Riders quarterback Darian Durant looking for an open receiver during the second half of Saturday's game against the host Calgary Stampeders.
Photograph by: Todd Korol, Reuters
Photograph by: Todd Korol, Reuters
REGINA — Two weeks ago, salivating media carnivores encircled Darian Durant and Ken Miller to inquire about the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterbacking issue.
Well, it seemed like an issue.
In the aftermath of a 19-16 loss to the B.C. Lions, Miller — the Roughriders’ head coach — acknowledged that he had thought about replacing a faltering Durant with the team’s backup quarterback, Steven Jyles. Miller also indicated that Durant would be on a shorter leash heading into an Oct. 10 CFL home game against the Toronto Argonauts.
Quarterback controversy? Not quite. But, judging by the volume of anti-Durant e-mails received at this work station, many Roughriders fans were restless with the quarterbacking.
It was a pivotal period in the professional life of the 27-year-old Durant, who is in his first full season as the Roughriders’ starting quarterback. Miller’s patience was being tested, at least to a degree, and it appeared as though Durant had reached a plateau.
So much for that notion. Durant has responded with two of his best games.
Against Toronto, he completed 14 of 23 passes for 196 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 60 yards in the Roughriders’ 32-22 victory.
Against Toronto, he completed 14 of 23 passes for 196 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 60 yards in the Roughriders’ 32-22 victory.
Durant topped that performance one week later in a 44-44 overtime tie with the host Calgary Stampeders. He was 35-for-45 for 427 yards, with two TDs and nary an interception. He added five carries for 40 yards.
The numbers, as impressive as they are, only tell part of the story. He guided the Roughriders on an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was punctuated by a 25-yard TD pass to Andy Fantuz. That was followed by a pass to Rob Bagg, whose two-point conversion tied the game at 30-30 with 41 seconds remaining.
The numbers, as impressive as they are, only tell part of the story. He guided the Roughriders on an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was punctuated by a 25-yard TD pass to Andy Fantuz. That was followed by a pass to Rob Bagg, whose two-point conversion tied the game at 30-30 with 41 seconds remaining.
In overtime, Durant led the Riders to a TD on each of their possessions.
“It’s a good feeling whenever you have a game like that individually, but like I’ve been saying all year, I’m a team player,’’ Durant said. “I’ll trade stats for wins any day. If I throw for 200 yards and we win, I’m just as happy. It’s all about wins at the end of the day.’’
OK, let’s talk about wins.
Durant has started 19 games as a Roughrider, dating back to last season. His record: 12 victories, six losses and one tie. And what a tie it was.
Saturday’s passing-yardage total was the highest for a Saskatchewan quarterback since Aug. 11, 2000, when Henry Burris threw for 458 yards in a 29-23 loss to the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Moreover, a Roughrider had not hit the 35-completion mark since Oct. 31, 1993, when Kent Austin went 41-for-55 during a 30-23 victory in Toronto.
Granted, Durant’s totals on Saturday were padded by overtime. But even when you subtract the OT totals, he was a highly credible 30-for-38 for 364 yards.
Either way, he became the first Roughrider to hit 30 completions in a game since July 9, 2005, when Nealon Greene was 31-for-39 during a 27-26 loss in Toronto.
And get this: Durant, Greene and Reggie Slack (who was 32-for-46 in a 25-20 victory in Vancouver on July 24, 1998) are the only Roughriders to complete 30 or more passes in a game since Austin did so routinely. Beginning with the 1989 Grey Cup and continuing through his final game as a player with Saskatchewan in 1993, Austin had 15 outings of at least 30 completions. Three such games followed over the next 16 years.
The 400-yard contests are also rarities. Austin had 17 400-yard games, beginning with the 1989 Grey Cup. Post-1993, the Roughriders have hit the 400-yard mark on only six occasions (four times by Burris, once by Kerry Joseph, and most recently by Durant).
The 400-yard contests are also rarities. Austin had 17 400-yard games, beginning with the 1989 Grey Cup. Post-1993, the Roughriders have hit the 400-yard mark on only six occasions (four times by Burris, once by Kerry Joseph, and most recently by Durant).
Durant may not be a huge believer in statistics but, in his case, they are telling. Over the past two games, for example, he has an eye-popping quarterback rating of 124.8. More importantly, his team is tied with Calgary for first place in the West Division. In this season’s two visits to Calgary — home of the defending Grey Cup champions — Durant has rallied his team for a victory and a tie.
Although a winner was not declared on Saturday, there was one clear verdict: Darian Durant is the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback. Period. End of story.
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