@
June 19, 2024

Roughriders’ C.J. Avery produces quick picks

In a split-second, C.J. Avery accomplished a feat that had not been associated with a Saskatchewan Roughrider for 19,800,000 seconds, give or take a few ticks of the clock.

Avery’s game-changing pick on Sunday enabled him to become the first player to record an interception in each of his first two games with the Green and White since cornerback Harry Skipper, way back in 1986.

On Oct. 12 of that year, Skipper made an impactful debut by returning an interception 41 yards for a touchdown against his former team, the Montreal Alouettes, at Taylor Field. He followed up with another on Oct. 17, 1986 in Montreal.

Avery was born 4,539 days later (March 22, 1999) in Grenada, Miss.

His arrival in Riderville is also something to celebrate.

On June 8, Avery’s interception with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter played a key role in securing a season-opening, 29-11 victory over the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium.

Then came Sunday, when Avery made another pick — again, with 33 seconds left — to set up a 43-yard Brett Lauther field goal that gave Saskatchewan a 33-30 road victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

With 43 seconds left, Lauther’s convert of a Kian Schaffer-Baker touchdown had created a 30-30 tie. On the next play from scrimmage, Bo Levi Mitchell’s short pass bounced off the intended receiver, Tim White, and was snared by an alert Avery.

“It actually did feel like slow-motion on the field,” the 5-foot-11, 230-pound weak-side linebacker said on Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium.

“We worked on that type of (tipped-ball) drill in practice, so I broke and the ball was in the air.

“I thought, ‘Ow, wow … this is crazy.’ I grabbed it quick and that was it.”

Avery specializes in auspicious debuts. As a member of the Vegas Vipers on 2023, he notched the first interception in the history of the revived XFL. Now he has brought the landmark moments to Saskatchewan.

“I can’t ask for a better start,” he said. “I can’t ask for a better group of guys to go to battle with. It’s a great organization with a great coaching staff.

“I love everything about it. I just want to continue to do my job and do it well.”

NO PAIN FOR BANE

Good news: Shawn Bane Jr., who missed the second half of Sunday’s game due to a leg injury, was back on the practice field on Wednesday — albeit in limited fashion.

Bad news: Left guard Philip Blake, who suffered a painful thigh injury during the third quarter in Hamilton, will miss Sunday’s rematch (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium, TSN, CKRM) and several subsequent games.

“Unfortunately, it’s going to be a longer-term thing,” Head Coach Corey Mace lamented. “We don’t really have a timeline yet. We’re still looking at what the options are.”

Blake missed the first 12 games last year after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the pre-season finale.

In 2022, he was the starting left tackle for the Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts. Mace was the Argonauts’ Defensive Co-ordinator at the time.

“I’ve been around Philip before and certainly, after what happened to him last year, if there’s an opportunity for him to come back, that’s his mentality,” Mace said.

Blake watched the conclusion of Sunday’s game from the sideline, while leaning on crutches.

Bane Jr. was also an observer at the time, but his injury appears to be minor.

“Shawn will be fine,” Mace said. “These quick-twitch guys, man … I don’t know anything about that.

“He was just dealing with a little tweak or something like that. You’ve got to be smart sometimes with some of those guys who are twitched up like that.

“But he has been attacking it like crazy, pretty much from when it happened all the way up until now. He’s treating it like a pro and feeling like he’s trending in a good direction.”

Bane Jr. caught three touchdown passes in the season opener. He added four catches for 50 yards in Hamilton before leaving the game nine seconds before halftime.

Listed as “limited” on Wednesday’s injury report are Bane Jr., defensive back Rodney Clemons (Achilles), fullback Clint Ratkovich (foot), linebacker C.J. Reavis (hip) and defensive back Deontai Williams (foot).

Blake, centre Peter Godber (personal), right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (ankle), running back A.J. Ouellette (leg) and defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. (neck) were listed as DNP — Did Not Participate.

AJOU’S A PRO

The injury to Bane Jr. opened the door for Ajou Ajou to be a part of the front-line receiving corps for the final half of Sunday’s game.
What a half it was!

He caught five passes — all in the third quarter — for 41 yards while wearing a uniform for the first time in CFL regular-season play.

“It was great to see him have the success that he had, dating back to our conversation on Draft night all the way to where he’s at now,” Mace said of the Roughriders’ seventh-round selection in the 2024 CFL Draft.

“This is exactly where we expected him to be. I know he holds himself in high regard and he has put in the work to get here, so kudos to him.

“I was happy for him to have that moment, but now it’s, ‘What’s the next goal for yourself?’ We’re looking to see what he’s got in store.”

Ajou’s first CFL reception, on the second offensive play of the third quarter, was an 11-yard connection with Trevor Harris.  The second catch came two plays later.

The Roughriders’ next possession began with a 15-yard completion to Ajou that ignited a six-play, 77-yard touchdown drive.

Late in the third quarter, Ajou made a reception on back-to-back snaps.

“You can make plays with the ball in your hand, but you can also make plays without it,” he said.

“I was just happy to get the opportunity to play, to go in there, and to show Coach that I’m ready.”

The next milestone would be his first CFL touchdown — major celebration to follow.

“If you know me, I’ve got a dance prepared for every situation,” Ajou, 22, said with a smile. “I’ve got something cookin’ for y’all, don’t worry.”

SECOND START FOR SAYLES

Cornerback Marcus Sayles, a two-time All-Star, is preparing for his second game as a Roughrider.

His signing was announced by the Green and White on June 4, just two days after he was released by the B.C. Lions.

Twelve days after first practising with the Roughriders, Sayles suited up at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

“I was prepared to come in and do my job,” he said on Wednesday. “The coaches trust me, with the ability to play my game and play my style.

“I had a lot of plays out there and, of course, I had some plays that I messed up on. I’m just going to use that as an opportunity to get better. It was my first week, but that’s not an excuse.”

Sayles was a West Division All-Star with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (in 2019) and in B.C. (2022). In the latter season, he also made the CFL All-Star team.

But even a player with an impressive resume requires a period of acclimatization.

“With our defence, there’s a lot of nuances,” Mace noted. “He’s an excellent pro, but you’ve got to train through some situations.

“We’ll get it cleaned up. We’re not worried about it. He’s been a great player in this league for a while now.

“He was here for a couple of weeks and was kind of thrown into the fire. There’s a lot of good things he did out there as well.”