Rod Pedersen
The Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the Montreal Alouettes Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium with a berth in the CFL playoffs on the line. The 8-7 Riders needed a victory to clinch a post-season spot or a Hamilton loss at Calgary later in the day.
The Alouettes had already clinched first-place in the CFL East with Toronto’s home loss to Winnipeg the night before. He’s the game log from the broadcast booth:
– It was mainly sunny and 17 degrees Celsius at the 1:30 pm kickoff with a west wind gusting to 41 km/h.
– The Rider scratches from the 46-man roster were REC Brooks Foster, OL Xavier Fulton, DL Mick Williams and DL Zack Evans.
– The Riders wore their home green uniforms with green helmets and white pants while the Alouettes were outfitted in their white roads jerseys with blue pants and silver helmets.
– The Roughriders won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Alouettes took the ball to open the game, going into the wind, defending the south endzone. Their opening drive started at their 20-yard line. They managed one first down before punting from their 32.
– The Riders’ first drive started at their 42-yard line. They moved it all the way downfield and capped the drive with a one-yard TD toss from Drew Willy to Graham Bell for an early 7-0 lead. It was an 11-play, 68 yard drive taking 6:40 off the clock.
– The first quarter ended with the Alouettes on a drive. Saskatchewan only had one possession with the wind at their back in the opening quarter.
AFTER 1: RIDERS 7 ALOUETTES 0
– Two plays into the second quarter Sean Whyte kicked a 23-yard field goal for Montreal making it 7-3 Riders 1:34 in.
– 3:46 into the second quarter Anthony Calvillo drilled an 18-yard TD pass to Bo Bowling for a 10-7 lead.
– With 7:59 to go in the half Whyte lined up a 52-yard attempt with the wind at his back. It was good, and the Als led 13-7.
– With 4:26 to go in the first half the Riders’ Sandro Deangelis attempted a 37-yard field goal into the wind and the ball didn’t even make the goal line. No points.
– With 1:54 to go the Riders’ Weston Dressler ripped off a 66-yard punt return touchdown to tie the game 13-13! And before the point after, Alouettes linebacker Shea Emry got kicked out of the game for punching the Riders’ Brendon Labatte. Deangelis eventually nailed the convert and the Riders led 14-13.
AT THE BREAK: RIDERS 14 ALOUETTES 13
– The Als got the ball to start the second half, starting at their 40-yard line. They got one first down before punting.
– Saskatchewan’s first drive started at their 8-yard line. They got one first down before punting.
– The Alouettes took the lead on a 1-yard TD run by backup QB Adrian McPherson with 7:50 left in the third quarter. 20-14 Alouettes.
– With 4:19 to go in the third quarter Als QB Anthony Calvillo rushed for a 14-yard TD to put the Alouettes up 27-14.
AFTER 3: ALOUETTES 27 RIDERS 14
– 1:42 into the fourth quarter Anthony Calvillo rushed for his second touchdown of the day, from 22 yards out, giving the Alouettes a 34-14 lead.
– 4:11 into the final frame Durant drilled a 9-yard touchdown pass to Weston Dressler to bring the Riders to within 34-21. It was a 7-play, 59-yard drive which ate up 2:33.
– The attendance was announced at 32,003.
– With 7:21 left and the Riders down 13, they got the ball at their own 47-yard line. They got down field in a hurry and capped the drive with a 1-yard TD run by Kory Sheets with 2:51 to go, making it 34-28. It was a nine-play, 63 yard drive taking 4:30 off the clock.
– With 2:51 left the Als started at their 29-yard line. They were 2-and-out.
– Riders got the ball back with 2:04 to go and with a no yards penalty on Montreal, they started at the Montreal 49. They went 3-and-out, turning it over on downs with 1:41 left.
– With 1:17 left the Riders got the ball back, starting at their 48. They got to the Als’ 21 with 0:05 to go facing 2nd-and-10. Darian Durant took a sack as time ran out.
GAME OVER: MONTREAL 34 RIDERS 28
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM RIDER COACH COREY CHAMBLIN
– It coulda been a very exciting finish but it shouldn’t have come down to that. Give them credit, Montreal’s a first-place and they played like it.
– There were some calls that we questioned but at the end of the day it was a loss. I told the guys they need to look in the mirror and be better.
– Richardson is a phenomenal receiver. They’re gonna let guys push off, so we gotta be tougher on coverage in man-to-man.
– I think Darian Durant just got a little bruise at the end of the game. He’s with the medical staff now but I think he’ll be okay.
– McHenry is a plus. He’s a plus. His role has increased and he’s done a good job.
– We gotta go back to the drawing board and get ready for our next two games.
**The Roughriders host Toronto next Saturday at 2:00 pm on the CKRM Rider Radio Network.
