September 21, 2018

The Roughriders have a slight difference of opinion

TORONTO — Some of the Saskatchewan Roughriders want to remember, while others don’t.

The events of Nov. 19 are stuck in the craw of a few members of the CFL team, who recall all too well that their most-recent visit to BMO Field didn’t end well. Others, however, aren’t interested in revisiting the past.

Last November, the host Toronto Argonauts got a one-yard touchdown run from backup quarterback Cody Fajardo with 23 seconds left in regulation time to post a 25-21 victory over the Roughriders in the Eastern Final.

The win put the Argos in the Grey Cup game, and they claimed the CFL title a week later with a 27-24 triumph over the Calgary Stampeders in Ottawa.

“A lot has changed since then, but the last time we were out on the field, it was another close but no cigar,” guard Brendon LaBatte said in advance of the Roughriders’ return to BMO Field — Saturday’s clash with the Argos (5 p.m., CKRM, TSN).

“We were within a few seconds of getting to where we wanted to be and you could almost call it heartbreak in the last minute. When we go back out there, for the guys who were there last year, that’ll rehash some memories.”

“We were basically a couple of plays away from the Grey Cup, so we definitely think about that game all the time,” added defensive back Ed Gainey. “When we go back (Saturday), we’re going to put an emphasis on how they played against us in that game. We left a lot of plays out there and that’s all it boils down to.”

Last season, the Roughriders — after qualifying for the playoffs — crossed over into the East Division to start the post-season.

They first travelled to Ottawa, where they handled the second-place Redblacks 31-20 in the Eastern Semi-Final. Then Saskatchewan visited the first-place Argos for the division final.

Toronto built up an 18-3 advantage through three quarters, but the Roughriders rallied to take a 21-18 lead with 2:44 left in regulation time. Argos quarterback Ricky Ray then put together a 10-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Fajardo’s touchdown.

The key play on the march was a 22-yard pass from Ray to James Wilder Jr., who beat the coverage of linebacker Sam Eguavoen to convert a third-and-five gamble from Saskatchewan’s 40-yard line.

“I feel like I’m a completely different player this year than I was last year,” Eguavoen said when that play was raised. “The first game we played against them (on June 15), it was still in my mind a little bit. But I just told myself, ‘If that ball’s up in the air again, I’m looking back and I’m going to get it rather than playing conservative.’ ”

The Roughriders and Argos indeed have played in 2018, with Saskatchewan prevailing 27-19 at Mosaic Stadium in Week 1 of the regular season. That provided the Roughriders with a measure of revenge for the loss in the Eastern Final — but now they’re set to revisit the scene.

“I hadn’t even thought about it until right now,” fullback Spencer Moore said earlier this week. “I’ll probably think about it a little bit, especially when we get (to BMO Field).

“When you’re driving to the stadium and you get on the grass field, you’ll start to think about that (game) a little bit. But you can only use that so much. We have a job to do regardless of the outcome of last year’s game.”

Moore’s reluctance to use the playoff loss as motivation mirrors the mindset of many of his teammates. For centre Dan Clark, Saskatchewan’s previous visit to BMO Field is ancient history.

“New year, new team,” he said. “This game is just another two points. We’re going up against a very good defence that we’ve got to come prepared to play 60 minutes against — and possibly more than 60 minutes.

“For me, there isn’t any motivation (derived from the playoff game). As soon as the clock hits zero, the game’s over for me. It’s a new start. Things change. We’ve got new players in the locker room.”

True, but at least one of those new players believes the memory of the playoff game is an irritant to the returning Roughriders — whether they’ll admit it or not.

“In their minds, that was the defining moment obviously in their season,” said defensive tackle Zack Evans, who was a member of the Redblacks last season before signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent in February. “I think they’ve got a little oomph coming into this game and some pride to not let that happen again.”

The Roughriders’ real focus Saturday is getting back in the win column. Their four-game winning streak came to a halt last Saturday, when they fell 30-25 to the visiting Redblacks.

Toronto still has weapons like Wilder and slotback S.J. Green, but Ray is out with an injury and has been replaced by McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The Argos are riding a three-game losing streak and need a victory to stay in the East Division’s playoff race.

Saskatchewan defensive back Crezdon Butler was of two minds when discussing Saturday’s game.

On the one hand, he pointed out that it was simply the next contest on the Roughriders’ schedule — but then on the other, he admitted that some lingering feelings from Nov. 19 will be involved.

“It’s definitely going to be a playoff atmosphere for us, just because that’s where we ended our season last year,” Butler said. “It’s the next game, but the atmosphere is going to be a little bit different.”