting forward on the post-season.
The Riders clinched a playoff berth with a 28-25 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Oct. 5. On Saturday, Saskatchewan secured a house playoff recreation with a powerful 39-8 victory over the B.C. Lions, extending its successful streak to 4 video games.
The victory improves Saskatchewan’s document to 9-7-1 and places the Riders three factors forward of the 8-9-0 Lions for second place within the West with one regular-season recreation remaining for each squads.
The Riders are additionally nonetheless within the operating for first place within the division.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers at present are in high spot with a 10-7-0 document. Each groups have their regular-season finale on Oct. 26. If the Bombers lose to the Montreal Alouettes and the Riders defeat the Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan would earn high spot.
In accordance with Harris, the Riders aren’t celebrating a lopsided victory or specializing in a post-season run.
“It’s extra nearly going 1-0 this week. Whether or not you win by that many otherwise you win by two, that’s the identical quantity of factors within the win column. It’s nearly us ensuring we proceed to get higher,” stated Harris, who completed 25 of 30 passing for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
“This isn’t like our arrival. We haven’t performed something. We haven’t completed what we need to but. We’re on our manner there however we’ve simply obtained to proceed to ensure we’re preserve climbing this mountain.”
The Riders used a tenacious defensive effort to gas the victory. Within the first half, the Riders triggered 4 turnovers on seven B.C. possessions — two interceptions, one fumble and one turnover on downs.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and all over the world, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you after they occur.
The Lions completed the sport with six turnovers as additionally they turned the ball over on downs twice within the second half.
On the second offensive play of the sport, Saskatchewan defensive again A.J. Allen intercepted B.C.’s Nathan Rourke and returned the ball 45 yards for a landing.
It was a weird play as Rourke’s move first deflected off the arms of operating again William Stanback, then his heel earlier than getting tipped by Riders defensive backs Rolan Milligan and Deontai Williams. Allen lastly caught the ball and sprinted down the sideline for the landing.
“It was a loopy play. I used to be speaking to A.J. earlier than the sport and I requested him, ‘Are you going to get your first decide immediately?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to get me a decide.’ I used to be actual completely satisfied for him. That play gave us lots of momentum and we have been on our manner for the remainder of the sport,” stated Riders defensive again Rolan Milligan.
For Riders head coach Corey Mace, Allen’s interception and the six turnovers are results of his gamers practising what he preaches.
“I believe the soccer gods possibly owed us one or two (on the Allen interception), so we’ll take that. It’s nearly being across the soccer. It went off just a few guys and A.J. ended up making a heck of a play,” stated Mace.
“You’ve obtained to be across the soccer for good issues to occur. We’ve been speaking about that for for the reason that first day, so to see it come to fruition and sort of validates.”
The largest momentum swing occurred late within the second quarter with the Riders holding a 16-8 lead. Security Nelson Lokombo pressured a fumble with 1:22 left within the quarter, knocking the ball away from B.C. receiver Justin McInnis. The Riders recovered on the Saskatchewan 49-yard line.
Harris then drove the Riders 5 performs down the sphere, culminating with an eight-yard landing move to Jerreth Sterns with 21 seconds left within the half.
On the following play from scrimmage, Saskatchewan linebacker C.J. Avery intercepted Rourke, returning the ball 41 yards to the Lions’ 10-yard line with three seconds left on the clock. Brett Lauther then kicked an 18-yard subject to extend the Saskatchewan result in 26-8.
Harris was really involved that his landing move to Sterns left an excessive amount of time on the clock for the Lions.
“I used to be really attempting to exploit the clock down slightly bit extra, as a result of I needed the time to be at none by the point we went into halftime. I felt like I left them a pair performs there however happily, we’re in a position to get an interception and get three factors on the finish of the half.
“I’m unsure it made the distinction within the recreation, but it surely was superior for us to guarantee that we continued to place our foot on the accelerator.”
The affect of the turnovers was evident within the offensive numbers on the half, which have been comparatively equal regardless of the Riders holding an 18-point lead. Within the half, Saskatchewan had 14 first downs and 224 yards of whole offence to B.C.’s 11 first downs and 186 yards of whole offence.
Kian Schaffer-Baker additionally had a landing catch for the Riders whereas Lauther completed six-for-six in subject targets. Working again A.J. Ouellette returned to the lineup after a stint on the six-game harm checklist and gained 84 yards on 16 carries.
Saskatchewan receiver Samuel Emilus caught six passes for 94 yards to maneuver him over the 1,000-yard mark for the 2024 season. Emilus, who had 1,097 yards receiving in 2023, has 1,064 yards this season.
David Mackie had a two-yard landing run for the Lions. Rourke, who was changed by Chase Brice within the fourth quarter, was 15 of 23 for 200 yards with two interceptions
UP NEXT
Lions: Host the Montreal Alouettes (11-3-1) on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Saskatchewan: Bye week, then host the Calgary Stampeders (4-11-1) on Saturday, Oct. 26.
© 2024 The Canadian Press