REGINA – The temperature on the field might have been as hot as in recent memory for the game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night at Mosaic Stadium, but the Riders defence just might have exceeded that heat on the field.
The Green and White defenders helped Saskatchewan’s offence overcome a slow start with some stellar play through the first half and then pitched a shutout after the break as the Riders pulled away for a 38-7 victory.
Saskatchewan improves to 4-1 and moves into a tie for first in the West Division with the Edmonton Elks, while Hamilton falls to 2-3 and are tied for second in the East.
“I'm glad how resilient we were tonight, playing connected football early on,” said Roughriders linebacker James Woods, who had a game-clinching 107-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. “Getting two and outs, getting off the field, holding all game and limiting them to what they had. I'm really proud of the way that we had pressure, got off the field, created turnovers. I think we played a great game.”
Neither team had much going through the first quarter in a 1-1 draw after the first 15 minutes, but the Riders got on the board with the first major of the game on a 10-yard catch by Samuel Emilus with 1:39 to play in the first half. Emilus finished with six catches for 72 yards and his major. He was happy to see his team find their way offensively despite their slow start.
“I think we left some points on the board, especially early in the game, but that's what the game of football is,” he said. “You're going to have some ups and downs, and we picked it up at the right time, especially in the fourth quarter with the turnovers on defence, putting points on the board and Tommy [Stevens] finishing the game like always.”
Saskatchewan took an 11-7 lead into the halftime break before pulling away for good, going ahead 18-7 through three quarters before pouring on 20 unanswered points in the fourth.
Kian Schaffer-Baker had the Riders’ major in the third before a 40-yard fumble return by Marcus Sayles led to Stevens scoring from one-yard out early in the fourth. Woods’ pick-six made it 31-7 with 2:47 to play. Stevens finished off the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:22 remaining.
The Riders held Hamilton and its lethal receivers to 250 yards of offence, including 53 in the first half. Seeing his defence come up with such an impressive outing was naturally a positive for Riders coach Corey Mace.
“Offensively, I thought we were moving the field, but we couldn't quite capitalize and then in the second half the levies kind of broke,” Mace said. “The turnovers, they came in bunches for us and we capitalized off of them. So, I'm proud of the whole group, man, to be able to push through and get the win.”
Trevor Harris finished 18-of-25 passing for 211 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while A.J. Ouellette had 18 carries for 83 yards in his return to the lineup. Schaffer-Baker was the Riders’ top receiver with six catches for 78 yards.
Hamilton quarterback Jake Dolegala was 17-for-30 passing for 122 yards and an interception, Kiondre Smith was their top offensive producer with five catches for 56 yards.
Saskatchewan heads into its second bye week before returning to the field on July 23 against the Elks at Mosaic Stadium.
