Duron Carter celebrated a couple of firsts Saturday.
Carter, who’s entering his first season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, scored the first touchdown by a CFL player at new Mosaic Stadium. The only football game played previously at the facility was a Canada West contest between the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and University of Regina Rams on Oct. 1.
The game Saturday also marked the first time ever that Carter had taken the field at the Roughriders’ new home.
“Anytime you get a touchdown, it feels great,” said Carter, who snagged a seven-yard scoring pass from Brandon Bridge in the Roughriders’ 25-25 pre-season tie with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“To come in this super-nice facility, I was like a kid in a candy store when we walked in here earlier. It feels really good. It feels like home.”
Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones was impressed with the lighting in the new facility as well as the volume on the field. An announced gathering of 33,358 was on hand — and Jones said the crowd noise seemingly stayed in the building thanks to its design.
That roar certainly didn’t surprise defensive end Jonathan Newsome.
“It’s going to be a fun season,” he said when asked for his impressions of the new facility. “That’s probably one of the best stadiums I’ve ever played in.
“It’s the fans, honestly. The stadium is cool and all that, but I’ve never seen fans like this. I’ve been a part of (Indianapolis) Colts Nation, I’ve been a part of Ohio State (University), but I’ve never seen fans like Rider Nation.”
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Prior to Saturday, the only member of the Roughriders who had played a game in new Mosaic Stadium was slotback Mitchell Picton.
Picton was with the Rams in that Oct. 1 contest, catching seven passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns in their 37-29 victory over the Huskies.
On Saturday, Picton — whom the Roughriders selected in the fifth round (37th overall) of the May 7 draft — had two receptions for 21 yards in his CFL debut.
“It was good to get my first live action in the league,” he said. “It was fun. It kind of went how I expected it to. There were good plays, there were bad plays and everything in between.”
Picton admitted he was nervous, but the butterflies weren’t any bigger than they were prior to the Rams’ game. Playing in front of friends and family no doubt helped settle him down Saturday.
“I talked to my brother (Aaron) all day and he was saying, ‘You’ve been doing this for years. Go out and do your thing. It’s just another football game,’ ’’ Picton said. “That’s the kind of mentality I brought into it and that’s how I approached the game.”
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Quincy Walden got an earful from his teammates Saturday.
Midway through the third quarter, the Roughriders’ running back-returner caught a missed Felix Menard-Briere field-goal attempt in Saskatchewan’s end zone and started upfield.
Walden hit a seam and appeared to be on his way to a length-of-the-field touchdown. But he was caught from behind by Menard-Briere at the Winnipeg 30-yard line, ending the return after 87 yards.
Yes, Walden was tracked down by a kicker — and, yes, the Roughriders let the rookie know all about it.
“I’ve already got enough grief,” Walden said with a grin. “Everybody got on me, talking about the kicker tackling me. But I found out that he was pretty fast.
“I’m just taking it as experience. Next time I’m going to run faster.”
In Walden’s defence, Menard-Briere had the fastest 40-yard dash at the CFL’s East regional combine in March. His time of 4.618 seconds outdid every receiver, running back and defensive back at the event.
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EXTRAS: Guard Brendon LaBatte, who has been nursing an ankle injury in training camp, played sparingly in the contest. Receiver Rob Bagg lasted only two series before also suffering an ankle injury, but Jones said the veteran probably could have kept playing if required. Both players will be evaluated over the next couple of days … Guard Josiah St. John and receiver-returner Joe Craig also left Saturday’s game after taking shots to the head … The Roughriders aren’t required to make any roster moves before next Saturday’s CFL-mandated cutdown day, but Jones said the impending returns of punter Josh Bartel and long-snapper Jorgen Hus likely will result in a couple of players being released … The Roughriders return to practice Monday, 9 a.m., at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Their next pre-season game is Friday in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.
