There was a lot to cheer about after the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-30 win in Hamilton on Sunday for Rider Nation.
The team’s first victory in Steel Town since July of 2018 saw the visitors in Green and White score thirteen unanswered points in the games final 3:41 to squeak out the win. The second straight come back effort from the Riders showed the framework of a hard-working, never-say-die team culture that is building in the locker room.
Other positives include:
- The Rider defence was fierce in stopping the run. James Butler, who was the only back in the CFL to run for 100 yards in week one, was held to just 27 yards on 10 carries.
- Kian Schaeffer-Baker made a pair of touchdown receptions, the first two touchdown game of his career.
- Brett Lauther connected on all four of his field goal attempts, moving past Luca Congi into fifth on the Riders all-time scoring list. Lauther’s game winner was also the 11th time in as many tries that he has split the uprights with the game on the line.
That said, there some things that didn’t go the Riders way;
- The secondary with Marus Sayles inserted at the corner had a number of busts, that allowed Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to connect on 3 30-yard-plus passing plays.
- The Riders couldn’t find a way to get their running game going for a second straight week but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. A.J. Ouellette carried the ball 11 times for 32 yards.
- Discipline. The Riders discipline issues from the first half in week one resurfaced in the first half of week two. The Riders were flagged 11 times for 115 yards.
No Huddle Scattered Thoughts:
- The Riders have outscored their opponents 48-10 in second halves this season. How’s that for halftime adjustments? The biggest adjustment in both games… penalties.
- C.J. Reavis had a fumble stripped from him by the officials. I get the passion in Rider Nation but a rule is a rule and the right call was made. C.J.’s helmet came off in the process of making a tackle and subsequent fumble recovery which deemed him ineligible because the fumble recovery occurred after his helmet came off. The rule is that you have to wear a helmet to participate in the play and once it comes off you need to stop. I get it, it was a bang, bang play BUT like in hockey when your helmet comes off you have to exit the play. The timing was crappy but the call had to be made.
- Receiver Shawn Bane Junior, who was coming off a hattrick of touchdown receptions in week 1 didn’t play in the second half. Ajou Ajou came in and played admirably but it was Samuel Emilus who moved to his spot in the offence and didn’t look out of place.
- What’s up with Tim White? The gifted Hamilton receiver has dropped some very catchable balls in the first two weeks of the season, including bobbling the ball into the Riders C.J. Avery’s arms to set up Saskatchewan’s game winning field goal. He has something to prove and I’m sure that he will.
- Here’s hoping that Left Guard Phillip Blake’s injury isn’t long term. He was spotted on the sidelines in Hamilton on crutches. After his pectoral tear last year held him out for an extended period here’s hoping that this hurt isn’t as bad as it looked.
Next up for the Green and White is the home opener on Sunday afternoon when they host Hamilton at Mosaic Stadium.
