That’s not how to respond from disappointing loss.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders were eager to make amends for handing their previous game to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the fourth quarter. Instead, they shot themselves in the foot by taking ill-timed penalties and turning the ball over four times – albeit one in garbage minutes – as they fell 30-16 to the B.C. Lions.
Sunday’s game should have been much closer, but the Riders simply played an unruly brand of football for large swathes of the last three quarters and let the Lions run away with the outcome. Receiver Sam Emilus landing on his tailbone and needing support from the training staff late in his return from an ankle ailment only added injury to an insulting performance.
The Riders dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season and fell four points behind the Edmonton Elks for top spot in the West Division.
The good news is the Riders have a game in hand on the Elks. The bad news is the Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are just two points behind them, and Sunday’s outing showed they have a lot to clean up if they want to stay in the race.
The dreadful showing, perhaps their worst of the season, is the focus of Riders Morning After.
Why they lost
Pretty easy. It comes down to self-destruction. Several penalties at inopportune moments and turnovers when they were in field-goal range destroyed their chances of winning. The list is a long one.
The Riders had two touchdowns wiped off the board because of infractions. Quali Conley’s dash down the sidelines from almost midfield in the second quarter was negated because of an illegal block call (hands to the face) on offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick. Nick Wiebe’s fumble recovery and trip to the end zone on punt coverage in the third quarter was called back by a no-yards call on Melique Straker as well.
Saskatchewan also promising drives deep in Lions territory ended with change of possessions instead of points. Two Trevor Harris interceptions were sandwiched between Johnny Johnson III getting the ball ripped out of his hands by Deontai Williams at the B.C. 27-yard line with 28 seconds to go in the first half. Those were crushing blows.
It wasn’t just the offence (and special teams) that had featured undisciplined plays. There were defensive errors, too, including when a Jonathan Edouard interception in the third quarter was removed from the record because Caleb Sanders went offside. Instead, Keon Hatcher Sr. scored a touchdown later in the drive.
This game really could have been much, much different.
Game ball
Lions receiver Jevon Cottoy scored the first touchdown of the game and caught all six passes thrown his way by quarterback Nathan Rourke for 110 yards. He gets the game ball. Or perhaps it belongs to his mother since he gave her his touchdown ball.
https://x.com/CFL/status/2091685312170766464
There weren’t too many standouts for the Riders.
Dhel Duncan-Busby was targeted five times by Harris and snagged four of those tosses for 85 yards and scored a touchdown. Jameer Thurman made five defensive tackles and sacked Rourke once. Alex Hale continued his excellent field-goal kicking after a tough start to the season by making all three of his boots, including a 47-yarder, for his third straight perfect game.
But we’re stretching a bit here. There wasn’t a lot to like from the Riders in this one.
Needed more from
Yes, Jaxon Ford had a leaping interception in the fourth quarter that eventually led to Duncan-Busby’s touchdown. Good on him, especially since it was just the fourth pick by the Roughriders – and second by a member of the secondary – all season.
That one catch doesn’t undo all his mistakes, though. It was a miserable showing for the Riders safety even with his big play.
Ford was absolutely demolished by James Butler when he moved up to try to stop the Lions running back in the first half. That was more embarrassing than anything.
Things got worse for Ford. His third quarter was disastrous.
That no-yards penalty that was charged to Straker and negated a Saskatchewan touchdown just as easily could have been flagged on him.
Then, on the same Lions possession late in the frame, Ford made two massive mistakes.
First, he messed up the timing on his jump in a battle with Lions’ Stanley Berryhill III and missed an interception. Making matters worse, Berryhill caught the ball and took off for a 34-yard gain. On the very next play, Ford was called for unnecessary roughness, laying out Jermaine Jackson with a late hit after an incomplete pass.
That penalty put the Lions on the Saskatchewan one-yard line and Zander Horvath punched the ball in for his CFL-leading 12th major to put the home team up 27-6 at the end of the third quarter. Game over.
Ford had the worst performance among many bad ones from those wearing green and white.
Play of the game
Offensive lineman Daniel Johnson checked in as an eligible receiver in the third quarter and then looked liked like he’s been a playmaker all his life.
Johnson vacated his spot at right tackle to line up as a wide receiver. He then caught a five-yard pass from Harris, headed down the sideline, threw a stiff arm, and stayed in bounds with some deft footwork. Johnson wound up picking up an extra 12 yards after the catch.
https://x.com/CFL/status/2091691768740028806
Johnson’s unique play and 17-yard gain got the Riders rolling, but, naturally in this game, their drive stalled out after a holding penalty to offensive lineman Peyton Collins.
The stat that matters
The Riders had seven penalties for 72 yards. The Lions were flagged just twice for 20 yards.
The sheer volume didn’t help the Riders. When they happened, though, was even worse.
