Saskatchewan defensive back Lance Frazier celebrates his interception in front of the Calgary bench during Saturday's game at Mosaic Stadium.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post
The prairie drought is over.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Calgary Stampeders 30-14 on Saturday to clinch their first West Division regular-season title since 1976. The end of the 33-year drought means the Riders will play host to the West Division final Nov. 22. The Stampeders dropped to second place and will play host to the Edmonton Eskimos in the West semifinal on Nov. 15.
The Riders and Stampeders finished the regular season tied at 10-7-1. The Riders gained first place by winning the season series between the teams at 2-0-1.
The Riders accomplished the feat before a sold-out crowd of 30,945 at Mosaic Stadium. The crowd acknowledged the Riders' victory with a prolonged ovation.
Riders quarterback Darian Durant outgunned Calgary's Henry Burris. Durant completed two first-half touchdown passes and threw for 296 yards. Burris was held to 220-plus yards and was intercepted once by Lance Frazier.
The Riders' offence was solid but it was the defence that came through with big plays. There weren't any bigger than when defensive end John Chick sacked Burris for a 13-yard loss. The sack dropped Calgary to its one-yard line. Two plays later, Calgary's Burke Dales conceded a safety to give the Riders a 23-14 lead.
Fullback Chris Szarka iced the Riders' win with a one-yard touchdown run at 14:23 of the fourth quarter.
Calgary's Sandro DeAngelis connected on field goals of 24 and 22 yards in the third quarter. Placekicker Luca Congi hit on a 37-yard field goal as the Riders led 21-14 after the third quarter.
The Riders got off to a strong start when they scored on their opening drive of the game. Durant connected with Chris Getzlaf on a nine-yard touchdown pass to stake the Riders' to a 7-0 lead.
Durant, who threw for 215 yards in the opening half, also hit Rob Bagg on a 25-yard pass for a touchdown.
The Riders got off to a strong start when they scored on their opening drive of the game. Durant connected with Chris Getzlaf on a nine-yard touchdown pass to stake the Riders' to a 7-0 lead.
Durant, who threw for 215 yards in the opening half, also hit Rob Bagg on a 25-yard pass for a touchdown.
Congi connected on two first-half field goals of 37 yards each.
Burris scored Calgary's lone first-half touchdown on a one-yard run.
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