Riders crush the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 30-8 victory

The Saskatchewan Roughriders cruised to a 30-8 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night while losing an important piece of the offence in the process.

The game started with the Riders showing their strengths in the passing game with quarterback Cody Fajardo throwing an 18-yard laser to Shaq Evans, before connecting with Kyran Moore for a 33-yard reception two plays later — which would then be called back for an offside penalty.

Costly penalties would be a theme for the Riders all night, with offside being the poison of choice.

Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson says the team will need to be more disciplined moving forward.

“The guys are going to hear about it; there was too many (penalties),” Dickenson said. “If we don’t play good on both sides of the ball we’re going to lose the game because of it.”

The Riders would end the game with 20 penalties for 187 yards.

The Tiger-Cats got on the scoreboard first after Joel Whitford booted a 58-yard punt into the Riders’ end zone with less than five minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Riders would answer in the second quarter when Fajardo galloped for a 14-yard touchdown.

“Felt like I was running forever,” Fajardo said about his first rushing touchdown of the year. “The only negative from that play is that we lost Shaq when he got rolled up on there.

“That’s the toughest thing. When you score and you lose your all-star receiver, it’s kind of bittersweet.”

Evans left the game in the second quarter. Dickenson says the team is “hopeful” nothing is broken, but noted there wasn’t an update on Evans’ injury.

Penalties would continue to plague the Riders throughout the game.

Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli drove his team down the field after the Riders’ score, getting his offence down to the Riders’ one-yard line before getting sacked and fumbling the ball with receiver Tim White falling on the loose ball on the 10-yard line.

What was then supposed to be a third and long for the Cats turned into first and goal after a Riders offside penalty negated the big defensive play.

Masoli would not be stopped again, powering his way into the end zone on the next play before the Ti-Cats made it an 8-7 game.

The Riders’ offence would bounce back with Brett Lauther punching in a 19-yard field goal.

It wouldn’t take long for the Green and White to get another chance to get points on the board after defensive lineman Jonathan Woodard sacked Masoli inside the Tiger-Cats’ 10-yard line, causing him to fumble the ball.

The Riders’ offence would make the most of the great field position after Fajardo connected with hometown receiver Mitchell Picton for his first CFL touchdown.

Dickenson had high praise for the local product, saying Picton’s performance on the field is a reflection of the work he has been putting in.

“Guys love Picton. They want him to do well because they know how much it means to him,” Dickenson said. “He’s putting in the work and now you’re seeing the results.

“He has shown that he can play for us and that he can contribute. I’m real proud of him.”

The Roughriders went into halftime with a 17-8 lead, along with a whopping 12 penalties compared to the Ti-Cats’ two.

The second half was dominated by the Riders, as the team began to pull away.

Woodard recorded his third sack of the night before linebacker A.J. Hendy intercepted Masoli on the following play.

Fajardo then drove the ball down the field, connecting with Moore for a touchdown after the eight-play, 91-yard drive.

It would not take long for the Riders to reach the scoreboard once again, either.

The defensive dominance continued, with cornerback Blace Brown making an extremely difficult interception on an overthrown Masoli pass.

Three plays later, Lauther kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Green and White a 27-8 lead.

Lauther added another field goal from 41 yards out for the final points of the game.

The Riders ended the game with six sacks — Woodard’s three, two by A.C. Leonard and one by Gary Johnson Jr.

For Woodard, Saturday night’s game was a special one.

“This is the best game I’ve ever had,” Woodard said about his performance. “I’m just going to really take the time to really soak it in and just enjoy it.”

Fajardo finished the night completing 17 of 25 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, as well as seven rushes for 66 yards and one touchdown.

The Roughriders are now 2-0 and are tied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-0) for first place in the West Division.

Fajardo and the Riders will look to make their record 3-0 when they host the Ottawa Redblacks (1-0) on Aug. 21.

Notes: Linebacker Nigel Harris left the game with an undisclosed injury after laying a big hit on special teams.