Roughriders Darian Durant (left), Jeremy O’Day and Eddie Davis celebrate their CFL West win over the Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday.
Photograph by: David Stobbe, Reuters
Photograph by: David Stobbe, Reuters
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders won the West Division final for cornerback Omarr Morgan.
They beat the Calgary Stampeders 27-17 on Sunday for their assistant coaches and each player in their Mosaic Stadium locker room. They clinched a berth in their second Grey Cup game in three years for head coach Ken Miller and the 30,945 Thunderstick waving fans at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium.
They beat the Calgary Stampeders 27-17 on Sunday for their assistant coaches and each player in their Mosaic Stadium locker room. They clinched a berth in their second Grey Cup game in three years for head coach Ken Miller and the 30,945 Thunderstick waving fans at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium.
They accomplished that with their best overall team effort of the 2009 CFL season. The offence was effective when it needed to be. The defence came through with huge stops, four sacks and three interceptions.
The special teams produced a key second-half kickoff return and the Riders overcame the third-quarter woes that have plagued the team through most of the 2009 season to beat the Stampeders.
The special teams produced a key second-half kickoff return and the Riders overcame the third-quarter woes that have plagued the team through most of the 2009 season to beat the Stampeders.
"We battled all year but if the offence struggled the defence picked us up,'' veteran offensive tackle Gene Makowsky said after Sunday's win. "That's what happened in the first quarter. If we needed a big return, then (Jason) Armstead got one for us. That's what championship teams do. They find a way to win.''
The ability of Riders to pull out games earned them a trip to Calgary for Sunday's Grey Cup. The Riders will face the Montreal Alouettes, who defeated the B.C. Lions 56-18 in Sunday's East Division final.
The Alouettes beat the Riders twice during the regular season. But Riders veteran defensive half back Eddie Davis said a 35-24 loss to the Alouettes in Montreal on Aug. 21 was a turning point for their season.
"Early in that game Montreal pretty well owned us,'' said Davis, who had one of three Riders' interceptions Sunday. "We came out in the second half and we showed that we weren't going to back down. We still lost but it sent a message to the entire league that Saskatchewan was ready to play and that they are going to have their hands full when you play us.''
"Early in that game Montreal pretty well owned us,'' said Davis, who had one of three Riders' interceptions Sunday. "We came out in the second half and we showed that we weren't going to back down. We still lost but it sent a message to the entire league that Saskatchewan was ready to play and that they are going to have their hands full when you play us.''
The two will now meet on the CFL's grandest stage in a city that may have the largest following of Riders fans outside Saskatchewan.
"It will be like having a home game in Calgary,'' said Riders head coach Ken Miller. "Our fans will be there on masse and we look forward to seeing and greeting them there. I don't know how many Montreal fans will be there but I know there will be thousands of Riders fans.''
There are 20 players remaining from the 2007 Grey Cup championship team on the Riders but Morgan wasn't among that group. Morgan signed with the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent during the offseason and watched the Riders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 in the 2007 Grey Cup game. Morgan re-signed with the Riders in 2008. Sunday's Grey Cup game will be his first in a 10-year CFL career.
"This is a step but I'm happy right now with just going,'' said Morgan. "It's unreal and I don't know what to do, This is greatest group of guys in the world and I'm glad they let me share in this moment with them.''
It's a moment that was a team victory. Riders quarterback Darian Durant was 18 for 25 for 204 yards and three touchdowns in his first playoff start. Canadian receivers Rob Bagg, Andy Fantuz and Chris Getzlaf all caught touchdown passes.
It's a moment that was a team victory. Riders quarterback Darian Durant was 18 for 25 for 204 yards and three touchdowns in his first playoff start. Canadian receivers Rob Bagg, Andy Fantuz and Chris Getzlaf all caught touchdown passes.
Armstead ignited a second-half rally when he returned the opening kickoff 99 yards to Calgary's 20. Four plays later Durant hit Fantuz on a nine-yard pass that gave the Riders a 17-10 lead after Luca Congi's convert.
Armstead and Bagg then hooked up on a 42-yard pass later in the third quarter. Two plays later, Durant hit Bagg with a 16-yard pass that helped the Riders cap a 14-1 third-quarter run.
"That Armstead return really got the third quarter going,'' said Miller, whose team trailed 10-0 early in the second quarter. "It was a tremendous return by him but I want to compliment the other men who were on the field. It was a great football play that involved all 12 men who were trying their hardest to get him into the end zone. We couldn't quite get him there.''
The Riders' defence contributed in a huge way. Middle linebacker Rey Williams sacked Calgary quarterback Henry Burris three times. Defensive end John Chick had one sack.
Safety James Patrick intercepted two Burris pass attempts. The Riders held Burris to just one toucdown pass to Jeremaine Copeland late in the fourth quarter.
It also held Joffrey Reynolds, the West Division's nominee for the most outstanding player, to one rushing touchdown.
"They did what we had done in the past,'' said Burris. "They showed true championship grit and that's why they are the West Division champions.''
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