Darian Durant (4) of the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the game at MCMahon stadium in Calgary, AB. Thursday, August 4, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
A short week felt like an eternity for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They were still licking their wounds after a 41-3 loss in Montreal last Saturday night and only had a few days to prepare for the West Division leading Calgary Stampeders.
McMahon Stadium hasn’t been very friendly to the Green and White with their last regular season victory coming on August 1st, 2009.
It was a great start for the Riders. On their opening drive, down 3-0, Darian Durant drive the ball 75 yards for the score capped with a 45-yard touchdown strike to Rob Bagg. The two-point conversion was missed and the Riders had the 6-3 lead.
Calgary marched down the field on the next series with Bo Levi Mitchell finishing things via a 16-yard strike to Anthony Parker to end the first quarter with the 10-6 lead.
The Riders had their chances in the 2nd quarter but newly signed Johnny Mark hit the uprights on a long field goal attempt. A little later, Durant hit Bagg again on a long pitch and catch but the Stampeders forced the fumble and ended the drive.
Mark hit his first CFL field goal right before the three-minute warning to cut the Stampeders lead to one. One the ensuing drive, a pair of big plays by the Stampeders set them up deep in Rider territory and they capped the drive with a short field goal to regain their four-point lead.
The connection of Rob Bagg and Darian Durant struck again, as they connected on a 43-yard reception to set up Mark’s second field goal of the quarter. Yet again, the Stampeders drove the field quickly to set up Rene Paredes third field goal of the half to take the 16-12 lead into the locker room.
The Riders had the ball first in the second half, and they were able to mix the run and pass up the field for another Johnny Mark field goal and the lead was cut to one yet again. The Stampeders answered that Rider drive with another long drive that was capped with Paredes’ fourth field goal of the game to retake the four-point lead.
Early in the fourth quarter began Calgary had the back-breaking drive of the game when Bo Levi Mitchell guided the Stampeders on an 11 play, 78-yard touchdown drive to take the commanding 10-point lead.
The final nail came late in the fourth quarter with another long Stampeder touchdown drive capped with former Rider, Jerome Messam plunged in from two yards to come away with the 35-15 victory.
The Riders and Stampeders will do it again next Saturday night, 5pm, this time at Mosaic Stadium.
Rider Leaders:
Passing:
Darian Durant 17/28, 248yds, 1TD
Rushing:
Kendial Lawrence 6/45
Receiving:
Rob Bagg 4/135 1TD
