The 2012 Saskatchewan Roughriders

Games 9-12

“Heart of the Season”

 

Game 10 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9/9/12):

The 4-5 Riders kicked off the second half of the season in the annual Banjo Bowl with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who the Riders humiliated 52-0 last Sunday. The Bombers were expected to be in a most foul frame of mind following such a devastating beatdown and were looking for revenge. Joey Elliott had a bad game for the Bombers and was looking to atone. Several Bomber fans were wearing bags over their heads. It was a dry and sunny 15-degree (C) at Canada Inns Stadium as the Riders came out all in white while the Bombers came out in their classic Blue and Gold. Sandro DeAngelis kicked off for the Riders and Winnipeg started out at the 35. On the first play from scrimmage, Elliott threw to Terrence Edwards, who fumbled the ball on the tackle and the Riders recovered at the Winnipeg 32. On second down, Darian Durant was hauled down well short of the first down so DeAngelis came in to kick a 33-yard field goal to give the Riders an early 3-0 lead. The Bombers started out again at the 35. On first down, Elliott’s pass down the left sideline was broken up by Maze. Chad Simpson then took a pass out of the backfield and gained 13. On the following play, Elliott hooked up with Edwards on the right sideline for a big gain down inside the 20. Clarence Denmark was then hauled down for a 6-yard loss on a failed reverse play. Justin Palardy then came in and knocked through a chip shot to tie the score. From the 35, Durant scrambled right and went out of bounds at the 52. Kory Sheets followed up with a short gain up the middle. From midfield, Durant found Weston Dressler on a curl route to the right for another first down. The Bombers’ D then stuffed Sheets for no gain and the drive stalled there. Jovan Johnson made a nice play breaking up a pass intended for Dressler. Chris Milo’s punt then pinned the Bombers deep in their territory. Elliott’s pass to Kito Poblah gained only 4 but Elliott came back to hit Cory Watson for a first down. Poblah then gained 8 on a quick hitter out of the backfield, and then Elliott rushed ahead for the first down. On second and 9 from the 40, Elliott was sacked by Mike McCullough, who blitzed right up the middle untouched. Dressler then ran back the ensuing punt to the 42. The Riders’ drive went nowhere and Milo punted out. Demond Washington took Milo’s punt at the 29 turned left, scooted down the sideline and was gone on an 81-yard return. With the point after, Bombers took a 10-3 lead. The Bombers’ punt return unit came up with at least three key blocks to spring Washington. The Riders’ Jock Sanders responded with a terrific kick return of his own, going out to midfield. Drew Willy replaced Durant and ran for 13 on the draw. Chris Getzlaf then grabbed a pass over the middle in traffic down to the 41. Willy then hit Neal Hughes coming out of the backfield for 7 as the quarter came to a close.

Sheets banged ahead for 6 and a first down to open the second quarter. Willy then went for the downs and overthrew everyone. On the next play, Sheets took a screen pass, rolled to the left and into the end zone to tie the score at 10. Bombers started out their next drive at the 26. Elliott was hauled down by Williams for a 7-yard loss and Renaud punted out. Sanders had a nice return, rolling to his left and picking up big yards. Sanders then ripped up the middle on the draw for 30.  Sheets then took a pass out of the backfield and was hauled down just short of the goal line. After a three-yard loss, Willy found Scott McHenry wide open in the end zone but a penalty on the Riders negated the touchdown. DeAngelis then knocked in a 23-yard field goal to give the Riders a 13-10 lead. On second-and 10 from the 35, Elliott ran up the middle for 9. Alex Brink then came in with the short yardage package and bulled ahead for a first down. Watson grabbed a pass in the right flat but fell four yards short of the first, so Renaud punted away. The Riders started out at the 32, where Willy rolled left but his pass was intercepted by Brandon Stewart, who ran the ball back to the 24. On second down, Elliott threw deep for Denmark in the end zone but the pass was slightly overthrown. Palardy came in and popped in the game-tying field goal. After a short kick, Sanders returned the ball back to the 40. On second down, Willy’s low pass intended for Getzlaf fell incomplete. After Milo’s punt, the Bombers started out at their 22. Poblah grabbed a quick pass for a first down and then the Riders’ Odell Willis was flagged for roughing the passer. On the next play, Cory Watson made a nice leaping catch, but an unnecessary roughness call on Winnipeg’s Shannon Boatman pushed the back to the 40. Simpson then rushed off right tackle down to the 29. After a two yard loss and an incomplete pass, Palardy came in for a 36-yard attempt that was no good but the Riders conceded the single. From the 35, Sheets was gang-tackled after a 5-yard gain. Dressler then took a big hit but hung onto the ball after a first down. Willy then ran to the left and picked up another first with 21 seconds left. Willy was then sacked for a 21-yard loss so Milo punted away. Jovon Johnson nearly fumbled the punt but covered up as the half came to a close.

The Riders opened the second half with the ball at the 35. Willy connected with Sanders, who fumbled but the Riders recovered. Willy was then sacked for another big loss and Milo punted out. Elliott’s pass to Watson only gained 5. Elliott’s next pass was smartly knocked away by Collins. Durant was then seen in street clothes after having suffered a hip injury in the first quarter. On first down, Sanders ripped up the middle for 24. On second and 5 from the 30, Willy connected with Dressler at the right sideline inside the 5. Dressler basically stole the ball from the Bombers’ safety. Sheets then carried right and directly into the end zone untouched. With the point after, the Riders went ahead 20-14. On Winnipeg’s next possession, Simpson carried up the middle for 25. Ooooh! The Riders’ Joe Lobendahn absolutely drilled Simpson coming out of the backfield. The Bombers’ Green repaid the favor by drilling Sanders on the punt return. Willy was then sacked by Muamba and Milo punted away into the end zone but a penalty on the Riders negated the single. From the 35, Simpson rolled right for 12 yards. Simpson then ran a counter to the left for 8 more. Elliott found Denmark in the left flat. Denmark broke a tackle and ran down to the 12. Elliott then took two shots into the end zone that fell incomplete, so Palardy came in and popped a 19-yard field goal to make it 20-14. Sheets was tackled for a 2-yard loss before Willy escaped a rush and dove ahead for a first down. Sheets then carried to the left for 5. Dressler then made a nice catch in traffic, going down right at the first down marker. On second and 6, Willy went long and deep for Taj Smith but over the receiver.

Moving into the fourth quarter, Milo mishandled the snap and attempted a drop kick that was blocked as momentum definitely swung the Bombers’ way. Elliott then connected with Edwards twice over the middle down to the 23. Elliott attempted a quarterback option that fell short of the first down. Palardy then entered the game and banged in his third field goal to make it 21-20. Sheets then took a pass out of the backfield and scooted across midfield. Willy was then sacked by Kenny Mainor but Mainor was too exuberant in tackling Willy and was hit with an unnecessary roughness call, which gave the Riders a first down at the 35. It was a 38-yard swing in possession for the Riders. Willy was then hauled down for no gain, so DeAngelis came in to attempt a field goal that went wide right, but the Bombers conceded the single. On first down, Elliott hit Chris Matthews streaking down the left sideline for a 38-yard gain. Chris McKenzie then broke up Elliott’s next pass. Palardy entered again to attempt a 45-yard kick that was blocked by Mick Williams. The Riders started out from the 9 and went backwards. Milo punted out from the end zone and the Bombers took over at the 40. Denmark took a swing pass and gained 9. Simpson then pushed ahead to the 25. After the three minute warning, Elliott’s pass intended for Edwards was broken up by McKenzie. Palardy attempted a field goal that was good and put the Bombers ahead, 23-22. Jason Vega then sacked Willy for an 11-yard loss.  The Bombers got the ball back and moved the ball across midfield. On second and 7 from the 54, with 1:41 left, McKenzie was hit with a pass interference call that gave the Bombers another first down. Inside of a minute, the Bombers punted out and the Riders conceded the single to make it 24-22 Winnipeg. From the 35, Sheets caught a pass and went out of bounds with :22 left. Willy then found Brooks Foster over the middle into Winnipeg territory, Willy then ran for a first down to the 33 as time wound down to :01, DeAngelis then hurried in and knocked through the game winning field goal as time expired. So, now the Riders pulled back to .500 and did so in thrilling fashion to take this year’s Banjo Bowl.

Game 11 at Montréal Alouettes (9/16/12)

On Sunday the 16^th, the 5-5 Riders traveled to Percival Molson Stadium in Montréal to take on Robert Calvillo and his merry band of Alouettes (6-4). Once more, the Als are the pride of CFL East and this would be a very tough challenge for the Riders. Darian Durant remained out of the lineup so Drew Willy made his first CFL start at quarterback for the Riders.

It was cool (18⁰ C) and sunny in Montréal as Sandro DeAngelis kicked off to start the game and the Als started out at the 35. Whitaker took it up the gut for 6 on the opening play. On second down, Calvillo found Richardson over the middle for a 12-yard pickup. Whitaker then bulled through the line for 8 more. From the 42, Whitaker pounded the line again for 6. Calvillo then found Whitaker coming out of the backfield and Whitaker bolted to the left for a 34-yard gain. On the next play, Whitaker easily bounced into the end zone and the Als took an early 7-0 lead. Jock Sanders took the ensuing kickoff back to the 39. Willy connected with Chris Getzlaf on a slant to the left for 13 but Cory Sheets was nailed at the line of scrimmage on his first carry of the day. Sheets then pushed ahead for a first down two plays later. Sheets then bounced off left tackle for twelve more down to the 35. On second down, Jenkins sacked Willy and Deangelis banged in a 47-yard field goal to put the Riders on the board. Montréal started out their next drive at the 29. Calvillo hit Richardson, who ran upfield before getting caught at the Riders’ 50. Calvillo continued to pick apart the Riders’ pass D as Whitaker gained eighteen more on a swing pass. After Green caught a pass, a penalty was tacked on to the end of the run, putting the ball at the 9. On second-and-goal, Chris McKenzie interfered with Richardson going up for a ball in the end zone, putting the ball at the goal line. McPherson came in with the short yardage package and bulled ahead for the score to make it 14-3 Montréal. The Als had an easy time of things so far. Sanders then had a great runback, racing up the right sideline and crossing midfield. Willy was sacked by Ingram on second down for an 11-yard loss so Chris Milo punted out. After another 15-yard penalty on the Riders, the Als started out at the 35. They failed to pick up the first down so x punted out, with Sanders returning the ball to the 37. Sanders picked up 5 out of the backfield on first down. Willy then found Taj Smith at the right sideline for another first down.

The Riders had the ball at the 51 to open the second quarter. Sheets ran up the middle for 6. Sheets then gained six more as the Riders pushed the ball across the midfield stripe. A time-count violation set the ball back five yards. Willy found Sanders over the middle for 4. Willy then connected with McHenry but well short of the first down. Milo’s punt went out of bounds but a holding call against the Als set the ball back to the 10. On second down, Calvillo launched a bomb to Green, who caught it in stride for a 62-yard gain. Odell Willis was flagged for illegal contact on the next play, moving the ball down to the 30. Brackinridge was then hit with an unnecessary roughness call that moved the ball to the 12. Calvillo then took a shot into the end zone but Bratton dropped the ball. Calvillo was then sacked and stripped of the ball. Tearrius George pounced on the loose ball and brought the ball back to the 22. But on the next play, Smith coughed up the ball after a short completion and Jenkins picked up the loose ball. Calvillo was dragged down for a loss on second down. Sean Whyte’s field goal attempt was no good but the ball rolled out of the end zone for a single to make it 15-7, Montréal. Sandro DeAngelis kicked a 46-yard field goal on the Riders’ next drive to make it a 15-6 game. Joe Loebendahl then made a nice tackle on Whitaker, crossing the line of scrimmage and giving Whitaker a healthy pop. The Riders started out their next drive at the 29. Willy was sacked again, this time by Shea Emry for a 14-yard loss. Willy completed a short pass to Weston Dressler but it was far short of the first down. The Riders were flagged for illegal procedure prior to Milo’s punt. 84 returned the ball to midfield. Calvillo then connected with Richardson over the middle for 8. Whitaker then took a pass out of the backfield and scampered down to the 8. Bratton then took a swing pass from Calvillo, turned left and somersaulted into the end zone after having been hit at the goal line. Bratton went down hard and needed assistance getting back up. With Whyte’s point after, the Als took a commanding 22-6 lead with thirty seconds left in the half. Willy led the offense out for one last crack before halftime. After the Riders’ drive fizzled, Calvillo came out and took a knee and the teams went to the locker rooms with the Riders down by 16 points.

Sanders returned the opening kick of the second half at the 45. Willy found Sanders in the left flat for a 6-yard gain. Dressler then gained five more on a swing pass out of the slot. Sheets then took a pass out of the backfield but only gained 1. Willy then threw away the ball in the face of a heavy rush and Milo punted out. The Als started out at their 5 but the drive went nowhere. Whyte conceded the safety, running out of the back of the end zone to make it 22-8.Sanders returned the ensuing kick back to the 43. Dressler gained 6 on the option left but Willy’s next pass intended for Dressler was tipped, and fell incomplete.  On first down, Whitaker was corralled in the backfield for a five-yard loss. It was the only bad play he had made all day. Whyte conceded another safety by running out of the back of the end zone to make it 22-10. Sanders returned the ensuing kick back to midfield. Sheets then banged off left tackle for 8 and followed that with a rush up the middle for 5 more. On Sheets next rush, he went down hard and hobbled to the sideline. A penalty on the Riders’ Dominic Picard pushed the ball back to midfield but Willy connected with Dressler for a 12-yard gain. DeAngelis then entered and missed a 47-yard attempt. Whitaker returned the kick back to the 40. The drive went nowhere and, after Whyte’s punt, the Riders started out again at the 29. Sheets ran for 10 and an unnecessary roughness call against the Als tacked on 15 more. Getzlaf gained four on a catch in the left flat. Willy then found Dressler over the middle for a first down. The Riders moved the ball down to the 40 but a procedure call against Best pushed the ball back five. After a ten-yard penalty against the Als’ Cox, Willy’s next pass was nearly intercepted. DeAngelis’ subsequent field goal attempt went wide left and Whitaker returned the ball back to the 23. Calvillo’s pass to Whitaker looked as if Brackenridge slapped away the ball and it was ruled a fumble with the Riders taking over at the 34.

Moving into the fourth quarter, Sheets took a pass out of the backfield on second down, juked to the left and rambled into the end zone for the touchdown to tighten things at 22-14. It was a very nice run and the Riders’ most productive play of the game. On second down and 10 from the 40, Calvillo’s pass was incomplete but Brent Hawkins was hit with a roughing the passer call that gave the Als another life. That was the 13^th call against the Riders today. On second down, Calvillo was sacked but –once again – the Riders were hit with an illegal contact penalty that kept the drive going. Whitaker then carried for 8 and then he rushed for 2 more. After an incomplete pass, Calvillo hit Whitaker coming out of the backfield and Whitaker went down with a knee injury. His right knee buckled as he shifted to the right and he required help getting off the field and into the locker room. Whyte’s coffin corner punt pinned the Riders inside the 10. Dressler picked up 12 on a pass over the middle but Willy’s next pass was overthrown and intercepted by Seth Williams at midfield. From the 28, Cavillo’s first pass was thrown away in the face of a heavy rush. Green then picked up 8 on a pass over the middle. On third and 2, Whyte entered and knocked in a 30-yard field goal. A procedure call against the Als backed up the ball 5 yards, but Whyte’s kick from the extra distance was even stronger than the first and Montreal had a 25-17 lead. Sanders returned the ensuing kick to the 32, but another holding call on the Riders backed up the ball 10 yards. Getzlaf grabbed a pass over the middle and raced up to the 48. Sheets then banged off right tackle for 7. But another procedure call against Best now made it a second and 8. Willy’s next pass over the middle was tipped by Aaron Hargreaves and directly into the hands of Kyries Hebert. If it wasn’t for bad luck, Willy would have no luck at all. Calvillo then connected with Anderson coming out of the backfield for 8. Anderson was stopped cold on his next carry. McPherson entered on third and less than a yard and made it by a nose of the ball. Eddie Russ was called for pass interference on first down, and that moved the ball down to the 35. After the drive stalled, Whyte banged in another field goal and the Als were ahead, 28-17 with two minutes left. Dressler then made a nice catch as he was knocked over and the ball bounced into his hands at midfield. Sheets then pushed ahead for a couple, but still short of the first down. Willy’s pass to Getzlaf fell a yard short and the Riders turned over the ball on downs with 1:18 left. On third and inches, McPherson entered and pushed ahead for the first down. That was that as Calvillo took a knee and this one was in the books. The Riders played an undisciplined game and an experienced team like Montreal chewed them up. It was a really disappointing result, as it’s one thing to lose to a good opponent but quite another to commit almost 20 penalties.

Game 12 v. Calgary Stampeders (9/23/12):

The 5-6 Riders returned to Mosaic for a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Stamps. It was sunny and 21 degrees C at before another packed house at the Stadium. Darian Durant started at quarterback for the Riders after having missed last week’s game in Montreal with a hip injury. On the first play of the game, Durant connected with Chris Getzlaf, who promptly fumbled the ball after a short gain with the Stamps’ Charleston Hughes recovering. It was a close call as Getzlaf’s knee almost touched the ground prior to fumbling. Coach Chamblin challenged the ruling on the field to no avail. Kevin Glenn led the Stamps’ offense onto the field. After Romby Bryant gained 5, Forzani picked up a first down. Jon Cornish then ran off left tackle for 4. Rene Parades then came in and banged through a 33-yard field goal to give Calgary an early 3-0 lead.  Tristan Jackson then returned the ball out to the 45. Jock Sanders rushed up the middle for 6 and then Durant hit Weston Dressler at the left sideline for the first down. Durant then connected with Neal Hughes in the left flat for a first down at the 42. Sanders rushed for 8 and nearly fumbled away the ball nut his knee hit the ground prior to the ball coming loose. Hughes slapped the ball out of Sanders’ arm and Wall came up with it. After review, the Riders maintained possession. Drew Willy then came in with the short-yardage package and rushed for the first down. From the 31, Durant hit Dressler in the left flat for 7. Kory Sheets then tore through the middle of the line for 10 more. Durant then connected with McHenry, who dove down to the 3. Sheets then banged ahead to the 1. From there, Willy plunged into the end zone and, after Sandro DeAngelis’ kick, the Riders went ahead, 7-3.  Cornish started Calgary’s next drive with a four-yard gain off left tackle. Glenn then found Joe West, who broke a tackle and moved to the 45. Cornish was then stuffed for no gain by Joe Lobendahn. The Riders’ Collins then sacked Glenn on a safety blitz and Rob Maver punted out. On first down, Sheets pushed ahead for 4 and then Durant connected with Taj Smith for 13 more to the 45. Sheets moved ahead for 3 and then McHenry picked up 5 more on a pass from Durant. On third and three, a sweep left was sniffed out by the Stamps for a loss as the quarter came to a close.

The Riders had a 95-37 advantage in net yards in the first quarter. Calgary set up shop at the 53, where Glenn hit Nik Lewis for a short gain. Glenn then found Cote out of the backfield for the first down at the 30. Lewis came up with a nice reception in traffic for a first down inside the 10. With that catch, Lewis went into the top-10 all time for CFL receptions. On the next play, Glenn found Marquay McDaniel all alone in the end zone for the touchdown. Brackenridge was burned on the play. Jackson took the kickoff and scooted up to the 33. Durant’s first-down heave intended for Dressler was nearly intercepted. Sanders then rushed up the middle to the 52. Dressler then took a pass in the right slot and ran down to the 36. Hughes then hauled down Sanders for a big loss as he correctly guessed the play on a blitz. Durant’s next pass intended for Smith was broken up by Frazier and Chris Milo punted away. From the 10, Glenn scrambled ahead for 9. Cote then picked up 6 on a short pass from Glenn. But Glenn’s  pass intended for Lewis was overthrown and Maver punted out. From the 45, Durant found Dressler in the left slot and Dressler raced to the Stamps’ 45. After Dressler caught another pass for 10, Sheets ran for 3 to the 30. Taj Smith was then wide open down the right sideline but he dropped the ball. DeAngelis then came in and kicked a field goal to tie the score at 10. From the 35, McDaniel gained 10 on a quick hitter. Cornish then went around left end for 10 more, The Riders then brought the house and Glenn was sacked for a 10-yard loss. After Maver’s punt, the Riders took over at their 22.Getzlaf then gained 9 on a curl route, Greg Carr then grabbed a pass to pick up 9 at the left sideline. The Riders then took a timeout before proceeding on third down and Milo punted away.

Cornish went off left tackle for a gain of 10 to open the second half. Glenn then completed a long pass to Forzani at the 30 but the drive stalled there and Parades kicked a 37-yard field goal to put the Stamps ahead, 13-10. Durant then connected with McHenry at midfield for a first down. Sheets then scooted around right end and cutback towards the middle of the field for a 36-yard gain. On the following play, Getzlaf injured his right wrist going up for a ball in the corner of the end zone. Hargeaves entered in Getzlaf’s place on the next play. Durant’s pass over the middle was dropped by Smith so DeAngelis came in and knocked through a field goal to tie the score 13-13. On first down from the 35, Glenn’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Joe Lobendahn, who returned the ball down to the 28. On first down, Durant found Dressler in the left flat and Dressler raced to the 11. Dressler then caught Durant’s next pass in the end zone for the go-ahead score. With DeAngelis’ point after, the Riders went on top 20-13. The Stamps went two n’ out on their next possession and, after Maver’s punt, the Riders took over at the 40, Durant connected with Dressler over the middle for a first down. Getzlaf then hauled in a pass at the left sideline good for 8 more. McDaniel retrieved Milo’s punt and, with a no-yards penalty tacked on, the Stamps started out again from the 35. Glenn was then sacked by Alford for a seven yard loss, so Maver punted out. Jackson had a fabulous punt return, breaking tackles at midfield and racing for 34 yards, down to the 30. On second down, Durant found Taj Smith wide open in the left corner of the end zone and Smith made a nice tumbling catch for the touchdown. With the point after, the Riders went up 27-13 with a lot of football left to be played. From the 35, Glenn connected with Forzani for a first down at the 49. Lewis then caught a pass and gained 6 to midfield. On the play, Keith Shologan suffered a shoulder injury. Coker then took a pass out of the backfield for a first down. Glenn then threw two incompletions but a pass interference call on Chris McKenzie gave the Stamps new life at the 40.

Moving into the fourth quarter, Paredes attempted a field goal that went wide right and McKenzie returned the kick out to the 16. Sanders then broke off left tackle for a 16-yard gain. Sanders then went off left tackle again, diving ahead for 6. On second down, Durant avoid getting sacked but threw away the ball. McDaniel then returned Milo’s punt back to the 43. Cornish then pounded the rock up the middle for 13. And then McDaniel picked up 10 more. Forzani grabbed a pass in the left flat good for 11 more. After Cornish gained 5 on s rush, West picked up another first down but the drive stalled and the Stamps had to settle for another Paredes field goal to cut the lead to 27-16. Starting from the 35, Sheets was only able to pick up 1 off left tackle as the Riders went two n’ out again. Milo boomed a long punt that Coker retrieved but Coker appeared to have suffered a leg cramp on the return and went down like a ton of bricks.  The Stamps faced a third-and-8 after McDaniel caught a pass at the right sideline. On the play, Eddie Russ suffered a right leg injury and needed to be helped to the sideline. Lewis then caught a pass over the middle and rumbled down to the 40. West followed up with an 8-yard catch and run. Cornish then gained 5 to the 24 and Bryant caught a pass over the middle to the 12. On the next play, Glenn fired a strike to McDaniel in the front of the end zone for the touchdown. The Stamps then went for two and Glenn found Bryant in the right corner to make it 27-24. Jackson then conceded the single on Paredes’ kickoff. On first down, Sanders took a pass out of the backfield for a first down at the 49. Getzlaf gained nine more on second down on a pass over the middle. Milo punted out on third down and short and 1:56 remaining on the clock. Bryant gained 7 on first down and then the Stamps elected to go for it on third-and-3. Glenn’s pass was broken up by Butler and Calgary turned over the ball on downs. Stamps rushed for 6 on first down. Sheets then rushed for no gain, setting up a 37-yard field goal by DeAngelis, which was good and gave the Riders a 30-25 lead with less than a minute left to go. The Stamps started out at their 35, where Lewis gained 7. The Riders’ Odell Willis was then hit with a roughing the passer call that gave the Stamps another life. Glenn then threw an incomplete pass but took a wicked hit on the play by Willis and had to come out of the game. Mitchell entered at quarterback and his first pass down the field was incomplete. On the last play of the game, Mitchell heaved a desperation toss downfield and was knocked harmlessly away and the Riders came away with the hard-fought victory.