RIDERS IMPROVE TO 4 AND 0

By Rod Pederson

For the first time since 1970, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are 4-0 following a 41-33 victory over the Montreal Alouettes Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium. A tenth straight sellout crowd of 28,800 went home deliriously happy, and wet.

An electrical storm and lightning display, interrupted periodically by booming claps of thunder, delayed the start of Saturday night’s Rider game until 5:49pm. It was originally slated for 5:00pm.

When the teams finally emerge, the Alouettes won the coin toss and elected to take the football. However they were stopped by the Rider defense on their opening drive and forced to punt. Saskatchewan took over, and started their

first possession on their 25-yard line. A couple of Andy Fantuz receptions weren’t able to sustain the drive however, and Saskatchewan was forced to punt.

The opening points in the game came with 9:46 left in the opening quarter as the Als conceded a safety in punt formation, and it was 2-0 Saskatchewan.

A key point in the game came midway through the first quarter. Montreal thought they took the lead with a 63-yard fumble return touchdown by cornerback Davis Sanchez with 6:21 to go in the quarter. Rider tailback Wes Cates fumbled the ball after a hit by Montreal halfback Chip Cox, but upon review, it was called an incomplete pass. It set up 3rd-and-9 for Saskatchewan, and they punted while maintaining the lead.

At 13:34 the Alouettes took the lead when Kerry Watkins hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Calvillo. It was one play after Montreal linebacker Reggie Hunt picked off Rider QB Darian Durant at the Saskatchewan 32-yard line. It was Durant’s first interception of the season, and it was 7-2 for the Alouettes.

They carried that lead into the second quarter, but Saskatchewan also carried an impressive drive into the second period, which started on their own 22-yard line.

They moved it down to the Montreal nine, and settled for a Luca Congi field goal. It made it 7-5 Montreal with 13:09 to go in the first half. It also made Congi a perfect 8/8 on the year. It was an 88-yard, seven play drive.

Montreal answered back with a field goal of their own on the very next possession. Damon Duval was good from 26-yards out and the visitors restored their 5-point lead, as it was 10-5 with 9:33 left in the first half. Saskatchewan was playing without star defensive end John Chick, who left the game in the first quarter with an apparent knee injury.

The Riders stayed right with the Montreal though, making it a 2-point game again with a 45-yard field goal from Congi with 2:38 left in the first half. The score was 10-8 Alouettes.

Saskatchewan took the lead with 0:41 to play in the first half when Wes Cates hauled in a 25-yard pass from Durant and scored his sixth touchdown of the season. That made it 15-10 for the Roughriders. It was an 87-yard drive,

and they only used four plays. The Green and White took that lead into the halftime break.

The Alouettes started the second-half with a second interception by Reggie Hunt of Darian Durant on the Saskatchewan 43-yard line. Montreal quickly made the

Riders pay as Calvillo found former Rider Jamal Richardson in the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown. It was a 43-yard, four play drive and the score became 17-15 for the Alouettes just 2:29 into the third quarter.

The Riders’ next drive appeared to stall, but punter Jamie Boreham was interfered with, and the possession continued with a first down at the Montreal 37-yard line.

Saskatchewan marched it to the Montreal one, and Durant tossed it to Neal Hughes for his second touchdown of the season and the Riders took over the lead, 22-17, with 7:15 left in the third quarter.

The Alouettes answered back on the very next possession when Calvillo found tailback Avon Coburne with an 8-yard touchdown toss to make it 24-22 Montreal. It was an 87-yard, nine play drive, and they carried that lead into the final quarter.

Saskatchewan worked the ball into field goal range on their first possession of the fourth quarter. Luca Congi attempted a 27-yarder and he split the uprights to give Saskatchewan a 25-24 lead with 11:36 left to play. It was one of the tightest games of the year for the Riders, and the tilt lived up to its billing as a great battle between the division-leaders. There were six lead changes in the game to this point.

It became seven when the Riders conceded a safety with 9:00 left in the game and Montreal assumed a 26-25 lead. Saskatchewan recorded its first sack when Anton McKenzie planted Calvillo for a 16-yard loss at the Alouettes 27-yard line, and Montreal was forced to punt it away.

Saskatchewan was unable to get any points and retake the lead, and the Alouettes made it an eight-point game when Calvillo threw his fourth TD pass of the night, this time to Ben Cahoon with 4:07 left to play. It was 32-25 Montreal. The drive covered 63 yards in five plays.

A 34-yard pass interference call on Montreal helped Saskatchewan’s ensuing drive and Durant found Matt Dominguez on a 23-yard touchdown pass, the first TD catch of the season for #88. The play was reviewed as the Alouettes thought cornerback Mark Estelle intercepted the ball in a fight for possession. The play on the field stood, and Saskatchewan had to go for a two-point convert to tie the game.

It failed as receiver Mike Palmer fell at the one-yard line after receiving a Durant pass. It was 33-31 Montreal with 2:36 left to go.

The football gods were smiling on the Riders when the Alouettes threw an interception at their own 20-yard line with 2:00 to go. Rider newcomer Jimmy Verdon tipped it into the hands of Lance Frazier, and on offense, Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant scored a one-yard touchdown with 1:40 left to go. With the point after, it was 38-33 Saskatchewan with 1:40 left.

The gods kept smiling, as Montreal returner Jason Armstead fumbled the kickoff return at the Montreal 22-yard line. Durant moved the offense into position for a 22-yard field goal and Congi was perfect again to make it 41-33 Riders with 0:16 left to play.

Backup Montreal quarterback Adrian MacPherson replaced Calvillo on the final Montreal drive and they were unable to come back.

Game over. Saskatchewan 41 Montreal 33.

“Our offensive line was doing a great job giving our backs space to run and our quarterbacks time to throw,” said Neal Hughes after the game. “That’s where the game was one. We’re keeping our fans on their toes for sure this year.”

It was a tough loss for the Alouettes, who fall to 2-2, and spoiled the return of former Rider Reggie Hunt to Mosaic Stadium.

“I don’t know what to say. They’re 4-0, and they’re a good team,” said Montreal linebacker Reggie Hunt, who finished the game with two interceptions. “We gave them all we could. I was just trying to get back into the flow of

things and try and make some plays. I was just trying to do my job.”

Rider fans left the game shaking their heads, deliriously happy over another heart-stopping comeback win by their beloved gridiron heros.

“That was one of the most incredible football games I’ve ever witnessed,” said Rider coach Ken Miller, “Not coached, witnessed, and I’m just glad we came out on top.”

The dark cloud over the game for the Riders was the injury story. At least one starter was lost for an extended period.

“Somehow we’ve overcome injuries but it looks like John Chick will be out awhile (4-6 weeks) but fortunately no one else was hurt too seriously,” reported Miller,

“Fortunately the wheel of time has come around to where some injured guys are ready to come back.”

Miller was quick to caution Rider fans, and players, not to get too elated.

“We need to be a little bit humble because that team was a real good team and we just had to battle and play with the great effort that we talk about everyday.”

At 4-0, the Riders will host Kerry Joseph and the Toronto Argonauts next Sunday in a 5:00 kickoff.

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