If the folks working the PA system at Taylor field need some new music, we respectfully submit the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, with their Big 90’s hit, Give it Away. You could have sworn you could hear it playing underneath the play of Henry Burris and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, as they turned the ball over at the most inopportune times. The miscues of the Riders allowed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to take charge of the Labour Day Classic, leave a sold out Taylor Field with two points and climb the standings to a tie with the Riders for the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
To be fair to the Riders, the entire loss can’t be pinned on them. The Bombers defence had one of their better games of late as they shut down the Rider attack at key times and made the big plays when needed. And former Rider QB Kevin Glenn served up a nice helping of “OH YEAH”, to the Taylor Field faithful as he tossed for 163 yards completing 14 of 27 passes, two of them for touchdowns on the way to a 17-4 victory in the much anticipated Labour Day weekend match up. Glenn’s touchdown passes went to Kamau Peterson and Milt Stegall. Hillbilly baiting kicker Troy Westwood converted both TD’s and added a field goal on the day and managed to stay out of trouble with Taylor Field fans.
Burris’ numbers were a bit better on the stat sheet with total yards of196 yards and 20 for 27 on pass attempts, but turnovers made the difference and in the end, the only important stat is who gets the W, and this time W is for Winnipeg. With the win, the Bombers now hold an edge over the Riders should the two teams be tied for a playoff spot at the end of the season, making the on field mistakes possibly that much more costly in the long run.
Rider head coach Danny Barrett, did not point his finger directly at Burris following the game, instead suggesting it was a team problem that needed to be taken care of. But he did remind the young Saskatchewan QB that the Riders have put a lot of faith in him and expect him to step up and deliver when needed.
For Glenn the return to Taylor field could not have ended any better. Sent to Winnipeg at the start of the season when the Quarterback changing area in Regina got a little too crowded, he’s now getting a chance to shine in Winnipeg which has struggled all year. With Khari Jones injured the former Rider will be getting even more opportunity to perform. He can continue his mastery over his former team mates next Sunday, when the Riders head across the prairie to take on the Bombers in Winnipeg in a rematch.
Hey, Mr. DJ, play a tune for me! How the Riders decide to play will set the play list for Sunday, if they don’t get their act together quickly, Tom Petty’s Running down a Dream is going to make a wonderful theme for the season.
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