They’re feeling a little green in Saskatchewan these days and it has nothing to do with the uniforms of the provincial heroes.
For three consecutive weeks some bad signs have been developing in the Riders camp, a come from behind squeaker on Labour Day has given way to two consecutive solid thrashings in the following weeks. Derailing a promising charge to the top of the CFL west and leaving the Riders and their fans to suddenly start watching the rear view mirror as the Calgary Stampeders gallop their way.
Saturday afternoon in Calgary was another long sixty minutes for Kent Austin and his team as the Stamps completely took control of the game, with Henry Burris confidently tossing for five touchdowns on the way to the Stamps convincing 44-22 victory over the Riders. Burris threw TD passes twice to Jermaine Copeland as well as single TD tosses to Ken-Yon Rambo, Nik Lewis and Randy Chevrier.
It was an impressive display of ball control and movement that the Stamps put on for the sold out McMahon stadium crowd, a number of whom made the trip to Calgary dressed in their greenest finery, they started the game out in loud fashion but were significantly quieter by the time the third quarter had rolled around.
The normally solid Saskatchewan defensive corps suffered some lapses during the game, usually a stingy group that can control the running game; they allowed Joffrey Reynolds to scramble 23 times for 154 yards, the first time this season that the Green defence has allowed a running game to break the 100 yard mark.
On offence untimely turnovers would prove to be a crushing blow to the Riders attack, as they were just getting their momentum back in the second quarter and heading downfield, a Kerry Joseph pass was picked off by Stampeder lineman Brian Clark, on the first Calgary possession after that pick, Burris found Nik Lewis with a short slant pass, Lewis rambled the 85 yards for a Stamps TD, a 21-1 lead and the rout appeared to be on.
The Stamps quickly built that lead up to 28-1 and seemed to be on cruise control for the remainder of the first half.
The Riders began a comeback of sorts with a late quarter touchdown to bring the score to 28-9 at the half.
A quick TD by the Riders would eat into the Stamps lead, but a cool and collected Henry Burris simply strapped on his helmet and took the Stamps downfield one more time with Copeland’s second TD of the game and a more than commanding 35-9 lead.
The Riders would add to their score by the games end, but never seemed in any position to put a scare into the Stamps let alone wrest the lead away from the home side.
The victory was one more step for Calgary on their way back into the Western Division race and after a horrendous start to the CFL season, since Labour Day the Stamps have cobbled together three impressive wins in a row, having sent their provincial rivals off to seek out a crossover berth in the East while convincingly sending the message to the cousins next door in both BC and Saskatchewan that before this season is over, the Stamps very well may be the team to be reckoned with.
For Kent Austin and Eric Tillman, it’s back to the tape and back to the practice field. The once sure looking Riders are suffering a bit of a confidence problem at the worst possible time, if they are to recapture some of the spirit and sense of momentum that they had through August they’ll have to solve their breakdowns in short order.
For three consecutive weeks some bad signs have been developing in the Riders camp, a come from behind squeaker on Labour Day has given way to two consecutive solid thrashings in the following weeks. Derailing a promising charge to the top of the CFL west and leaving the Riders and their fans to suddenly start watching the rear view mirror as the Calgary Stampeders gallop their way.
Saturday afternoon in Calgary was another long sixty minutes for Kent Austin and his team as the Stamps completely took control of the game, with Henry Burris confidently tossing for five touchdowns on the way to the Stamps convincing 44-22 victory over the Riders. Burris threw TD passes twice to Jermaine Copeland as well as single TD tosses to Ken-Yon Rambo, Nik Lewis and Randy Chevrier.
It was an impressive display of ball control and movement that the Stamps put on for the sold out McMahon stadium crowd, a number of whom made the trip to Calgary dressed in their greenest finery, they started the game out in loud fashion but were significantly quieter by the time the third quarter had rolled around.
The normally solid Saskatchewan defensive corps suffered some lapses during the game, usually a stingy group that can control the running game; they allowed Joffrey Reynolds to scramble 23 times for 154 yards, the first time this season that the Green defence has allowed a running game to break the 100 yard mark.
On offence untimely turnovers would prove to be a crushing blow to the Riders attack, as they were just getting their momentum back in the second quarter and heading downfield, a Kerry Joseph pass was picked off by Stampeder lineman Brian Clark, on the first Calgary possession after that pick, Burris found Nik Lewis with a short slant pass, Lewis rambled the 85 yards for a Stamps TD, a 21-1 lead and the rout appeared to be on.
The Stamps quickly built that lead up to 28-1 and seemed to be on cruise control for the remainder of the first half.
The Riders began a comeback of sorts with a late quarter touchdown to bring the score to 28-9 at the half.
A quick TD by the Riders would eat into the Stamps lead, but a cool and collected Henry Burris simply strapped on his helmet and took the Stamps downfield one more time with Copeland’s second TD of the game and a more than commanding 35-9 lead.
The Riders would add to their score by the games end, but never seemed in any position to put a scare into the Stamps let alone wrest the lead away from the home side.
The victory was one more step for Calgary on their way back into the Western Division race and after a horrendous start to the CFL season, since Labour Day the Stamps have cobbled together three impressive wins in a row, having sent their provincial rivals off to seek out a crossover berth in the East while convincingly sending the message to the cousins next door in both BC and Saskatchewan that before this season is over, the Stamps very well may be the team to be reckoned with.
For Kent Austin and Eric Tillman, it’s back to the tape and back to the practice field. The once sure looking Riders are suffering a bit of a confidence problem at the worst possible time, if they are to recapture some of the spirit and sense of momentum that they had through August they’ll have to solve their breakdowns in short order.
The season doesn’t get any easier for them in the short term; the Lions arrive in Regina next week to try to put even more distance between the two teams, followed by a visit by the increasingly anxious Montreal Alouettes.
The need to get untracked and capture those four points will be accentuated all week we’re sure in practice, a simple look at the CFL West Standings shows that the much desired home playoff date could slip through their fingers unless the Riders can get back on the winning track and fast.
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