By Rob Vanstone, Leader-Post September 6, 2010
For most of the game, it was the Labore Day Classic.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence often appeared to be in hibernation during the first three quarters of Sunday’s annual long-weekend CFL clash with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. After 45 minutes, Saskatchewan had a mere 10 first downs and was clinging to an 18-17 lead.
But then — and forgive me if you have read this 188 times before — Darian Durant demonstrated his resilience by making timely plays and quarterbacking his team to victory. The verdict: Saskatchewan 27, Winnipeg 23.
But then — and forgive me if you have read this 188 times before — Darian Durant demonstrated his resilience by making timely plays and quarterbacking his team to victory. The verdict: Saskatchewan 27, Winnipeg 23.
“My teammates gave me the nickname Bounce Back,’’ said Durant, who lived up to the monicker once again. “They don’t worry about it when we make turnovers or I throw an interception. That’s just the mentality we have.
“We have a team that’s never going to quit. We’re always going to be there at the end. That’s the confidence we have. When it’s time to make a play, we all step up — not just me.’’
Durant is quick to defer to his teammates in times of triumph. When he does single himself out, it is typically after a defeat — when he will invariably put the onus on himself to improve.
A case in point was a 17-14 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 28. Durant had perhaps his worst game as a Roughrider — throwing three interceptions and struggling to move the ball with the requisite consistency.
Durant is quick to defer to his teammates in times of triumph. When he does single himself out, it is typically after a defeat — when he will invariably put the onus on himself to improve.
A case in point was a 17-14 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 28. Durant had perhaps his worst game as a Roughrider — throwing three interceptions and struggling to move the ball with the requisite consistency.
Leading up to Sunday’s game, Durant patiently fielded questions about his performance. The media thoughtfully advised him that some especially frustrated fans were questioning his performance. Some loyalists even went so far as to assert that understudy Ryan Dinwiddie should have been deployed during the latter stages in Edmonton.
Durant saved his most emphatic response for Sunday’s fourth quarter, when his actions spoke volumes. He helped the Roughriders engineer nine of their 19 first downs while throwing for 111 of his 301 yards.
Most notably, Durant was at the controls for the Roughriders’ game-changing drive — an eight-play, 91-yard gem that devoured four minutes 48 seconds. The 28-year-old pivot completed all five of his passes on that drive. He also ran twice for 18 yards. A seven-yard run gave
Saskatchewan its first of six first downs on that possession, which was punctuated by his 11-yard touchdown scamper.
“Before every drive, you pretty much say, ‘This is the drive where we’re going to turn it around,’ but I think we took it back to like we were at practice,’’ Durant said. “We’re laughing, smiling and joking all the time in the huddle, and that’s what we did on that drive. It was, ‘Let’s have fun, let’s be loose, and let’s take the ball down the field.’ ’’
Sure enough, he did.
No surprise there.
While emerging as a CFL star last season, Durant repeatedly rallied the Roughriders, thereby establishing that he could be a victorious quarterback on days that were not necessarily his best. Sunday’s contest also adheres to that description.
“I’m tired of slumping myself,’’ Durant said. “It’s time for us to start making plays. Hopefully we can take what we did in the fourth quarter, build on that, and hopefully it will carry over until next week and for the rest of the season.’’
There was some carryover from the Edmonton game, in that Durant did not throw a touchdown pass against Winnipeg. After being picked off once on Sunday, Durant’s ratio of TD passes to interceptions is now 11:13 this season. However, that number can be deceiving.
Consider the fact that Durant had two virtual touchdown passes on Sunday. His 33-yard toss to Andy Fantuz put Saskatchewan on the two-yard line, from where Wes Cates ran for a major. Cates later scored from one yard out one play after Durant found Chris Getzlaf for a 14-yard gain. And don’t forget The Drive, which culminated when Durant’s legs carried him to paydirt. Moreover, a 38-yard pass from Durant to Fantuz late in Sunday’s game was initially ruled a TD, only to be overturned by video review.
Consider the fact that Durant had two virtual touchdown passes on Sunday. His 33-yard toss to Andy Fantuz put Saskatchewan on the two-yard line, from where Wes Cates ran for a major. Cates later scored from one yard out one play after Durant found Chris Getzlaf for a 14-yard gain. And don’t forget The Drive, which culminated when Durant’s legs carried him to paydirt. Moreover, a 38-yard pass from Durant to Fantuz late in Sunday’s game was initially ruled a TD, only to be overturned by video review.
The interceptions may outnumber the touchdown passes, but Durant attaches more relevance to a disparity of a different sort. The Riders’ victory total (six) now doubles the losses (three).
The victories aren’t always aesthetic successes — just like the Labour Day Classic isn’t always a classic — but who can argue with the results?
The victories aren’t always aesthetic successes — just like the Labour Day Classic isn’t always a classic — but who can argue with the results?
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