The Saskatchewan Roughriders are one win away from hosting the West Final at Mosaic Stadium.
It didn’t look like the Riders were going to get the chance early on against the Edmonton Eskimos as the home team broke out to an early 14-0 lead, but this is the Riders we’re talking about. They never do anything the easy way. It turns out, controlling their own destiny wasn’t going to come easy either.
Slowly but surely, the Riders started to take over the game. After all, the Riders are the better team. Eventually, you’d think that would pay off and it did. After the Eskimos took a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter, the green and white outscored Edmonton 27-10. As the Riders have done quite often this season, they effectively kept their opponent off the board for long periods of time as they slowly took control of the game.
This time, Edmonton managed just three points in the second and third quarters. Even though the game came down to a game-winning field goal, that part of the game basically won the Riders the game. They couldn’t let Edmonton extend their lead and they didn’t. The Riders took the lead in the third quarter and never gave it up again.
If the Riders can do it again, then the West runs through them for the first time since 2009.
Fajardo does it again
Cody Fajardo probably wants to forget the first quarter of this game, much like many of his teammates, but he made up for it in a big way.
Fajardo racked up 429 yards and two touchdowns — his second-highest total of the season. The only game better was a 430-yard performance against Toronto.
A big reason for the turnaround was the Riders made some adjustments as the game went on to the Eskimos pressure, but the plays still have to be made and Fajardo made them. Especially late in the game.
It never really felt in doubt.
As he’s done three other times this year, Fajardo marched the Riders from their own six-yard line to set up Brett Lauther for the game-winning field goal. Calm, cool and collected like always.
John and I talked about his most outstanding player nominations on the Green Cast last week. I wasn’t as sold as everyone else on him getting the team nod, but I was wrong. He’s the guy. There’s no question.
Big days
Two receivers benefited directly from Fajardo’s big day. Shaq Evans and Kyran Moore both surpassed 100 yards on the night by a large margin, 174 yards for Evans and 159 for Moore.
The game had to feel good for Evans after a couple of quiet games after he declared himself the best receiver in the league. Evans made a couple of key catches, most notably a 45-yard grab that eventually led to a Marcus Thigpen touchdown, the Riders first major of the game. It was a play that seemed to give the team some life after a slow start.
Odds and ends
– With nothing to play for, Jason Maas should have gone for two after his team scored late. If there was ever a harmless time to do it (which more teams should do in general), that was it. It might have won them the game.
– Craig Dickenson might have been able to win a challenge after it appeared that Ed Gainey caused a fumble. The decision to not challenge might have been smart though, as it might have been impossible to get a conclusive view of a recovery.
– Pretty much everything Jeremy O’Day has done has turned to gold this year, except perhaps the trade of Christion Jones. The Riders return game hasn’t really been the same since. It might be worth trying someone other than Marcus Thigpen on punt returns next week.
– I sound like a broken record but it’s a shame that L.J. McCray probably won’t get recognized for his great season with an award because he had a cup of tea in the NFL. He had another big night with 10 tackles and an interception. His closing speed is as impressive as anyone on the team. Maybe he will? Charleston Hughes, the apparent consensus pick for the team, was pretty quiet again.
– A rare night where the Riders failed to sack the quarterback. There wasn’t a whole lot of pressure on Harris but they did a good job of keeping the play in front of them after the opening quarter.
– I liked Dickenson’s decision to go for it on third down early. The play call from Stephen McAdoo on the other hand? Not a big fan.
– Manny Arceneaux might not put up the numbers anymore but you can tell he’s important to this team. He’s not only a leader but he does a lot of little things right that helps the offence.
– The Riders must lead the league in delays, they’ve had two weather related and now one electrical delay.
