RIDERS WANT A BETTER OUTCOME THAN ON JULY 25th

By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostSeptember 19, 2009Be the first to post a comment


REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders would prefer not to remember their previous regular-season CFL game against the Edmonton Eskimos.

The contest took place July 25 at Mosaic Stadium and the Roughriders raced into a 22-0 second-quarter lead over the Eskimos. That lead didn't hold up as the Eskimos bounced back to beat the Riders 38-33.

That CFL game, the blown lead and the outcome have resurfaced because the Riders are playing host to the Eskimos on Sunday (2 p.m.) at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium. It's the first meeting between the West Division rivals since Edmonton recorded the comeback.

"That is a game I would like to forget,'' Riders defensive back Lance Frazier said Friday. "We saw some of that game film this week and we focused on the positive things that we did. What I saw was that we had to become better finishers.''

Running back Calvin McCarty, with two touchowns, and returner Tristan Jackson, with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, ignited Edmonton's comeback. The loss dropped the Riders to 2-2 and into a tie for first with Edmonton.

"It was definitely one of our low points of the season,'' said Frazier, whose 70-yard interception return of a Ricky Ray pass for a touchdown staked the Riders to a 15-0 first-quarter advantage. "I can't recall another team being up so much and having so much momentum at home. It was like giving the game away. It was a slap in the face. You know that when you look in the mirror that you have to get better.''

The Riders have done that. They have won four of their past six games and head into the weekend tied for first place in the West Division with the Calgary Stampeders at 6-4.
Riders quarterback Darian Durant has continued to improve since that game. The Riders' special teams, especially with the addition of returner Jason Armstead, have also improved in the past two contests. The defence is also better and is among the league's best. It's a different team at this point of the season compared to the one which lost to the Eskimos.

"We have a lot of extra motivation, especially with Kitwana Jones coming back and playing against his former team,'' said Frazier. "He will be an instrumental part of our special teams.''
The July 25 game marked the returns of Edmonton head coach Richie Hall, middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd and Jones to Regina. Hall was named Edmonton's head coach during the off-season, after spending 15 seasons with the Riders, the last eight as their defensive co-ordinator.
Lloyd signed with Edmonton as a free agent during the off-season. Jones, whom the Eskimos acquired in a trade on May 14 with the Riders, was released by Edmonton Sept. 8. Jones re-signed with the Riders on Sept. 9 and is scheduled to dress for his first game Sunday.

"I expect our special teams will get a boost from having Kitwana on them this week,'' said Riders head coach Ken Miller.

The July 25 game was the first time Lloyd experienced the Riders/Eskimos rivalry from the visitors' side of Mosaic Stadium. Lloyd truly enjoyed the experience.

"This may be one of the best rivalries because they don't like us and we don't like them,'' said Lloyd. "Even when I was there, Saskatchewan didn't like the Eskimos. It's just a part of being in the CFL.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com