CATES CAN STILL PLAY

Roughrider Wes Cates (20) takes a hand off from quarterback Darian Durant.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post

REGINA — Wes Cates appeared tired and satisfied after Sunday's 33-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' veteran tailback rushed for a season-high 117 yards on 19 carries in the win before 30,650 spectators at Mosaic Stadium.

"This is just something to re-solidify that I can still play the game,'' said Cates, who missed the first two games of the CFL season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. "They don't have to worry about it because I'm still going to provide plays and play some good minutes.''

Cates did that in the fourth quarter when he rushed for 46 of his total yards. That performance was especially timely because the Tiger-Cats had rallied from a 23-0 deficit to tie the contest 23-23 early in the fourth quarter.

"I feel they came in with a little more confidence than they should have had,'' Cates said after the Riders improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 at home. "They knew we have been playing up and down and haven't been playing that well at home. They had been playing well but they weren't ready. We got a big lead and we were able to put away the game when we needed it.''

The Tiger-Cats tied the contest on an eight-yard run by DeAndra' Cobb. That's when Cates came to the front.

"It was definitely a confidence-booster for us because we haven't been running the ball as well as we have wanted to,'' said Riders quarterback Darian Durant. "The fourth quarter gave us an opportunity to give Wes the ball and allow him to do what he does best. That was huge and hopefully we can keep this thing rolling.''

Cates did that and more. In the fourth quarter, he recorded runs of 12, five and three yards that helped run down the clock and eventually led to Luca Congi's 15-yard field goal. Cates was also handed the ball late in the fourth quarter when the Riders were killing the clock.

"That was really good,'' said Riders head coach Ken Miller. "You compare this game to what he

did in Calgary (98 yards on 16 carries) and you see what he can do.''
It wasn't all Cates. Durant rushed for 49 yards on five carries and Weston Dressler ran for 25 yards and a go-ahead touchdown. Regina product Stu Foord also contributed to the running game with four carries for 21 yards.

"Stu is a good player in his own right and it's a long season,'' Miller said when asked about using Foord. "We want to space out the numbers of reps that Wes gets.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
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