Robservations: Many happy returns for Mario … Albright arrives … Frankie in fine form … J.C. Johnson’s jaunt … and “draconian punishment”!
Mario Alford is sixth in six-pointers.
Only five players in CFL history boast more return touchdowns on special teams than the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ speedster, who fielded a punt and sped 107 yards to pay dirt on Friday against the host Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Just like that, Alford took over sole possession of sixth place in career return touchdowns, with 10. He had been tied with Chad Owens and Jimmy Cunningham.
Alford trails Henry Williams (31), Bashir Levingston (15), Brandon Banks (13), Keith Stokes (12) and Earl Winfield (12).
As well, Alford increased his Roughriders-record return-TDs total to seven (four punts, two kickoffs, one missed field goal). He has played in 27 games since being acquired from the Montreal Alouettes early last season.
Also on Friday, Alford tied the Roughriders’ single-season record for punt-return touchdowns (three). He shares that standard with Willis Jacox (1991) and Curtis Mayfield (1999).
Alford wasn’t the least bit inclined to celebrate a record-tying feat after a 36-28 loss to Ottawa.
“It’s all about winning, man,” he said. “My individual (totals), I don’t look at them. Maybe I will after I’m done playing ball.
“I’m not really into that right now. I just want to win. We just need to find a way to win.”
Alford is the only player in Roughriders history to boast two punt returns of 100-plus yards. He scored on a 104-yarder against the visiting Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 22.
The 107-yarder, by the way, is the fourth-longest — arguably third-longest — punt return in franchise history.
Herb Johnson took off on a 109-yarder against Edmonton on Aug. 31, 1953.
Jacox (Aug. 9, 1991 versus the Toronto Argonauts) and Paul Williams (Aug. 15, 1976 against Edmonton) are both in the record books with 108-yarders. However, Williams’ score was on a missed field goal. Errant three-pointers were recorded as punts according to the statistical conventions of the day.
Alford and Fran McDermott both have 107-yard punt returns to their credit.
The difference: McDermott did not score. He was tackled on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ five-yard line on Oct. 11, 1982 at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
FROM ALFORD TO ALBRIGHT …
Christian Albright enjoyed a most auspicious CFL debut on Friday night.
The 24-year-old defensive end registered two sacks — on back-to-back plays! — and a forced fumble against the REDBLACKS.
“He was awesome,” Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson said. “That’s when you find guys.
“You see it in practice, and he has been showing in practice that he is a pretty darned good player.
“Putting him out there (in a game situation), you could just see that he flashed and that he’s got some ability.
“I’m really proud of C.A. I thought he had a great game and certainly opened up some eyes — I know on our staff and probably around the league.”
R-Kal Truluck owns the Roughriders’ record for most sacks (three) by a player in his first CFL game. He made his professional football debut in a 19-10 victory over the visiting Argonauts on July 4, 1998.
FRANK(IE) DISCUSSION
Frankie Hickson generally enjoys red-letter days against the REDBLACKS.
On July 8, 2022, he rushed five times for 92 yards — including a 63-yard TD — as the Roughriders downed Ottawa 28-13 at Mosaic Stadium.
He next opposed the REDBLACKS on Friday, when he carried the ball nine times for 77 yards.
“I liked what he did,” Dickenson said. “I wish we could have (run the ball) more, but we got ourselves down and we had to throw it.
“Frankie ran hard and ran well. There’s no drop-off at all in the run game with Frankie and he hits things downhill.
“It was a pleasure to have Frankie out there. We need to see more of that. As the weather gets colder, there are going to be games where you’re going to have to run it.”
Four of Hickson’s runs on Friday were for 10 or more yards — the Roughriders’ highest single-game total in that category this season.
Jamal Morrow, who sat out on Friday with a knee injury, has twice had three double-digit-distance runs in a game this season.
MY JAKE MISTAKE
Could the Roughriders’ historian be (gulp) history?
That was my fear after an embarrassing gaffe.
During the most-recent “Quirky Facts with Rob” segment, I gormlessly referred to quarterback Jake Dolegala as No. 19.
Dolegala, of course, wears No. 9.
Tyler Daku, our brilliant Social Media Lead, had a little fun with the flub when “Quirky Facts” was posted on the Roughriders’ platforms.
Yet, I was suitably contrite, as was demonstrated when I meekly discussed the matter with the team’s President-CEO — who proceeded to have a little fun with this.
“It’s sad,” Craig Reynolds said. “We gave you the title of ‘historian,’ so it’s sad that you can remember things from 1955, but not the number of Jake Dolegala, who is playing every single week.
“What I encourage you to do is take our roster home at night and study it. See who’s on the team, see what numbers they wear, and see what position they play as well. That’s probably good homework.”
Will any other action be taken?
“We’ve got to go to HR,” Reynolds said jokingly. “We don’t know if that would involve just stripping the title of historian and you keeping the senior journalist’s title. Do we temporarily strip it? Do you go on probation?
“Lots of options are available to us. There always are. So we’ll deal with Kim (Gallagher) in HR and see what we come up with.
“But, for sure, there will be punishment — draconian punishment.”
SHORT SNORTS
• Another quirky fact: No. 9, Jake Dolegala, has registered five touchdown passes over his past two games. That is the Roughriders’ highest total over such a span since September of 2017, when Kevin Glenn (No. 5) struck for five scores over the course of a home-and-home set with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
- Middle linebacker Larry Dean (No. 11) registered 12 defensive tackles on Friday. That was the highest total by a Roughrider since Oct. 7, when Darnell Sankey felled a dozen Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field.
- J.C. Johnson — whose father, Micah, wears No. 4 for the Roughriders — scored his first Regina Minor Football touchdown the other day. He reached the end zone on a fumble return to help the pee wee Bulldogs defeat the Mustangs 51-16 at Leibel Field on Wednesday. Unfortunately, J.C.’s proud dad was unable to attend the game, because the Roughriders had flown to Ottawa earlier in the day. J.C. is No. 2, by the way. His dad wore No. 2 with the Roughriders in 2019 and 2021.
ROLL CREDITS …
- Nice people who deserve a plug: Micah Teitz, Matthew deMontigny, Cindy deMontigny, J.C. Johnson, Grayson Hustak, Sharon Pratchler, Solomon Elimimian, Tyron Brackenridge, Chris Best, Bennett Stusek, Jeff Stusek, Carter Stusek, Sheryl Stusek, Ashley Martin, Wayne Morrison, Jim Deis, Jean Lefebvre, Larry Kielo, Brad Herauf, Matteo Michels and Larry Dumelie.
