By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostNovember 22,
REGINA — Saskatchean Roughriders defensive halfback Lance Frazier had the last word after reading comments from the Calgary Stampeders leading up to Sunday's West Division final.
The Riders defeated the Stampeders 27-17 to advance to next Sunday's Grey Cup game in Calgary. Frazier was still upset at comments made by the Stampeders prior to yesterday's game at Mosaic Stadium.
"They did a lot of talking this week and we sat on our hands and let our play speak for itself,'' Frazier said after Sunday's victory. "They were even talking trash before the game. We didn't have anything to say. We just kept playing.''
"They did a lot of talking this week and we sat on our hands and let our play speak for itself,'' Frazier said after Sunday's victory. "They were even talking trash before the game. We didn't have anything to say. We just kept playing.''
Frazier was annoyed by comments made by Calgary slotback Nik Lewis and quarterback Henry Burris. Lewis told reporters last week that the Riders had their Grey Cup win in 2007 and they can wait another 30 years for another.
"I don't have anything against Nik Lewis because he's actually a good guy off the field,'' said Frazier. "I took that personally and we don't have to take that any more.''
After a loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Oct. 13, Burris told reporters that he would see them again on Nov. 29. The Riders' win on Sunday means that won't take place.
"That pissed me off personally,'' said Frazier. "It pissed me off because we had three or four more games left in the season and he said that. It lit a fire underneath me because I knew it would come down to the last game of the season between us. We whipped then and we whipped them again (Sunday).''
The Riders handled the Stampeders' offence Sunday. Middle linebacker Rey Williams had 10 tackles and three sacks in the Riders' win.
"I tried to let the game come to me,'' said Williams. "Especially in this defence where you have to play within the schemes. Sometimes the scheme isn't designed for me to make all of the plays. I just wanted to have a big game within the scheme. The guys up front did a great job and so did the defensive backs. Some of my sacks were cover sacks.''
John Chick, the West Division's nominee for the defensive player-of-the-year, also had one sack. Williams said it was the play of the defensive line that helped the Riders hold Joffrey Reynolds to 90 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
"We made adjustments to when we played them last time,'' said Williams. "Then they did exactly what we thought they would do.''
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