It wasn’t exactly a masterful performance by the Saskatchewan Roughriders against the Toronto Argonauts, but they got progressively better throughout it and showed substantial improvement from their previous two outings.
That was enough to fight back in the second half, pull ahead late, and get back in the win column after back-to-back road losses. The 28-24 victory on Saturday represented the first time they’ve bested Argos quarterback Chad Kelly in five meetings.
Kelly certainly got his shots in against the Riders, completing 28 of 39 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns. But the Riders picked him off twice, too, the second of which led to a pivotal KeeSean Johnson score in the fourth quarter.
Things looked a little dicey for the Riders early, but they eventually gained control and got the job done.
How they pulled through is the focus of Riders Morning After.
Why they won
The Riders weren’t flawless in the second half – they allowed a safety that would have been a touchdown had Trevor Harris not corralled a loose ball first – but they were made bigger plays and fewer errors. That’s a notable reversal from the last two weeks.
They were patient as they chipped away at a first-half deficit and didn’t let minor hiccups rattle them like kicker Alex Hale’s missed extra point that have tied the game in the fourth quarter.
The true turning point finally came when Argonauts’ Tarvarus McFadden went offside with Hale set to attempt an 11-yard field goal that would have tied the game with less than three minutes to play.
That penalty gave the Riders a first-and-goal opportunity from Toronto’s two-yard line. Tommy Stevens – who else? – punched it in to give Saskatchewan its first lead of the game.
A quick defensive stop and (nearly) running out the clock was a textbook way to finish the proceedings.
Game ball
He caught 10 of the 14 balls that were sent his way. He recorded 146 receiving yards. He scored one touchdown, a major that pulled the Riders within a point with 13:15 left in the fourth quarter.
KeeSean Johnson showed why he’s clearly one of the CFL’s best receivers on Saturday.
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The normally accurate Harris had his difficulties completing passes in the first half, though drops by Dhel Duncan-Busby and Quali Conley didn’t help his cause. The Riders quarterback really found his grove when he turned to Johnson time and time again in the fourth quarter.
Harris targeted Johnson six times over the final 15 minutes and the pass catcher pulled in five of those throws for 99 yards. The two connected for 37 and 38 yards on consecutive plays on the game-winning drive.
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Johnson was the team’s closer after staying in the game following a bit hit by Argos’ Benjie Franklin in the second quarter.
His big outing wouldn’t have come at a better time. The Riders scored one touchdown in each of the previous two contests. They lost Sam Emilus and Johnny Johnson III to injuries in last Sunday’s road loss to the B.C. Lions and were already missing Kian Schaffer-Baker.
An effort like this from KeeSean sure help the Riders withstand all those key absences.
Couldn’t have done it without
James Burgess Jr. was excellent in his first start of the season. He got the call at cornerback, while Nelson Lokombo slid back to his old safety spot in place of the injured Jaxon Ford, and he made good on the assignment.
Burgess was a menace on Toronto’s second possession. He knocked down a pass intended for Argos receiver Jake Herslow and then intercepted Kelly on back-to-back plays. Burgess said before the game that the Riders were “ready to get some picks.” Well, he got one.
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Burgess also made a critical play late in the fourth quarter after the Riders took their first lead.
He got a piece of Kelly’s throw to David Urgerer III, forcing the Argos to punt with 2:42 on the clock. Kelly didn’t get the ball in his hands again until there were 19 seconds remaining. He simply didn’t have enough time to help Toronto mount a comeback.
The Riders might not have won this game without the roster changes to the secondary. Lokombo also made an interception, his second in the CFL, which led to that Johnson touchdown.
Play of the game
The Riders had just allowed a second touchdown to Tyler Kahmann. That put them down 15 points, and it looked like the game was starting to unravel.
That’s when Mike Rose stepped up as he got his arms up to block Brady Lidster’s extra-point attempt. The ball ricocheted into the open field where it was scooped up by Marcus Sayles. He ran it to the Toronto end zone for two points.
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Instead of trailing by 16 points, the Riders’ deficit was a more manageable 13. The score was now 22-9.
That play changed everything.
The Riders went it halftime down just 10 points after Hale made a 55-yard field goal as time expired. They outscored the Argos 16-2 over the last two quarters.
The stat that matters
Two interceptions from the secondary, doubling their output on the season. Saskatchewan is now up to six picks in total, the other two coming from linebacker Josh Woods.
