Riders drop sixth straight game after blowing lead to Calgary

The Saskatchewan Roughriders dropped yet another game to the Calgary Stampeders on a chilly night at McMahon Stadium.

The Stamps were able to come back from a 13-0 deficit to win 26-19 — extending the Riders’ losing streak to six straight.

Riders quarterback Jake Dolegala threw for 272 yards and an interception. He also completed 23 of 33 passes.

Calgary’s quarterback Jake Maier went 17-for-29 and threw for 184 yards and a touchdown.

Despite losing the game, the Riders were able to outpace the Stamps in offensive yardage, managing 378 net yards of offence to Calgary’s 208.

“I’m disappointed for the men in the room, they really came out with great energy and great emotion and I felt like they deserved better,” said Riders head coach Craig Dickenson.

Saskatchewan’s CFL playoff chances are now out of their hands. In order to qualify for playoffs, the Riders would either need Calgary to lose both of their remaining games or have one fewer victory than Saskatchewan over the final two weeks.

Though the Riders commanded an early lead they seemed to get in their own way throughout the game as they gave up six turnovers.

Riders running back Jamal Morrow showed off his shiftiness running for 86 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Morrow also had 32 receiving yards on four catches.

Morrow praised Saskatchewan’s defence as well as the Riders’ first-half offensive performance despite being disappointed in the result.

“I think throughout the whole game we played together, played physical and I think the major turning point was turnovers,” Morrow said. “You take those away, I believe we win this game.”

Riders receiver Shawn Bane Jr. had seven catches for 103 yards which led the team.

Luther Hakunavanhu led Calgary with 47 receiving yards on two snags. Stamps running back Ka’Deem Carey caught five passes for 45 yards.

On defence, Stamps linebacker Cam Judge flew around making plays all over the field, including a third-quarter pick-six that gave Calgary their first lead of the game. He finished the game with nine tackles. Judge also brought down Dolegala on a late fourth-quarter scramble to seal the game.

Stamps linebacker Micah Awe led the team with 13 tackles.

The Riders’ secondary had a solid performance throughout the game and had several key pass breakups from defensive backs C.J. Reavis and Nic Marshall. Reavis and linebacker Micah Teitz finished the game with five tackles each which was a team-high.

Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker, centre, gets away from Calgary Stampeders defensive back Brad Muhammad, right, as linebacker Cameron Judge looks on during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Saskatchewan’s front seven also had a strong performance as they were able to limit Calgary to just 36 total rushing yards. Carey was held to 32 yards on just 3.6 yards per carry.

“It’s not a good feeling right now knowing that we were in control and we let it slip away,” said Riders linebacker Larry Dean.

Both teams started out shaky offensively. Although the Riders’ offence began to pick up some momentum towards the end of the first quarter, both teams ended the quarter scoreless.

Kicker Ryan Meskell put Saskatchewan on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 34-yard field goal. Meskell was filling in for kicker Brett Lauther who did not play due to an illness. Meskell would go on to finish the game 4-for-4 on field goal attempts in addition to hitting a point after.

Calgary’s offence was marred by numerous drops and stalled drives in the first half. In the second quarter, the Riders were able to string together a strong drive capped off by Morrow’s 11-yard touchdown run.

A 42-yard catch from Bane Jr. helped set up a 38-yard field goal from Meskell which gave the Riders a 13-0 lead late in the second quarter.

After a Calgary 2-and-out, the Riders chose to concede a safety after a failed drive of their own which put the Stamps on the board for the first time.

“It was a tough call for me at that point, I felt like they were going to take the ball. I didn’t think they’d make us kick off so that was part of it and the wind was really blowing at the time, like really blowing so that’s why I elected to do it,” Dickenson said.

Calgary was able to set up a 44-yard René Paredes field goal to make it a 13-5 ball game.

Midway through the third quarter, Riders returner Mario Alford fumbled the ball which was recovered by Calgary in Rider territory.

Maier seized the opportunity by finding receiver Floyd Allen in the endzone.

Calgary took control late in the third after Dolega’s pick-six to Judge.

“The turnover by Mario hurt us because it gave them a touchdown and got it close, the pick-six all of a sudden we’re trailing now,” Dickenson said.

“Those two plays I felt like were the turning points. I don’t know if one was worse than the other but those two hurt us.”

Meskell hit another field goal to tie the game up making it 19-19 with more than 12 minutes left to play in the fourth.

Calgary’s offence started to come alive in the fourth quarter. Maier found Hakunavanhu on a 37-yard pass that set up a goal-line rushing touchdown from quarterback Tommy Stevens.

Dolegala and the Riders were unable to mount a comeback and the 6’7″ pivot was brought down by Judge while scrambling on Saskatchewan’s last offensive possession with 40 seconds left in the game.