ROUGHRIDERS BEAT STAMPS

Chris Getzlaf celebrates his winning touchdown in the Roughriders' 24-23 win over the Stampeders on Saturday.
Photograph by: Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald

CALGARY — Three improbable plays led to the Saskatchewan Roughriders pulling out a 24-23 victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday.
First, Calgary place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis was wide left on a 49-yard field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter. Then Saskatchewan's Weston Dressler returned DeAngelis's first missed field goal in 13 attempts this season 55 yards to the Riders' 45-yard line.

Two plays later, Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant hit a streaking Chris Getzlaf on a 65-yard touchdown strike that vaulted the Riders to a 24-23 lead with 77 seconds remaining. After a pair of defensive stops, including a knockdown on the last play of the game by cornerback Donovan Alexander, the Riders had snapped a two-game losing streak.

"The stars were aligned for us in that one,'' Alexander said after the Riders improved to 3-2 and tied for first place in the West Division with the Edmonton Eskimos. "We had the DeAngelis miss and we had some great blocks for Weston. That was more than enough for him to get loose on the sideline.''

The missed field goal set the stage for Getzlaf's second touchdown of the game. He hauled in a nine-yard pass from Durant on the opening drive of the first half to give the Riders a 7-0 lead.
The final touchdown was more dramatic. The Riders faced a second-and-10 situation on their own 45. Calgary blitzed, which opened up the centre of the field for a possible long pass. Calgary was also in man-to-man coverage and Getzlaf was able to beat Ronnie Amadi for the touchdown.
"They had been getting pretty good pressure on me throughout the second half,'' said Durant, who was 16-of-27 for 257 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. "We had a play called where if they gave us the same defensive look they had been giving, we could attack them in the middle. Coach made a great call. Getzlaf ran a great route and all I had to put the ball up there.''
Getzlaf, who called the reception of the biggest of his CFL career, was starting Saturday in place of Andy Fantuz. Fantuz was a game-time scratch with a tender left hamstring.

"I don't know about proving anything to anyone,'' said Getzlaf, who had five receptions for 101 yards. "I had the same opportunity last year and I was able to make a few plays when I could. Andy is a big player to replace and you have to set bar pretty high to fill his shoes.''

The miss capped what had been a wild week for DeAngelis. On Wednesday, DeAngelis and punter Burke Dales got into a pre-practice fight. DeAngelis was left with a black eye but the two said they had left the disagreement behind them.

On Saturday, DeAngelis wasn't able to connect on a 49-yard field goal attempt that could have provided Calgary with a 26-17 lead.

"I pride on myself on making that kick and I have to step up to the plate and make it,'' said DeAngelis, who had connected on all three of his previous field goals. "I let the guys down and hopefully I get a chance to redeem myself next week.''

The Stampeders fell to 2-3 and are to play host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Saturday. The Riders are in Vancouver on Friday to play the B.C. Lions.

"This is huge because we lost two in a row,'' said Durant. "It's important for us to get as many wins as can now for later in the season.''

Riders head coach Ken Miller had announced plans on Thursday to rest Durant for a couple of series in the first half to allow backup Steven Jyles a chance to play.

Jyles did come in with the Riders trailing 13-7. He played two series and was able to reduce Calgary's lead to 13-10 at the half when place-kicker Luca Congi connected on an 18-yard field goal.

Durant was back at quarterback in the second half and helped the Riders outscore Calgary 14-10.

"I showed me some of the things that they were doing from a different perspective,'' said Durant. "It helped me out and hopefully I don't have to get used to that. It can only benefit you.''
Miller was also pleased with how Durant handled the game.

"He did a very nice job and that was a tremendous throw on that deep ball,'' said Miller. "We have to give a lot of credit to our offensive line because they were blitzing on that play. Our protection held up and we had the opportunity to throw the ball downfield. It was a perfect throw.''

Durant also connected with Dressler on a 19-yard pass in the third quarter. Congi connected on 1-of-3 field-goal attempts.

Calgary quarterback Henry Burris rushed for one touchdown while completing 17-of-29 passes for 224 yards and 10-yard touchdown pass to Jon Cornish.

Calgary had two possessions after Getzlaf's touchdown but Burris wasn't able to complete a pass.
"The knock on us was we start strong and we don't finish games properly,'' said Alexander. "The last two weeks we've only played four quarters and that was just the first two halves. It was great finish this from the start to the end.

"Calgary is a great team and they are the defending Grey Cup champions. To come into their place, score into the wind in the fourth quarter . . . It doesn't get any better than that.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com

RIDER 1989 REUNION

The star quarterback won’t be there because he works for Ole Miss and has other football duties now. The clutch receiver won’t be there because he has a family wedding to attend.

As for the man they called Robokicker, he won’t be at Saturday’s 20th anniversary celebration either. He said he has “a previous commitment” and can’t get away even to salute one of the most remarkable stories in CFL history.

But there are those among the 1989 Saskatchewan Roughriders who aren’t sure that’s the case. They worry about Dave Ridgway.

Why haven’t they heard from him in the last two, three years? Is he okay financially? Is it true he had to sell his Grey Cup ring?

Tracked down by e-mail, Ridgway provides a phone number and the right time to call. He is polite yet guarded. He points out that neither quarterback Kent Austin nor receiver Don Narcisse will be part of the reunion gala and that he had made alternate plans well before the Riders’ event was finalized.

(Austin and Narcisse informed team officials early on they couldn’t come. Ridgway never gave a definitive answer until it was assumed he wasn’t coming.)

As for his teammates’ queries and concerns, Ridgway said of himself and his family: “We’ve been through some tough times. I’ll get out of it on my own. I’m fine.”
They were three of the most miraculous playoff victories ever strung together. The first was highlighted by a late 50-yard touchdown run to eliminate the Stampeders in Calgary. The second saw the Riders defeat the 16-2 Edmonton Eskimos on their home field. Then came the grand finale – Saskatchewan versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 77th Grey Cup, the first to be played in what was then known as SkyDome.

That game – a 43-40 heart-popper – ended with Ridgway kicking a 35-yard field goal to give the Riders only their second Grey Cup championship in team history.
For doing that, Robokicker and his teammates earned lasting renown.

Although he ended up scoring more than 2,300 points over 14 seasons, the Cup-winning field goal became Ridgway’s signature, the boot that propelled him into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Just the thought of all that drama is enough to delight those who fashioned it.
“I still get goosebumps when I think about that game,” said former Saskatchewan defensive back Richie Hall, who will be head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos in Saturday’s league game against the Riders.

“It’ll be a bittersweet moment being there. I’ll get to see my old teammates but then I’ll have to try and win a game at a place that was very special to me.”

Ridgway ended his career with the Riders, then eventually went to the United States, where he was once a director of operations for a telephone-manufacturing company in Colorado. He currently lives “somewhere in the midwest” and insisted he’s had plenty of opportunities to recall The Kick of all his kicks.

“It’s something I’ve seen a lot,” he said. “It was relived numerous times from 1989 to 1995. I have some memorable [CFL] moments that I just finished putting on a DVD. I’m doing it for my sons and hopefully at some point they’ll enjoy watching it. My oldest son told me last fall that my name came up in college football. He goes to Bowling Green State. That’s a big rival for the school I went to [University of Toledo].

“It’s funny how that goes.”

It’s funny how life goes, too. One minute you’re the star of the show, the next you’re knee deep in tough times doing your best to trudge along. There are former Saskatchewan players who would do anything for any of their teammates, but they understand the dilemma. Theirs is a prideful existence, no one wants to intrude if he’s not asked to do so, and Ridgway made it clear he is not asking for anything.

Still, when the first of the 1989 Riders arrive in Regina tomorrow, when they play golf together and sign autographs for fans, there is bound to be talk of, “What’s Ridgway up to these days? Why isn’t he here?”

And those questions will go unanswered.
Ridgway understands that and wanted this understood in return: “It was one of the all-time great Grey Cup games ever played. I hope the guys enjoy themselves.

“I’m fine,” he added. “That’s all I want to say."


RIDERS TO BE ATTENDING

ROUGHRIDERS CELEBRATE 1989 GREY CUP BY BRINGING HOME THE LEGENDSThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are very pleased to announce they will be welcoming back members of the 1989 Grey Cup Championship team this weekend. They will be honoured at halftime during Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Eskimos at Mosaic Stadium.Rider fans will get a chance to meet and get autographs from members of the 1989 team prior to the game. The team will be on the practice field directly across from Mosaic Stadium from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm on Saturday, July 25th.

There will be 1989 reunion autograph cards presented by Harvard Broadcasting provided to the first 10,000 people free of charge.

Alumni in attendance will include: Dave Albright, Roger Aldag, Mike Anderson, Jeff Bentrim, Rob Bresciani, Tom Burgess, Steve Crane, Shawn Daniels, Wayne Drinkwalter, Ray Elgaard, James Ellingson, Jeff Fairholm, John Hoffman, Larry Hogue, Bryan Illebrun, Milson Jones, Bobby Jurasin, Chuck Klingbeil, Gary Lewis, Eddie Lowe, Mark Guy, Tim McCray, Ken Moore, Dan Payne, Bob Poley, Dan Rashovich, Harry Skipper, Vic Stevenson, Glen Suitor, Jeff Treftlin, Mark Urness and Brian Walling.

GRAHAM HARRELL INTERVIEW

CLICK HERE FOR GRAHAM HARRELL INTERVIEW

http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Video+Roughrider+Graham+Harrell/1813860/story.html?tab=VID

CFL OFFERS NEW RIDER OPPORTUNITY

Graham Harrell, the Roughriders newest quarterback, was at practise on Tuesday.
Photograph by: Don Healy , Leader-Post

REGINA — Graham Harrell has lived Friday Night Lights.

Harrell said the NBC series about the town of Odessa, Tex., and its passion for football is a little over-dramatic. But it’s a decent representation of what high school football is like in Texas.
Harrell knows all about Texas and football. The record-setting quarterback grew up in Ennis, Tex., before moving to Lubbock, home of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Before he became the NCAA’s all-time touchdown passes leader with 134, he was a record-setting high school quarterback with the Ennis Lions.

“In Texas, they love high school football and they love football in general,’’ said Harrell, who made his first appearance with the Saskatchewan Roughriders during Tuesday’s practice. “In high school, you might have 15,000 for a game. For a playoff game, you might play in front of 20,000, 30,000 or 40,000. The city revolves around it.

“It has a similar feel here. The businesses all have signs and it’s all about Go Riders Go. That’s how it is back home. They rally around the team and support them.’’

Harrell’s signing with the Riders has created a buzz that has been felt across two countries. Harrell is more than an American quarterback trying his luck in the CFL.

He holds the NCAA record for touchdown passes and was the first quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He finished fourth in the race for the 2008 Heisman Trophy and was projected by some experts to be selected in the 2009 NFL draft.
But Harrell was snubbed on draft day. NFL scouts were concerned about his arm strength and that his eye-popping offensive statistics were more a product of the Red Raiders’ spread offence than of Harrell’s abilities.

Harrell was invited to a Cleveland Browns’ mini-camp but didn’t catch on. He generated interest from the fledging United Football League and NFL teams about attending training camps but elected to move to Canada instead.

“I was quite surprised that he wasn’t drafted,’’ said Joe Womack, the Riders’ director of player personnel. “It probably worked in our favour because we got a really talented football player who will have a chance.’’

Riders general manager Eric Tillman, who is on paid administrative leave, has had his sights on Harrell for two years. The spread style of offence the Red Raiders operate is similar to the schemes favoured by CFL teams.

“It fits him pretty well because he’s really good with individual matchups,’’ Mike Leach, the Red Raiders’ head coach. “His overall ability to throw the ball will be as good as anyone in the league. I’m sure he will have a great career up there.’’

Harrell comes from a football background. His father, Sam, is a high school football coach who coached all three of his sons — Zac (28), Graham (24) and Clark (21). Zach is a high school football coach in Texas and Clark is a quarterback with the Abilene Christian University Wildcats. Their mother, Kathy, was a cheerleader.

Harrell has developed a following since arriving in Regina on Friday. He was at the Regina Red Sox game on Monday and drew an ovation after he was introduced.

There was also a larger crowd than usual at Tuesday’s Riders’ practice. The crowd included Michael Lee’s family from Lubbock, who are in Regina for a wedding. Lee said he saw every one of Harrell’s games with the Red Raiders.

“It’s exciting that they are here and that there are some fans from back home,’’ said Harrell.
There wasn’t a lot to see because Harrell had only limited repetitions as the Riders worked on their preparations for Saturday’s game at Mosaic Stadium against the Edmonton Eskimos.

“The biggest difference is when you look down the line there aren’t any receivers,’’ Harrell said after Tuesday’s practice. “I have to look behind me to find them.’’

Harrell joins a crowded house in terms of quarterback. There are five under contract — starter Darian Durant and backups Steven Jyles, Dalton Bell and Cole Bergquist. They are all under 27 and are getting a quick lesson in the business aspect of professional football.

“It’s about competition and I think they know that,’’ said Womack. “Graham isn’t coming here to play right away and he knows that there aren’t any guarantees. We’re going to play the best guy.’’

It remains to be seen if Harrell is that player.
“We’re still evolving at our quarterback position and still haven’t had a proven performance yet,’’ said Womack, “We’re not pushing our quarterbacks aside. We just brought in a great talent.’’

Harrell, who was a red-shirt freshman, was accurate as well as prolific with Texas Tech. He threw 134 touchdown passes but only 44 interceptions. He threw for 5,705 yards in his junior season and 5,111 yards in his senior year. His completion percentage was 71.8 as a junior and 70.6 as a senior.

Harrell also has a flair for the spectacular. In 2008, Harrell hooked up with wide receiver Michael Crabtree for a 28-yard touchdown with one second remaining, allowing Texas Tech to upset then top-ranked Texas Longhorns 39-33.

The pass and Crabtree’s reception were regulars on sports highlight shows. It was also shown numerous times at the Espy Awards, of which Harrell was a finalist for the NCAA college football player-of-the-year.

“That’s the play that I will be remembered for,’’ said Harrell. “We let some plays get away from us but it worked out better for us because we were able to complete a play like that.’’

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com

ROOKIE ERIC MORRIS HELPED SIGN HARRELL

Quarterback Graham Harrell will soon join the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Photograph by: Ronald Martinez, Getty Images files

REGINA — A close friendship with rookie Eric Morris helped the Saskatchewan Roughriders land Graham Harrell, a NCCA record-setting quarterback with the Texas Tech Raiders.
Harrell said Friday from his home in Ennis, Tex., that Morris played a significant role in his decision to sign with the Roughriders. Morris made the Riders this season as a rookie returner.

"Eric was probably my best friend from Lubbock (where Texas Tech is located) and he loves it up there,'' said Harrell, who is expected to arrive in Regina on the weekend. "I've talked to him quite a few times and he told me how much fun it was. Knowing that played a big part in my decision.''

Morris and Harrell were teammates with the Red Raiders through four seasons. Morris is sitting out Saturday's game (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium) against the Montreal Alouettes with a knee injury.
Harrell, meanwhile, signed with the Riders for two years and an option. He boasts quite the resume with the Red Raiders. He twice threw for more than 5,000 yards in a season and holds the NCAA Divison I record for career touchdowns with 134.

After his 2008 season, he was presented with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award for the top senior quarterback and was fourth in the race for the Heisman Trophy. He was a finalist for the Espy Award for the NCAA's top football player but lost out to Florida's Tim Tebow. It was erroneously reported in the Leader-Post on Friday that Harrell won the award.
Harrell, 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, wasn't selected in the 2009 NFL draft. He took part in the Cleveland Browns' mini-camp and had drawn some interest to attend NFL training camps.

There was also a great deal of interest from the fledgling United Football League but Harrell rejected those opportunities to take advantage of what the CFL has to offer.

"This is a great opportunity,'' said Harrell. "I'm looking forward to playing football again and having a blast doing it.''

Harrell, 24, played four seasons for the Red Raiders, which operates a pass-friendly offensive system and is similar to the CFL style of football. He finished with 15,793 yards and the NCAA record for touchdown passes.

In his senior year, Harrell threw for 5,111 yards and 45 touchdowns. As a junior, Harrell threw for 5,705 yards and 45 touchdowns. Harrell was the first player in NCAA history to post consecutive seasons 5,000 or more passing yards.

NFL scouts questioned Harrell's arm strength, which may have contributed to his being overlooked in the United States. He appears to have compensated for that with accuracy and vision. He had completion percentages of 66.9 in sophomore year at quarterback, 71.8 as a junior and 70.6 as a senior. He was also 442-for-626 and just nine interceptions in 2008.
Harrell already knows that the Riders have five quarterbacks under contract. He is willing to bide his team behind starter Darian Durant and backups Steven Jyles, Dalton Bell and Cole Bergquist.

"I'm just thankful for the opportunity,'' said Harrell. "I'm sure all of those quarterbacks can really help me out.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

STEVIE BAGGS SPREADIING POSITIVE MESSAGES

Stevie Baggs and his mother, Lola Robinson, at Mosaic Stadium on Friday.

Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post

REGINA — It may look impossible, but Stevie Baggs keeps putting his best foot forward.

He does that as a defensive end with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and as the founder and president of a charity foundation in the United States. Baggs has become a professional football player despite being severely pigeon-toed. It's so extreme that it looks like he's going to trip over his feet while walking or running. That doesn't happen but Baggs has heard the taunts about his inward-pointing toes while growing up.

"It was bad growing up with my first name Stevie, my last name Baggs, and being pigeon-toed,'' Baggs said Friday after the Roughriders completed their final preparations for Saturday's CFL game against the Montreal Alouettes (1 p.m.) at Mosaic Stadium. "It definitely gave me some character and resilience. Now I embrace my name Stevie and my feet because they are a blessing.''

Baggs, 27, also passes on those blessings through his role with Creating Empowerment Through Autonomy (CETA). Baggs and his mother, Lola Robinson, founded the charity in 2004. The foundation is directed towards assisting at-risk communities and children.

"Aside from football, that is my passion,'' said Baggs, a 27-year-old native of Orlando, Fla. "We have many objectives back home and I hope to do something here. My main thing is to use my pro tag to draw them in and then I tell them the truth. Not everyone is going to be an athlete or an entertainer and that's what I'm trying to spread.''

Judging from appearances, Baggs wasn't expected to be a professional athlete. But he has looked up a number of athletes with pigeon-toes and he's running with some pretty good company. The list features former NFLers like Bob Hayes and John Elway. Ed Reid, an all-pro safety with the Baltimore Ravens, is also pigeon-toed. The list includes current CFLers like Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Barrin Simpson and Riders' defensive tackle Marcus Adams. Hayes was the world's fastest man despite being pigeon-toed.

"You have guys who walk this way and produce very well on the football field,'' said Baggs.
Robinson has seen her son overcome adversity associated with being pigeon-toed. Baggs's grandfather and father were both pigeon-toed but not to the same extent as Baggs.

"There wasn't one time that he felt inadequate because he was pigeon-toed,'' said Robinson, who is in Regina this weekend for the game. "He always used it as an opportunity to prove to be people that he could do it and that has been his driving force.''

It has taken time for Baggs to become a force in the CFL. After completing his career as a three-time All-American at Bethune-Cookman University, he spent time on the practice rosters of the NFL's Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also played in NFL Europe and with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.

Baggs signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2006 and dressed for seven games over two seasons. Winnipeg attempted to place him on the practice roster in 2007 but Baggs signed with the Edmonton Eskimos because he wanted a chance to start. Baggs dressed for seven games in 2007 but wasn't re-signed. Baggs signed with the Riders in September 2008 as a free agent.

This year, he was promoted to the starting defensive end when veteran Kitwana Jones was traded to the Eskimos. This season, Baggs has an interception, three sacks, a safety and a fumble recovery. His performance has impressed Mike Scheper, the Riders' defensive line coach.

"He has performed very well in the two games we've had,'' said Scheper. "I can't ask for any more out of him and he's the consummate professional. He loves the game and strives to get better.''

That also takes place away from the field. In April, Baggs helped organize a CETA youth football camp and life skills clinic. Baggs funded the two-day event in Atlanta with money that could have gone to pay his mortgage.

"He has friends in the NFL who are making millions of dollars and they aren't doing anything,'' said Robinson. "Stevie does this and he's barely making enough to feed himself. We're praying that God will continue to open doors and he won't have to sacrifice his bill money to give back.''
There are many aspects to CETA. One of the elements he stresses is how difficult it is to become a professional football player.

"There are 2,352 NFL and CFL players in the world combined,'' said Baggs. "There are three or four million playing high school football and 300,000 of them in college. When they look at those numbers, they realize their chances are slim to none. We just want them to know that they have different opportunities out there.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post



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Stevie Baggs and his mother, Lola Robinson, at Mosaic Stadium on Friday.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post



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DURANTS SLOW RISE TO THE TOP

REGINA — Darian Durant's CFL career has taken flight like a 747 — even though some time has been spent in the hangar.

Entering Saturday afternoon's appointment with the visiting Montreal Alouettes, the Saskatchewan Roughriders boast a 6-0 record in games started by Durant. He has leapfrogged Marcus Crandell and the immortal Joe (747) Adams while compiling the best-ever record for a quarterback after his first six starts with the Green and White.
Crandell guided the Roughriders to five consecutive victories in 2005 before experiencing his first loss. Until he arrived, Adams had the best record of any Saskatchewan pivot over starts one through six, posting a 4-1-1 slate.

Evidently, he peaked at that point.

Durant figures to enjoy a longer shelf life as the Riders' starter.
The 26-year-old North Carolina Tar Heels product isn't always as flashy as his spotless record. He is not imbued with a throwing arm that is reminiscent of Adams, Henry Burris or current teammate Steven Jyles. At 5-foot-11, the Riders' starting signal-caller is far from the prototype. And although he is mobile, there are faster, nimbler quarterbacks around.
But how many of them are unbeaten?

Oddly enough, the elite passers in team history weren't even close to 6-0.
Ron Lancaster, Glenn Dobbs, Frank Tripucka and Kerry Joseph all started off at 3-3 — as did Nealon Greene, Reggie Slack and Warren Jones. Tom Burgess, Kent Austin and Joe Barnes were 2-4. Other notable names include John Hufnagel (1-5), Joe Paopao (1-4-1), Burris (0-5-1) and

Tom Clements (0-6), all of whom played on poor teams.
(Apologies to admirers of Don Allard and Danny Sanders for the omissions.)

In case you are curious, here is how Durant's 6-0 record breaks down:
July 12, 2008: Durant completes 23 of 32 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns as the Roughriders rally to defeat the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-28. He guided Saskatchewan on a five-play, 82-yard drive, culminating in a one-yard, game-winning touchdown run by Wes Cates with 32 seconds remaining.

July 19, 2008: The Roughriders defeat the visiting Alouettes 41-33 as Durant goes 24-for-34 for 349 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions. He also runs for 52 yards and one TD.

July 27, 2008: Durant suffers cracked ribs on the Roughriders' second offensive series, after going 3-for-5 for 29 yards. Jyles comes off the bench and completes 14 of 18 passes for 201 yards, including a touchdown toss to Andy Fantuz, as the Roughriders defeat the visiting Toronto Argonauts 28-22.

Oct. 19, 2008: Head coach Ken Miller pulls Durant after he serves up a third interception with 5:52 left in the third quarter against the visiting Tiger-Cats. Durant had also been intercepted on the previous possession. With Saskatchewan trailing 11-8, Jyles enters the game and guides his team to a 30-29 victory.

July 3, 2009: Miller resists any temptation to again remove Durant after he again throws interceptions on back-to-back possessions. Durant remains in the regular-season opener against the visiting B.C. Lions and helps Saskatchewan win 28-24. The numbers: 18-for-24, 313 yards, no TD passes, three picks. He also rushes six times for 35 yards, with a TD.

July 11, 2009: Three first-half touchdown passes by Durant help Saskatchewan assume a 37-13 lead over the host Argonauts, who eventually succumb 46-36. Durant goes 18-for-27, with three touchdowns and one interception.

Some may quibble with the 6-0 slate, noting that Durant has not finished two of the games, and that Saskatchewan was actually trailing when Jyles entered the game against Hamilton.
But if you are going to penalize Durant for that, then he should be credited for his efforts of July 4, 2008. After Crandell was hurt and Jyles faltered in Vancouver, Durant took over to begin the third quarter — with Saskatchewan behind 14-10. Durant ended up getting the win out of the bullpen as the Riders prevailed 26-16, but that game is not factored into the aforementioned 6-0 mark.

This would be a bigger deal, of course, if the six victories had been compiled in as many weeks. The effect is somewhat diluted when it takes more than a year to compile a 6-0 record.

In considerably less time, Doug Flutie started off at 2-4. Just a thought.

rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post