Hugh Charles celebrates a touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts460
Photograph by: Mike Cassese, Reuters
Photograph by: Mike Cassese, Reuters
TORONTO — That was one for the thumb.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders' 46-36 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday in a sweltering Rogers Centre was also one for the offence, defence and special teams. The Riders scored in all three facets of the game en route to improving their record to 2-0 — good for first place in the CFL's West Division.
"This is a team win,'' Riders head coach Ken Miller said after the game. "We had elements of great defence, great offence and special teams. In the best sense of the word, it was a team win.''
It was a win that showed the resiliency of Riders quarterback Darian Durant, who was solid despite playing with a bad bruise on his right thumb. He completed three touchdown passes and didn't appear to have any problems with the thumb that he injured on Tuesday while hitting a teammate's helmet.
It was a win that showed the resiliency of Riders quarterback Darian Durant, who was solid despite playing with a bad bruise on his right thumb. He completed three touchdown passes and didn't appear to have any problems with the thumb that he injured on Tuesday while hitting a teammate's helmet.
"The thumb is still a little sore but it was going to take a lot to keep me out of this game,'' said Durant, who 18-for-28 passing for 205 yards. "We played well as an offence but we can still get better. That's the scary part.''
A scary aspect for the Argos emerged in the second quarter before 30,055 fans. That's when Toronto was leading 13-7 after the first quarter and appeared to have early control.
That control disappeared as the Riders exploded for 30 second-quarter points. The burst, which featured four touchdowns and a safety, was highlighted by Jerrell Freeman's blocked punt.
That control disappeared as the Riders exploded for 30 second-quarter points. The burst, which featured four touchdowns and a safety, was highlighted by Jerrell Freeman's blocked punt.
Freeman recovered the punt in the end zone to set up the Riders with a 37-13 halftime lead.
"We were just coming on the block,'' said Freeman, a first-year linebacker. "I knew after I blocked it that I had to go get the ball.''
"We were just coming on the block,'' said Freeman, a first-year linebacker. "I knew after I blocked it that I had to go get the ball.''
The blocked punt capped a wild closing five minutes in the second half. The Riders erupted for 28 points in the final 4:58.
Running back Hugh Charles scored on an eight-yard pass from Durant and a two-yard run. Durant then proved there wasn't any concerns about his thumb when he hit Weston Dressler with a 33-yard touchdown bomb.
"I don't think anyone saw that coming,'' Durant said when asked about the second-quarter explosion. "That shows what we're capable of when we're hitting on all cylinders. The coaches do a good job of putting us in a position where we can make plays. As long as we continue to do that, we have the players who can make those plays.''
Defensive end Stevie Baggs was one of those players. Baggs recorded a sack, a safety and an interception. He picked up the safety after sacking former Riders quarterback Kerry Joseph in the end zone to start off the second-quarter explosion.
"I can't take credit for it,'' said Baggs. "We all play as a team and effort is our edge. On defence, the mentality we have is 'Get to the ball and get it back for our offence.' ''
The Riders gained from the Argos' lack of discipline. Toronto was penalized 17 times for 141 yards. The Argos were hit with 14 penalties for 126 yards in the first half, including two unnecessary roughness calls on defensive lineman Adriano Belli.
"Do you want to be a street fighter, or do you want to be a football player?" said Argos head coach Bart Andrus, who also singled out Belli for his conduct. "If it doesn't end, it's going to end because the guys that are doing it are not going to be here. I'm not going to be embarrassed week to week by conduct like that."
Riders slotback Andy Fantuz (22-yard pass from Durant) also scored a touchdown. Riders kicker Luca Congi was 3-for-4 on field-goal attempts.
Reggie McNeal, Jamal Robertson, Tyler Scott and Mike Bradwell scored touchdowns for the Argos. Toronto placekicker Justin Medlock was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts.
The Riders suffered some injuries. Slotback Jason Clermont suffered a contusion to his lower back in the first half and defensive halfback Lance Frazier has a hip pointer. Both players are expected to play when the Riders play host to the Montreal Alouettes (2-0) on Saturday.
The Riders suffered some injuries. Slotback Jason Clermont suffered a contusion to his lower back in the first half and defensive halfback Lance Frazier has a hip pointer. Both players are expected to play when the Riders play host to the Montreal Alouettes (2-0) on Saturday.
"I probably could have gone back out but I wouldn't have been as effective as a healthy Chris Getzlaf,'' said Clermont. "In the best interest of the team, I sat down and Chris played. If circumstances were different, we would have done something at halftime but we didn't need to.''
The Argos fell to 1-1 with the loss and visit the Calgary Stampeders on Friday.
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