Riders beat Als 19-14 to clinch playoff spot

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have punched their ticket to the CFL postseason after beating the Montreal Alouettes 19-14 on Saturday.

The Riders’ win combined with the B.C. Lions’ 31-29 overtime loss to the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday and the Edmonton Elks’ 39-23 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday mean the Riders have clinched a spot in the playoffs.

“(It was) an ugly win offensively speaking, but I’ve always been told my entire life not to apologize for victories, especially when you clinch (a playoff spot),” Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo said. “All we need is a chance — I keep telling the guys that. Now we want to play for a higher seed and it’s nice to know that we control our own destiny.”

Fajardo said the Riders had put the Lions’ game onto the Jumbotron at Percival Molson Stadium and the team got to see the Lions fail on a potential game-tying two-point convert in overtime.

“It kind of gave us some juice,” he said. “I don’t know if it gave us enough juice because we came out flat offensively speaking but we found a way to win, we clinched a spot in the playoffs and it feels good to know we’re going to be playing an extra game at the end of the season.”

But while the offence sputtered to get much going in the first half, the Riders’ defence dug its heels in and didn’t allow Montreal to take control.

The Riders only gave up three points in the first half and, just before halftime, safety Loucheiz Purifoy intercepted Alouettes quarterback Matthew Shiltz. That set up the Riders for a 59-yard drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown run from running back William Powell.

Powell finished the game with 30 rushing yards as well as four catches for 40 yards, making him the Riders’ top receiver in the game.

The Riders lead the league with 14 interceptions through 11 games this season.

Fajardo moved to 3-0 against Montreal as a starter. He completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 158 yards.

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ safety Loucheiz Purifoy (5) breaks away from the Montreal Alouettes offence after intercepting a pass during first half CFL football action against on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)

Saskatchewan’s defence proved once again why it’s one of the league’s top units, holding CFL rushing leader William Stanback to 80 yards on the ground.

“It was fun being out here with the guys and rallying to the ball. It’s always a good time,” said defensive tackle Anthony Lanier II, who had two tackles for loss on Stanback.

The defence held Shiltz to 106 yards passing on seven completions on 13 attempts.

Quarterback Trevor Harris came into the game at the end of the third quarter and threw Montreal’s only touchdown — a strike to wide receiver Eugene Lewis. Harris finished the game with 12 completions on 15 attempts for 123 yards and a touchdown.

The Riders’ defence also forced three turnovers on downs in the game.

Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson gave the defenders a glowing review following their performance.

“(They were) outstanding,” Dickenson said. “Turnovers are what we talk about all the time — take the ball away when they get it and let’s protect it when we’ve got it and it’s paying off.

“The reality is we’re not playing great in any phase of the game, but we’re protecting the ball and I think that’s what’s giving us a chance to win.

“I know we can play better on offence and in the kicking game — I know that. Defensively, I think we can play better but the nice thing is we’re taking the ball away. I’ve got to tip my hat to those guys, the coaches and the players. They really were the key for us winning this game.”

While the Alouettes’ defenders weren’t able to force turnovers from the Saskatchewan offence, their presence was felt by Fajardo. He was sacked three times in the first half and six times overall in the game.

“It never feels good to get hit but I’ve got all the faith in the world in the offensive line. They’re trying to figure it out and Montreal’s defence is incredibly good at rushing the passer,” Fajardo said.

Montreal’s defence has 44 sacks on the year, good for first in the CFL.

“We knew I was going to have to get hit this week,” Fajardo said.

The Riders may have lost one of their more consistent threats on offence, though. Slotback Kyran Moore injured a knee in the game and his status for future games is now in doubt.

“He got hurt in the first half and we were told at halftime he would be out for the game. I think they are waiting to look at him when we get home,” Dickenson said. “We’re not optimistic. His knee was stiffening up pretty good so it’s something that’s probably going to keep him out a few weeks, possibly even more.”

Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther was perfect on the night in his field-goal attempts, going 4-for-4. Alouettes kicker David Cote was good on both of his field-goal attempts.

Special teams was an area for the Riders that had a lot of eyes on it with the apparent season-ending injury to punter Jon Ryan. In his first CFL game, Riders punter Kaare Vedvik averaged 43.9 yards on eight punts.

“I’d give him a passing grade. I think Kaare could do better and I think he knows that. We kept it simple for him — just step towards to where we want you to punt and don’t get a punt blocked and he did that,” Dickenson said. “He gave us a chance. We’ve got to continue to work on our no-yards (penalties).”

The Riders (7-4) will now have back-to-back games against the Elks (2-8) with a game in Edmonton on Friday.

“It’s going to be a challenge, especially since we’ve got to go on the road again and it being a short week,” Fajardo said. “I think the guys are excited about it sitting at 7-4 and knowing that we control our own destiny.

“I think we’re just really excited for the opportunity at hand to go out there and continue to get better and fine-tune our offence to get us better and getting on a roll heading into the playoffs.”