as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Calgary Stampeders in Saskatoon, SK, August 13, 2016 Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
A sold out Mosaic Stadium awaited the Riders in search of their second win of the season. To pick up the victory it would have to come down to the play of the defence, and they stepped up tonight, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Scoring was at a premium in the first half with the Stampeders only being able to muster a trio of Rene Paredes field goals to take the 9-0 lead.
The Riders finally hit the scoreboard with a touchdown on the final play of the first half when Mitchell Gale wiggled his way into the end zone and the Riders trailed 9-7 at half time.
The second half was more great defence on both sides of the field but Calgary was the only one able to hit the end zone as a long drive early in the first quarter was capped with a Jerome Messam TD plunge to extend the lead to 16-7.
On the ensuing drive, Quinn Van Gylswyk hit from 54 yards for his first CFL field goal and that bit into the Calgary lead at 16-10.
The Stampeders Bo Levi Mitchell on the next series was able to squeeze out of a potential sack and pitch it forward to Jerome Messam. He then took the ball 64 yards down the field before Buddy Jackson forced a fumble and Major Culbert recovered it.
On the ensuing drive, Darian Durant was stretching for extra yardage in Stampeder territory, when he then fumbled and gave the ball right back to Calgary.
Calgary gave it right back when Mitchell was intercepted by Justin Cox (his second of the season), but the Riders were not able to convert on the turnover.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Riders drove the ball deep in Calgary territory, but Van Gylswyk hit the iron from 40 yards out.
Calgary would take over and on the first play, Mitchell would hit Simon Charbonneau-Campeau on a 64-yard bomb to set up the final points of the game on Paredes’ fourth field goal of the game to seal the 19-10 victory.
The Riders now fall to 1-and-6 and will now head on the road for their next two games beginning next Saturday night in Hamilton. Kick-off is at 5:00pm Saskatchewan time.
Rider Leaders
Passing:
Darian Durant 24/37, 267yds.
Receiving:
Naaman Roosevelt 8/79
Rushing:
Darian Durant 10/74
Defence:
Greg Jones 4 Tackles, 1 Sack
