It was the Lions who ended the Riders' season in 2008, trouncing them 33-12 in the western semifinal last November, but much has changed with both teams since then.
Rider coach Ken Miller said avenging that loss was the furthest thing from their mind as they lifted the lid on a brand new season.
Here's the game log from the broadcast booth:
Saskatchewan won the toss and elected to receive the football. The Lions chose to defend the north endzone in the opening quarter, adorned in their road white uniforms with white helmets and orange pants. The Riders were in their home greens with green helmets and silver pants.
On the Riders' first drive they moved it from their own 40-yard line to the B.C. 25, but Rider quarterback Darian Durant was forced into a fumble by Lions DB Korey Banks and the Lions took over on their own 35-yard line.
Lions' quarterback Buck Pierce then fumbled on his own 29-yard line courtesy a hard hit by veteran Rider DB Eddie Davis. The free ball was scooped by Saskatchewan defensive end Stevie Baggs.
Four plays later, Durant ran in from 10-yards out for the first Rider touchdown of the year. 7-0 Saskatchewan with 9:03 to go in the opening quarter.
The Riders added one more point on a 94-yard kickoff by kicker Jamie Boreham to make it 8-0.
The Lions got a quick six the other way on a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown by halfback Ryan Phillips. 8-7 SK with 4:46 to go in the first quarter. It was the Riders' second turnover of the day.
On the next Rider drive, tailback Hugh Charles had a 46-yard gain to get Saskatchewan in field goal range and kicker Luca Congi hit a 37-yarder to make it 11-7 with 2:38 to go in the first fifteen minutes.
The Riders turned it over for a third time on the final play of the first quarter on a 3rd-and-inches gamble on their own 48-yard line. Lions kicker Paul McCallum attempted a 48-yard field goal early in the second quarter but hit the right upright and the Riders kept their 11-7 lead.
Attendance announced at 30,062.
Rider CB Omarr Morgan jumped on an out-pattern and picked off Buck Pierce and returned it 31 yards to the Lions' 3-yard line. One play later, Rider tailback Hugh Charles scored on a 3-yard run. 18-7 Saskatchewan after the touchdown.
The Riders then added seven more on a muffed B.C. punt attempt and Stu Foord returned it for the touchdown. 25-7 Saskatchewan with 8:43 to go in the first half.
Saskatchewan was charged with a fourth turnover when Charles fumbled at his own 47-yard line with 4:05 to go in the second quarter. Three plays later Pierce found rookie WR Emmanuel Arcenaux for a 23-yard touchdown. 25-14 Riders.
Jason Clermont made his first catch as a Rider with 1:00 to go in the half, a nine-yard reception from Durant and got a standing ovation.
The Lions Lyle Green fumbled a blocked Rider punt at the Rider 22-yard line and it was recovered by Rider punter Jamie Boreham with 0:39 to go in the half. The Riders knelt down twice and took a 25-14 lead into the break.
"I told the guys in the locker room at the half to look after the ball, bust our fannies on defense and special teams and keep it rolling," Rider coach Ken Miller told
CKRM at halftime. "We made some really big plays in that first half."
The Riders kicked off to open the second half, and defended the north endzone.
The Lions mounted an impressive drive to open the third quarter but Omarr Morgan picked off Pierce for a second time and returned it to his own 31-yard line. That was the 10th turnover in the game, sixth on B.C.
With 5:09 to go in the third quarter, the Riders mounted a seven-play drive to the B.C. 33, but Durant threw an interception to B.C.'s Ryan Phillips on the Lions' one-yard line.
The Riders got the ball back only to have Durant throw another interception, this time to B.C. MLB Javier Glatt who returned it to the Saskatchewan five-yard line.
On the next play Buck Pierce ran in for the touchdown. The two point convert attempt failed, and it was 25-20 SK with 1:16 to go in the third.
B.C. returner Darren Toney fumbled a punt on the final play of the third quarter, recovered by Saskatchewan's Sean Lucas but the play was called back due to a facemasking penalty on Rider cover man Aaron Wagner. The Lions were awarded a first down to open the fourth quarter, trailing the Riders 25-20.
The Lions cashed in on the break with a 38-yard punt single by Paul McCallum with 13:40 to go and it was 25-21 Saskatchewan.
B.C. turned it over at the Saskatchewan 34-yard line on a forced fumble by Rider linebacker Sean Lucas who knocked it free of Pierce, and CB Omarr Morgan knocked it out of bounds at the Saskatchewan 45-yard line.
Durant and the Rider offense marched the ball five plays to the B.C. 15-yard line, setting up a 22-yard field goal attempt for Luca Congi. The SFU grad was true, and it made it 28-21 Saskatchewan with 7:50 to go.
The Lions blocked a Boreham punt with 2:21 to go and the Lions got the ball at the Rider 33 yard line. They were forced into a 37-yard field goal attempt for Paul McCallum. He connected, and made it 28-24 Saskatchewan.
The Riders went 2-and-out on the ensuing drive and had to punt from their 34-yard line with 1:25 to go. B.C. started what they hoped would be a game-winning drive from their 25.
Saskatchewan ratcheted up the defense and accumulated 11-yards in losses on Pierce but on 3rd-and-21 the Lions' QB found Paris Jackson at the Saskatchewan 54 with 0:29 to go. It came down to a 3rd-and-10 situation for B.C. at the Saskatchewan 54-yard line on the last play. Strong-armed Lions QB Jarious Jackson came in for the Hail Mary but was picked off by Rider safety James Patrick on the Rider 15-yard line with 0:00 left on the clock.
Game over. Saskatchewan 28 B.C. 24
"A great win to start the season," said Rider slotback Weston Dressler. "Obviously we have some things to work on but it was nice to get the win. It was just an exciting game to be a part of it. We couldn't do as much as we wanted in the first half but our defense had our back. Getting that first win is big and hopefully we carry it on next week."
Former Rider linebacker Anton McKenzie was unable to exact revenge on his old team in his first return to Mosaic Stadium as a member of the Lions.
"We definitely we wanted to come away with the victory, but couldn't pull it out in the end," McKenzie told CKRM. "We just gotta get more work in and we'll be fine."
The Riders improve to 1-0 and visit Toronto next Saturday. The Lions go to 0-1 and are home to Hamilton next Friday.
(Rod Pedersen is the Voice of the Riders on 620 CKRM)
17 comments:
Is #90 stevie baggs a rookie because he is gonna be awesome.
Stevie Baggs will make us forget Mo and Jones, Baggs almost looked like Cam Wake. He is Huge and will get better and better. WoW!!!
Morgan was simply poised and amazing!!
Our defence 9 sacks againsts Lions!!! Mind boggling.
Durant was good but needs to calm down, he rushed some plays, and needs to spread the ball to more receivers, what happened to Clermont, Jones, Getzlaf, etc. We can depend on 3 receivers all the time.
Finally, McCallum was just not into the game, he must be worried whether he'll sell his house or not as this Regina real estate market is over saturated with too many houses for sale.
Hugh Charles was good but Wes Cates is surely missed, but he needs to heal as we don't want to rush him back and see a Jesse Lumsden type situation.
Turnovers were entertaining but a joke, this can't go on as this can be luck.
Go Riders Go! A win is a win, see you in Toronto Rod.
Rafal
As you know Rod, I am a BC Lion hater from way back and I couldn't be happier with tonight's results. Watching Wally squirm after a loss at Taylor Field is my dream scenario. It could only get better if Rob Murphy was there to squirm too.
You watched the game, I watched the game and all of Canada watched this game---it sure wasn't a textbook effort by both teams. But we sure have the makings of a great defense. Sure, it's early, but to get about 7 QB sacks and 3 INTs to start the season is a real good start. Gary Etchverry has a nice look to his schemes and his Defense could be our great equalizer until the Offense gets on track.
As for the Offense, it will likely be a work in progress for a while. When youth is involved at key positions, it takes time. I believe Durant can learn from his mistakes---and he had plenty tonight---to utilize all his weapons to the team's best advantage. The weapons are certainly there.
Weston Dressler deserves a "steak sandwich" for his game tonight. Any player of his stature who refuses to step out of bounds and gets YAC like he got tonight deserves all the accolades that can possibly be heaped on him. Good for you #7!
We're in 1st place and at the expense of the BC Lions. How sweet it is!
Go RIDERS!
PBB
Dean in the 780....your crow is done! hahaha...
As far as DoubleD is concerned, he just needs to stop throwing across his body back across the field...it's not tricky unless your peyton manning or matt ryan like arms.
Baggs was phenomenal, but give credit to the D as a whole, well done. I was adamant to hear that the defence would be better, but man o man, they delivered...now we just need consistency from the rest of the team!
Well done Riders, shut the naysayers up for a while! haha.
Give Etcheverry credit. All of the moaning about this player leaving and that player leaving may stop after tonight. The D was dominant hitting Pierce playing after play. Pierce is going to feel like he was in a car wreck.
An awesome but nerve-wracking game... I think everybody knows what I mean.
Rod, any word on why Clermont was underutilised? Minor injury? Still getting used to the schemes?
Hey guys, I'm listening to the post-game show via the interweb right now. It was a sloppy game, to be certain. But that's what has happened in almost every game between these two teams for the last two years. It often seems like both teams are just trying to find ways for the other team to win the game.
I have to comment though, because I can't believe the guys calling in tonight. Who was the joker who said, "This team has fundamental errors in its offense, and will have huge troubles." C'mon buddy. You're such a clown. They weren't perfect, but they did a lot of things really well. Stop freaking out, Rider Nation!
Hat tip to our 'D' for looking damn good out there tonight. Wassup with the turnovers Offense??
All in all it wasn't pretty but a win is a win.
This was good for the new guys on the team - to see what the team is capable of .. (and to get the full taste of the world's Largest Insane Asylum, known as Taylor Field/Mosaic Stadium).
great atheleticism and obviously great personnel again. Durant is most effective when he can get the short routes. his lack of arm strength will be a challenge to the coaching staff. etchevery's defence was great. but, it is an 18game season and there needs to be multiple layers to be able to continue to dominate. once again, people are valid in having concerns about the d, because etchevery is unproven. however, we can give him an A++ on his first of 18 report cards. hugh charles gets it and is an amazing talent. i thought it was U B E - ugly but entertaining. Durant is going to be great if he is given the right gameplan. Last season was a mulligan because of the changes in head coach and the injuries. this season is on the executive for its decision to tax an inexperienced head coach with anything outside of the specific head coaching role. if the team is shoddy again in the next two-three weeks, it is time for Miller to focus only on coaching and if that means hiring someone to do the gm job, then that is what needs to happen. as for now, the mulligan extends one week to the exec. in my eyes. et has obviously done a magnificent job of assembling talent but if the coach is worrying about anything other than perfection on the field, then something has to be done. I don't care if they hire Lloyd from entourage to help et with his tasks. Miller may need to acutely concentrate specifically on the on field product. we shall see.
CDSC
There was so many turnovers it became a bakery.
And I thank you !!!
Hedge
The last 2 minutes of the game cost me my voice today.
Rod - maybe you have some perspective on this, I have a pet peeve that perhaps someone here can help me with. Why do they not show replays of penalties or questionable calls on the Maxtron? The reviewed plays are looked at in TO, so why not show the paying fans? Instead we see screaming fan after screaming fan, on and on and on... Show us the football game already!! A lot of Rider fans actually want to see the football game.
I am now another believer in the D. Coach M maintained that they will be all right which proved to be an understatement. The maturity at the Head Coaching position will keep the off field distractions in the place where they belong. Well done. With the number of turnovers the crowd is also deserving of some of the game credit. Mosaic stadium is not a visitor friendly environment. Well done.
After the playoff environment at the semifinal along with the disaster that followed I did not have the courage to attend the season opener fearing a repeat. Well done to all the fans with courage and enthusiasm who displayed once again Rider Pride. I have learned a valuable lesson.
Props to the D for coming out in full force. Nice to see Omarr still has that fire.
What was up with Clermont not getting playing time? I was shocked to see Getzlaf out there so much. Insulting to a veteran like Clermont if you ask me. Hope he plays more in T-dot.
There is no question Miller has the faculties and maturity to keep distractions to a minimum. But how much energy, time, resources is being misplaced in doing so? That was a SLOPPY football team full of incredible athletes last night. Even if he is spending 2 hours a day on the admin part of things, it is either costing him in coaching or in recharging his own battery. The next two weeks will tell whether ET needs a new liason with the club. If job sharing is neceesary to keep et in place, it would make more sense to have a guy like Mazurak performing that function than the guy who is ultimately accountable for the onfield product. all I want is for miller to be in the best position to succeed here for 10 years. I cannot see how extra duties or less hands on with the onfield product can be a positive for anyone.
cdsc
How do we know how much Tillman is doing? Miller may be doing 0 admin stuff. If you listened to Hopson last night it sounds like ET is only sitting at a different desk. Still running the team.
This team looks like it might be a lot better than most of us thought. Try to enjoy it. Not look for the negative.
who is looking for negagtive? are we not allowed to say a game was sloppy and still be pleased with the win? The whole idea that any critique makes a person negative is ridiculous. it was a big win and a fun game. but that type of execution wont win a grey cup. is me wanting the boys to win another grey cup and dicussing what it will take being negative? We have pissed away 4-5 grey cup appearances in the past 8 years with poor execution,lack of accountability and awful attention to detail. Recognition of and willingness to discuss this doesnt make anyone negative. The team is doing great and I am proud as can be of where it is at but I am hoping we can avoid underachieving and a failure to capitalize on the best athletes in the league again like we have year after year after year for much of the last decade.
cdsc
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