By Rob Vanstone, Leader-PostOctober 23, 2009
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders hope to savour the sweep smell of success.
“If we don’t go 3-and-0, there’s nothing guaranteed to us,’’ slotback Andy Fantuz observed when asked about the final three weeks of the CFL’s 2009 regular season. “We like it that way. We like our destiny to be in our own hands. As long as we win, we know where we’ll be. It’s going to be a fight and a grind, but we’re getting close to money time and playoff time. Win or go home.’’
The Roughriders would prefer a “win and go home’’ scenario.
By winning the final three games — beginning with Saturday’s home date against the B.C. Lions — Saskatchewan can ensure that it will finish atop the West Division for the first time since 1976. If the protracted drought is snapped, the Riders will stage the division final. A second-place finish would also enable Saskatchewan to stage a home playoff game (a West semifinal, in this case) for the third successive year.
“It’s extremely exciting because we don’t have anybody else to depend on,’’ defensive end Stevie Baggs said. “We’ve got to depend on ourselves. We can’t depend on B.C. to lose to another team. We’re playing them this week.
“You have to come together and depend on yourselves. I think us doing what we did last week was evidence that we can move forward collectively and be successful.’’
Seldom is momentum garnered from a non-victory, but the events of one week ago were a notable exception.
Seldom is momentum garnered from a non-victory, but the events of one week ago were a notable exception.
Last Saturday, Roughriders played to a 44-44 overtime draw with the host Calgary Stampeders, who are the defending Grey Cup champions. The result left the Roughriders and Stampeders tied atop the division with 8-6-1 records — marginally ahead of B.C. (8-7-0) and the Edmonton Eskimos (7-8-0).
Calgary played in Edmonton on Friday night. Another crucial divisional game, between Saskatchewan and B.C., is imminent. Thereafter, the Riders will turn their attention to next Saturday’s matchup with the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats before completing the regular season Nov. 7 when Calgary visits Regina for a potential first-place showdown.
The Riders’ immediate priority, though, is to tame their nemesis from B.C., which can overtake the Riders by winning today.
If not for a dropped pass by the Lions’ Ryan Grice-Mullen in the July 3 regular-season opener, won 28-24 by Saskatchewan, the Green and White would be 0-and-3 against B.C. The Riders have lost their past two games against the Lions.
The onus is on Saskatchewan’s offence to produce at or near last week’s level instead of labouring, as it has in all three meetings with B.C.
The Lions are hardly invulnerable to the run, yet Saskatchewan tailback Wes Cates has been stymied during two visits to Vancouver. Complicating matters, the Roughriders have not been able to compensate through the air. The offensive struggles are atypical for a Saskatchewan team that leads the West in points scored, with 445.
In three games against B.C. this season, Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant has a 64.7 quarterback rating — compared to 88.4 against everyone else.
The Roughriders’ pivot has 17 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions against opponents other than B.C. Against the Lions, Durant’s interceptions (seven) dwarf the touchdown passes (three).
However, resiliency is one of Durant’s most noteworthy attributes. If he can solve the puzzle that is the Lions’ defence, the Riders’ chances of winning the division would be enhanced.
Durant will be in exclusive company if the ever-elusive goal of finishing first is attained.
Since the introduction of the Saskatchewan Roughriders — previously the Regina Rugby Club and the Regina Roughriders — in 1948, only two men have quarterbacked the team to first place. Glenn Dobbs accomplished that feat in 1951. Ron Lancaster quarterbacked the West’s regular-season champions in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1976.
However, resiliency is one of Durant’s most noteworthy attributes. If he can solve the puzzle that is the Lions’ defence, the Riders’ chances of winning the division would be enhanced.
Durant will be in exclusive company if the ever-elusive goal of finishing first is attained.
Since the introduction of the Saskatchewan Roughriders — previously the Regina Rugby Club and the Regina Roughriders — in 1948, only two men have quarterbacked the team to first place. Glenn Dobbs accomplished that feat in 1951. Ron Lancaster quarterbacked the West’s regular-season champions in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1976.
In other words, the abbreviated list of the Roughriders’ first-place field generals does not include two Grey Cup-winning pivots — Kent Austin (1989) and Kerry Joseph (2007).
Yet, Durant has an opportunity as a first-year starter to pilot the Riders to top spot — a perch the team has occupied only six times since 1936. His performance in the next three games will play a significant role in dictating the Roughriders’ fortunes.
“This is what you play for — cold weather, down to the nitty gritty,’’ Durant said. “Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. This is what it’s all about.’’
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