Roughriders lose 37-10 to Stampeders in West Division clash

After two impressive showings, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo’s performance faltered Saturday night as the team was defeated by the Calgary Stampeders 37-10 at Mosaic Stadium.

“I don’t think (as a team) we can say we did everything we could to try and win this game tonight,” Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said following the loss. “I felt like we came out a little flat, I don’t think we were very physical and I don’t think we sprinted to the football like we should on defence. We can control all those (aspects); that has nothing to do with talent.”

In the battle of the backup quarterbacks, Stampeders quarterback Nick Arbuckle reigned supreme in his first CFL start.

Arbuckle was extremely efficient with the football, completing 19 of 22 pass attempts for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Arbuckle was given the start after Bo Levi Mitchell — the 2018 CFL most outstanding player — was placed on the six-game injured list earlier in the week due to a pectoral injury.

Dickenson said he doesn’t believe the team underestimated Arbuckle coming into the game.

“I think we knew he was a good player and he showed it again tonight,” Dickenson said. “Every time (Arbuckle) gets in, he does that so I’m not surprised.”

Fajardo threw for 790 yards over his first two starts after quarterback Zach Collaros suffered a concussion on June 13 in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Despite the recent success, Fajardo struggled against the Stampeders’ defence.

Fajardo and the offence couldn’t find a rhythm early, only earning 73 yards of total offence during the first half. Fajardo finished the game completing nine of 15 passes for 89 yards and two interceptions. He did have a one-yard rushing touchdown.

Fajardo said the Stampeders’ defence made him feel uncomfortable early in the game.

“(Calgary) was just hungry. Any way you cut the cake, you put that game on me,” Fajardo said. “I came out and definitely underperformed. I turned the ball over twice which is a no-no in this league and I scrambled a little bit when I didn’t have to.”

Fajardo said even the best quarterbacks in the world have rough games.

“My confidence isn’t shaken at all,” Fajardo said. “I just had a rough night and it wasn’t my night tonight.”

He said the biggest thing the offence can take away from a big loss is that it has to be better on first down.

“The good news is it’s a long season. We’ve still got a lot of football left,” Fajardo said. “It’s not like we just lost and are out of the playoffs. We still have a lot of football (left) to get better and re-evaluate ourselves but we’ve got to be better on first downs and that starts with me finding completions early.”

While Fajardo said he was to blame for the loss, Dickenson said football is a team game and no one player is to blame.

“(Fajardo’s) trying to take one for the offence and I appreciate that but the reality is this is a team game and this one’s on all of us,” Dickenson said. “He’s a competitive kid and he wants to take responsibility for it but the reality is it’s on all of us.”

Receiver Naaman Roosevelt also said the entire team needs to play better.

“(Fajardo’s) our leader now, he’s the guy in the meetings talking,” Roosevelt said. “A loss like that we all didn’t do what we needed to do so we know we have to get back to coming out there and executing on all cylinders.”

Roosevelt finished the game with five catches for 66 yards.

Fajardo was pulled in the fourth quarter after throwing a pick-six to Stampeders cornerback Tre Roberson. Roberson finished the night with two picks and leads the CFL with five interceptions through four weeks.

Rookie Isaac Harker completed nine of 13 passes for 72 yards and one interception in a relief effort.

Arbuckle threw TD passes to Reggie Begelton (76 yards) and Eric Rogers (19 yards), while Ka’Deem Carey (two yards) added a TD run. Rogers had a two-point convert for the Stampeders, who got three field goals and two converts from Rene Paredes.

Rookie Gabriel Ferraro kicked one field goal and one convert for the Roughriders.

Linebacker Solomon Elimimian made his first start for the Roughriders after dealing with a calf injury suffered during training camp.

“Obviously you want to get the win but I don’t think any of us are in mid-season form,” Elimimian said. “(We’ve) just got to keep working and it’s a great time for a bye week. Obviously it’s tough going into a bye week on a loss but (we’ve) just got to get away from football but still keep that conditioning and study film.”

The 10-year CFL veteran praised the play of Arbuckle.

“He played good and I think I’ve said it before, it’s the unknown that worries you (as a defence),” Elimimian said. “Every new player wants to go out there and establish himself and put on a show. We all know how we were our first year, we were all hungry.”

Elimimian finished with five defensive tackles. He also was called for defensive pass interference that extended a Stampeders’ drive in the first quarter.

The Roughriders were called for six penalties that handed the Stampeders 85 yards.

“Penalties kind of hurt us big time and I think if we eliminate those, it will be a different outcome,” Elimimian said.

The Roughriders head into the bye week sitting at 1-3. The team will be looking to get healthy after losing a few more players in Saturday’s game.

The receiver group was the most decimated in the game, with Shaq Evans, Cory Watson and Carlos Henderson all getting banged up.

Defensive end Lavar Edwards also suffered an injury.

“Four hard-fought games and now it’s time to take a little breath and get our bodies right,” Roosevelt said. “We’re all excited to relax for a little bit. I know we’re trying to get back to work but just for now to relax and get our minds focused.”

The team was missing cornerback Nick Marshall (ankle), wide receiver KD Cannon (groin) and kicker Brett Lauther (groin) in Saturday’s game after picking up injuries the week before.

It was the first time in CFL history two brothers met as head coaches of opposing teams, with Calgary’s Dave Dickenson getting the win.

As the Roughriders enjoy some time off, the 2-1 Stampeders will begin to prepare for a game against the East Division-leading Tiger-Cats (3-1).