By MURRAY McCORMICK, Leader-Post July 2, 2010
REGINA — Wes Cates was in a rush Canada Day.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders' veteran running back hurried to Mosaic Stadium for the CFL regular-season opener against the Montreal Alouettes. Cates then proved that he deserved to be on top of the running back depth chart with a performance that brought back memories of his earlier seasons with the Riders.
Cates rushed 13 times for 112 yards and scored a touchdown as the Riders rallied from a 33-12 third-quarter deficit to pull out a 54-51 double-overtime victory over the defending Grey Cup champions.
"When you're going into the season, you know the stigma associated with 30-year-old running backs,'' Cates said Thursday in the Riders' Mosaic Stadium locker room. "I can't say there is a chip on your shoulder but you have to go out there with something to prove. I felt I owed it to all of the veterans and the guys who are still in the league or were released this season. I just wanted to show them that I'm still out here making plays and doing what I can do to make this team successful. I'm thankful that the Lord has given me the body and the strength to do that.''
Cates may have needed some divine intervention in the Riders' unbelievable win. Head coach Ken Miller waited until Wednesday to officially notify Cates that he would be starting. Cates and Hugh Charles, who is in his third season with the Riders, were apparently locked in a competition to determine Thursday's starter.
Cates may have needed some divine intervention in the Riders' unbelievable win. Head coach Ken Miller waited until Wednesday to officially notify Cates that he would be starting. Cates and Hugh Charles, who is in his third season with the Riders, were apparently locked in a competition to determine Thursday's starter.
Cates, who turns 31 in October, showed that he remains the team's top tailback when given the opportunity.
"We have a lot of depth at tailback and I'm sure that at certain points of the season you're going to see other guys in there,'' said Cates, who is in his fourth season with the Riders. "I'm just trying to do what I can when they call my number.''
Cates' number 20 was called often and effectively. In the first half, he had five carries for 60 yards. He picked up 53 yards on a run that was capped by quarterback Darian Durant's nine-yard touchdown scamper. In the second half, Cates had eight carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Cates blasted off runs of 14, 20 and 10 yards, on which he scored a touchdown to help the Riders tie the Alouettes 33-33 in the fourth quarter.
"He was really solid,'' said Miller. "He had some big runs, ran for a touchdown and set up another. He was tremendous in pass protection when we asked him to be a pass protector.''
Cates still has to prove that the 2009 season was an aberration more than a sign of decline. Cates was sidelined for the first two games of the season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. He rushed for 932 yards on 195 carries and scored five touchdowns as the Riders were the lone CFL team whose premier running back failed to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
Cates still has to prove that the 2009 season was an aberration more than a sign of decline. Cates was sidelined for the first two games of the season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. He rushed for 932 yards on 195 carries and scored five touchdowns as the Riders were the lone CFL team whose premier running back failed to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
In the 2009 playoffs, Cates appeared to regain some of the form he showed in 2008, when he rushed for 1,229 yards on 216 carries and scored 12 touchdowns. Still, it was difficult building the confidence in his surgically repaired shoulder to allow him to hit holes like he did en route to being named a CFL all-star in 2008.
"It's hard to come back from the kind of injury he had, especially with the position he plays,'' said slotback Weston Dressler, who scored the game-winning touchdown in the Riders' second possession of double overtime. "He really takes a beating and it takes time to come back from an injury like that. It was great to see him out there.''
Cates declared that the shoulder injury is behind him. The fact he has recovered from it made it easier for him to prepare for the 2010 season during the off-season.
"I came into the 2009 season not feeling like myself,'' said Cates. "I was dragging myself through the season. I'm not making excuses but it was good to have the whole off-season to be healthy and build for this coming season. I think it showed (Thursday).''
NOTES: The Riders are off today and Sunday before resuming preparations for an encounter with the B.C. Lions in Vancouver next Saturday ... Thursday's game was the highest-scoring regular-season opener in the CFL. The previous high was set on July 6, 1993 when the Calgary Stampeders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 54-34 .... It was also the third-highest-scoring regular-season game in CFL history. The record was set on Sept. 1, 1990 when the Toronto Argonauts beat the Lions 68-43. Second on the list took place on Oct. 28, 2000 when the Riders beat the Edmonton Eskimos 54-52 ... Durant tied several players for second in the Riders' record book with five touchdown passes in a game. Kent Austin leads with six touchdown passes versus the Lions on Sept. 21, 1991 ... The Riders recorded 657 total yards, breaking the franchise's single-game record of 558 yards established in overtime against the Lions on Aug. 13, 1992 ... A total of 1.06 million viewers watched Thursday's game on TSN, making it the most viewed regular-season opener in history for the network.
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