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The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders met in the 2013 Canadian Football League West Division Final Sunday afternoon at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. A trip to the 101st Grey Cup in Regina a week later was on the line. Earlier in the day the Hamilton Tiger-Cats won the Eastern Final, beating the Argonauts in Toronto 36-24. Here’s the game log from the broadcast booth:
– It was sunny and minus-11 degrees Celsius at the 2:35 pm local time kickoff with a south southeast wind at 17 km/h. With the windchill it felt like minus-19.
– The Riders wore their all-white uniforms with white jerseys, pants and helmets. The Stampeders were in their home reds with black pants and red helmets.
– The scratches from the Riders’ 46-man reserve roster were: SB Eron Riley, OL Devin Tyler, OL Corey Watman and DL Antonio Coleman.
– The Riders won the coin toss and deferred. Calgary took the ball and the south end to open the game, giving them the wind at their backs.
– Calgary’s opening series, with Kevin Glenn at quarterback, began at their 41-yard line. A roughing-the-passer penalty on Rider DE Ricky Foley helped their drive. However Glenn was picked off by Rider DT Jermaine McElveen who returned it to the Stampeder 53. Turnovers: 1-0 in the Riders’ favour.
– The Riders’ opening series was a 2-and-out with Darian Durant at quarterback.
– Calgary’s second series began at their 43. 2-and-out. Jabari Arthur reception and a fumble by Maurice Price who knocked it out of bounds.
– Riders’ second series commenced at their 26. They managed one first down on a Taj Smith reception before punting.
– Calgary’s third series began at the Riders’ 8-yard line after a massive 52-yard punt return by the Stamps’ Brandon Smith. They had to settle for a 13-yard Rene Parades field goal at the 6:17 mark. 3-0 Calgary.
– Rider ball at their 35 for their third series. Durant marched it 75-yards downfield and capped the series with a 3-yard touchdown reception by WR Rob Bagg at the 12:20 mark. 7-3 Riders.
– Calgary’s fourth series began at their 35. A 46-yard Glenn-to-Joe West bomb set them up at the Rider 29. They ended the series with a 31-yard Parades field goal at the 14:45 mark. The Stamps had -2 yards rushing through the opening quarter.
AFTER ONE: RIDERS 7 STAMPEDERS 6
– Riders’ fourth possession carried over into the second frame, starting at their 35. Again they moved it 75-yards downfield and Durant finished the series with a 7-yard TD toss to Chris Getzlaf. 14-6 Riders at the 6:20 mark.
– The Stamps’ fifth series began at their 33 but on 1st-and-10 WR Jeff Fuller fumbled a deep reception at the Rider 32. A 15-yard penalty on the Riders after the play moved Saskatchewan back to its 16 to start out for their fifth series. Turnovers: 2-0 in the Riders’ favour.
– The ensuing Saskatchewan series ended in a 65-yard punt single by punter Ricky Schmitt making it 15-6 Saskatchewan with 4:21 to go in the half.
– Stamps’ ball, for a sixth time, at their 35. First down another deep shot to SB Maurice Price but he fumbled in Rider territory and CB Rod Williams returned it to the Rider 52. A roughing penalty on Calgary’s Jon Cornish put the Riders at the Stamps 42. Turnovers: 3-0 in the Riders’ favour.
– Two plays later Durant fired a 37-yard TD pass to Weston Dressler! 22-6 Riders with 2:43 to go in the half.
– Stamps’ seventh series began at their 32 with 2:26 left. They got one first down before punting.
– Rider ball at their 29 with 1:37 left. 2-and-out.
– Calgary ball at their 46 with 1:01 to go in the second quarter. First play Glenn is picked off by Rider DB Terrell Maze at the Rider 48. Turnovers: 4-0 in the Riders’ favour.
– The Riders had the opportunity for a touchdown on the final play of the half but slotback Scott McHenry fumbled a Durant pass into the Calgary endzone and the Stampeders’ Jamar Wall brought it out for no points. Turnovers: 4-1 in the Riders’ favour.
AT THE BREAK: RIDERS 22 STAMPEDERS 6
– The Riders kicked off to open the second half. Drew Tate quarterbacked the Stampeders in the second half, beginning at their 38. They had an impressive drive until receiver Brad Sinopoli fumbled and the Riders recovered at their own 30. Turnovers: 5-1 in the Riders’ favour.
– Saskatchewan was 2-and-out starting its first drive at their 30.
– Calgary ball at their 47. Tate had no problems moving the ball and ended the series with a 46-yard touchdown toss to Joe West at the 5:16 mark. 22-13 Riders.
– Riders’ second drive started at their 34. First play Durant heaved a bomb to Weston Dressler at the Calgary 40. They moved it down to the Calgary 13 before settling for a 20-yard Chris Milo field goal attempt. However it was blocked and again the Riders came away with no points in the redzone. 22-13 Riders with 6:13 to go in the third.
– Stampeders took over at their 10 for their third drive. A 31-yard Jon Cornish run got them out to their 41 before punting.
– Riders’ third series began at their 18. Kory Sheets hit 100 yards rushing on the series. They ending up punting from their 39.
– Riders got it back at their 27 with 0:34 left in the third. They’d get the wind in the fourth. The series carried over into the final frame.
AFTER THREE: RIDERS 22 STAMPEDERS 13
– Minus-12 for the start of the fourth, minus-19 with the windchill.
– The Rider drive continued into the fourth quarter and a minute in, Kory Sheets converted on a huge 3rd-and-1 at the Rider 48 to keep it going. The drive ended with a 13-yard Chris Milo field goal at the 7:37 mark. 25-13 Riders.
– Stampeder ball at their 35 as they were touching the ball for the first time in the fourth quarter, with 7:23 to go. They got a first down on an 11-yard Cornish run but then elected to punt. After a Rider timeout, they yanked their offense off the field facing 3rd-and-10 from their 46, and put the punt team on.
– Riders fielded the punt and took over at their 25 with 5:58 go to go. They got to their 35, just shy of the first down, before punting.
– More Stampeders’ self-implosion. Returner Larry Taylor muffed the punt and the Riders’ Paul Woldu knocked it out of bounds at the Calgary 32 with 4:10 to go. Turnovers: 6-1 in the Riders’ favour.
– With 3:12 left Milo hit a 39-yard field goal to make it 28-13. There was nobody left in the stadium but Rider fans by this point.
– Calgary took over at their 35 with 2:59 to go. They turned it over on downs with 2:13 to go. Turnovers: 7-1 in the Riders’ favour.
– Riders took over at the Calgary 41. Sheets, Sheets, Sheets all day. Down to the one yard-line he went with 1:16left before being knocked out of bounds. Next play he lept into the endzone for a 35-13 lead with 1:12 left.
– Calgary took over at their 30 with 1:10 to go, and Bo-Levi Mitchell at quarterback. They moved it down to the Rider 45 as the clock hit 0:00.
GAME OVER: ROUGHRIDERS 35 STAMPEDERS 13
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM RIDER HEAD COACH COREY CHAMBLIN
– It’s so surreal for us to win here. My biggest goal since leaving Calgary was to be able to win here. We finally did and it’s an unbelievable feeling.
– It’s an awesome feeling. We went through some ups and downs but our team didn’t waiver. The coaches and players didn’t and we’re right where we need to be.
– I went and got the players that I thought that would help us get here and we did it. We only gave up 13 points and that’s a championship defense. With D.A., you have to up with a lot, but he makes it worth it.
– The O-line did a good job and gave Kory Sheets a chance to be special but we did it.
– We’re in it baby!
RIDER PRESIDENT JIM HOPSON
– I could tell all week they were ready. They were focused, not cocky, but they knew they’re a good team. I’m so proud of them. This is an incredible achievement.
– Everything we did this year was geared to this. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves saying if we didn’t make it to the Grey Cup it would be a disappointment. But it’s not over. I thought BC was our biggest challenge, honestly. I feel good but we got one more game to play.
– My wife talked about this all year. I can’t put into words what it will be like with Kent Austin coming back. It’s going to be a great week.
– I feel good! This was a big win to come into hostile territory and get it. We’re battle-tested with a lot of veterans who’ve been in tough Grey Cup losses, and wins, and when you go through those things it helps you deal with it down the road.
– The turnovers were huge. Same thing happened last time here. Defense played well but we had to settle for field goals. Our emphasis was scoring from the 10-yard line in. It was huge going into halftime at 22-6 rather than 9-6 so those touchdowns were huge.
– I felt good. I loved playing in the cold, that’s when I feel like I’m at my best. The ball was spinning out there for me. We got guys who can play for any type of weather and it showed.
– This is good for the storylines and the media but for me it’s all about getting that Cup man. 2009 was heartbreaking and 2010 was hard. We gotta get this one.
DARIAN DURANT
– I felt good.
** The Roughriders will oppose the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 101st Grey Cup next Sunday in Regina.
