FANTUZ IS FANTASTIC

Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Andy Fantuz tries to shake off Calgary Stampeders linebacker Shannon James.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post Files, Leader-Post

The Calgary Stampeders would like to see Andy Fantuz one more time this season -- even though they are unable to cover him.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback has hit double digits in receptions in each of the CFL team's last two games against Calgary. Most recently, Fantuz had 12 receptions for 123 yards in Saturday's 30-14 victory on Taylor Field -- a conquest that gave Saskatchewan first place in the West and a bye into the division final.
On Nov. 22, Fantuz and the Roughriders will play host to the winner of Sunday's West semifinal between the Stampeders and the visiting Edmonton Eskimos.

"It's a great feeling,'' Fantuz said of Saturday's victory. "During the game, even when we're winning, you're so nervous. We just want to win so badly. When the final whistle blew, it's such a relief and guys are excited. We can use the bye. We're a little banged up and we're going to get healthy and be ready to go.''

Fantuz has put up healthy numbers against Calgary this season. On Oct. 17 at McMahon Stadium, he had 10 catches for a season-high 149 yards and one touchdown in a 44-44 overtime tie. Three weeks later, half of quarterback Darian Durant's 24 completions went to Fantuz. On the Riders' opening drive, culminating in a touchdown toss to Chris Getzlaf, Fantuz caught four passes for 48 yards.

"When our team plays well, everyone gets the stats,'' Fantuz said. "It's not about individual performances. When the team's playing well, we spread the ball around and we take what they give us.''

Fantuz's reception total on Saturday was the highest by a Roughrider since July 28, 2001, when Curtis Marsh caught 13 passes for 215 yards in a 50-24 loss to the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

Since that game, a Roughrider has reached double digits in receptions on only four occasions. Fantuz has twice accomplished that feat. Saskatchewan's other two games of that description were in 2005, when Jason French had 11 catches (July 23) and Elijah Thurmon caught 10 passes (Oct. 8).

Fantuz's 12-reception game elicited praise from his team's head coach, Ken Miller.

"Andy Fantuz is, I think, the best in the league at what he does,'' Miller said. "With his ability to make those clutch catches for those clutch first downs, you can't say enough about him and those catches.''
Fantuz's rapport with Durant is a contributing factor.

"We're pretty good friends off the field, so we're always talking about things,'' the fourth-year Roughriders slotback said. "We've always been getting close to jelling, and then we had a couple of unfortunate injuries. Last year we both got hurt in the same game, and then this year I hurt my hamstring.

"We've been really close to getting to that page and I think we're there right now. We're going to be ready to go in the playoffs and just try to give it our best.''

During the 2009 regular season, Fantuz posted career and team highs in receptions (67 for 882 yards) despite missing five games with a torn hamstring. His previous high was set two years ago, when he made 56 catches for a career-best 978 yards.

Extrapolated over a full regular-season schedule of 18 games, Fantuz caught passes in 2009 at a pace that would have resulted in 93 receptions for 1,221 yards.

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