Rod Pedersen
It was a first-place showdown in the CFL’s West Division Sunday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium in Regina between the 1-0 Saskatchewan Roughriders and the 1-0 Edmonton Eskimos. Here’s the game log from the broadcast booth:
– It was 27 degrees and sunny at Mosaic Stadium for the 5:00 kickoff. The wind was out of the southeast at 22 km/h.
– The Roughrider scratches were RB Brandon West, DB Tristan Jackson, DB Nick Graham and DT Mick Williams.
– The Riders were in their new Reebok green jerseys with white pants and green helmets while the Eskimos were in white road jerseys with green helmets and pants.
– The Riders won the toss and elected to take the ball to open the game, defending the south endzone. Their opening drive started at their 32-yard line. They managed one first down before punting.
– Edmonton’s first possession started at their 28-yard line with Steven Jyles under centre. They got one first down before punting. Rider DT David Veikune registered a sack on the series.
– The opening points of the game came from a 32-yard Chris Milo field goal to give Saskatchewan a 3-0 lead with 0:26 to go in the first quarter.
– 3-0 Saskatchewan after one quarter.
– Eskimos got on the board with a 62-yard punt single from Burke Dales 1:26 into the second quarter. 3-1 Riders.
– The Riders got it back with a 55-yard punt single from Chris Milo making it 4-1 Saskatchewan at the 4:58 mark.
– OG Brendon Labatte left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.
– Edmonton made a quarterback change with 7:28 to go in the first half. Kerry Joseph replaced Steven Jyles.
– The first turnover of the game came with 2:44 to go in the half and Joseph’s second series. He dropped the snap and it was recovered by Rider DE Brent Hawkins at the Saskatchewan 39. Saskatchewan couldn’t cash in with points.
– The Eskimos conceded a safety by punter Burke Dales with 0:53 left in the half making it 6-1 Saskatchewan.
– 6-1 Saskatchewan at the break.
– Edmonton got the ball to open the second half, starting at their 35-yard line with Steven Jyles back in the game. They tried a 49-yard field goal to cap the drive but Grant Shaw was wide right and Weston Dressler returned it out to the 15-yard line where Saskatchewan started its first possession of the second half.
– A 20-yard punt return by Weston Dressler set the Riders up at the Edmonton 45 for their second drive. Saskatchewan set up a 46-yard field goal with 2:29 to go in the third quarter but Milo missed and it was brought out.
– Chris Milo booted a 56-yard punt single with 3:59 to go to make it 7-1 Saskatchewan.
– The attendance was announced at 31,459. It’s the highest home-opener crowd in Rider history.
– With 3:59 to go Joseph replaced Jyles as the Esks started at their 35. He was sacked on the first play by Shomari Williams. It was the Riders’ fifth sack of the game.
– The first touchdown of the game came on a 34-yard Kory Sheets run to make it 14-1 for Saskatchewan with 2:12 to go. It capped a 62-yard drive.
– With 1:46 to go Kerry Joseph was picked off by Rider DB Craig Butler who returned it to the Edmonton 18. It was a 27-yard return. That made the turnovers 2-0. The Riders turned it into an 18-yard Milo field goal with 1:30 to go making it 17-1 Saskatchewan.
– Eskimos turned it over on downs with 1:15 to go, at their own 31-yard line. That made the turnovers 3-0. The Riders ran a couple of plays and then Durant knelt down to grind out the victory.
GAME OVER: SASKATCHEWAN 17 EDMONTON 1
POSTGAME QUOTES
RIDER COACH COREY CHAMBLIN
– I told the guys it was gonna be a 42-man effort and it was. It was a defensive battle. I said they were gonna do ball control and they did. On offense Kory Sheets, I told him to keep grinding, and he did.
– With Labatte I don’t know what it is but we built this team on depth. No matter who it is, you have to be ready to play. They’re a tough group. They got in the backfield a couple of times but our guys didn’t give up.
– I told Hawkins after the fumble recovery that I’d have been happier if he’d scored. He said ‘you always want more!’. But I’m real happy with the production on defense.
– I wanted to rotate on the defensive front and we got so many guys ready to play. We wanted to use ’em all.
– BC got after us pretty good in the preseason but they’re a good football team. They’re the Cup champs. They’re gonna bring a good game and we’ll have our hands full.
*The Roughriders host the BC Lions in a battle of 2-0 teams next Saturday at 1:00 pm on TSN and the CKRM Rider Radio Network.
