Riders bounce back with 30-16 win over Argos
After back-to-back losses to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan’s only defeats of the season, the Riders improved to 4-2 with a 30-16 win over the visiting Toronto Argonauts on Friday.
In their two losses against Winnipeg, Riders quarterback Cody Fajardo had a 60 percent completion rate and threw four interceptions. In the first three outings of the season, the quarterback was passing at a rate of 78 percent and had thrown four touchdowns.
“It was a long two weeks for me. I went to every single person in that locker room and I just thanked them because this was really big for me,” Fajardo, who completed 21 of 31 passes, threw two touchdowns and rushed for one, said. “It was a big win to get my confidence back most importantly.”
Last Saturday in Winnipeg, Fajardo left the game midway through for concussion protocol. During Friday’s game versus Toronto at Mosaic Stadium, the quarterback was sacked twice.
“I got beat up pretty good in this game, but I usually get beat up pretty much in every game. I got some scratches and bruises. That one in the end zone I got hit in the McNuggets, that was probably the worst hit of them all,” Fajardo said.
Canadian Kian Schaffer-Baker had 99 receiving yards and scored his first CFL touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give Saskatchewan a 24-9 lead over Toronto.
“The kids a stud, he belongs in this league,” Fajardo said. “He’s a rookie. I told him there’s no need to think you’re a rookie, you’re a veteran as the weeks go on.”
The receiver was selected in the fourth round of the CFL draft in 2020 by the Riders and has been impressive in his rookie season. Schaffer-Baker has caught 21 of 25 balls targeted at him in four games, collecting 256 yards in the process.
“When you throw him a two-yard route and he takes it for a 20-yard touchdown, breaking 30 tackles, it feels pretty good as a quarterback,” Fajardo said. “You want to get him the ball more. I just wish I knew he had 99 yards I would have found a way to get him one more yard.”
Saskatchewan’s defence stopped the Argos offence at a pivotal moment.
At the end of the second quarter, Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle had three chances within five yards of the goal line to lead the visitors into the end zone. With second and goal, Riders linebacker Micah Teitz stopped Arbuckle who was attempting a quarterback sneak.
Toronto then called a three-minute timeout. Then with third down and goal, Teitz once again stopped the rush, tackling John White.
“It was a huge stop on the field,” defensive lineman Micah Johnson said. “It’s all about will when it comes to those kinds of plays. It was in our favour, guys had a lot of heart out there tonight and did everything they could to keep them out of the end zone in that play.”
The Riders were without regular defensive starters defensive backs Ed Gainey (toe) and Mike Edem (wrist), as well as defensive lineman Garrett Marino (knee).
Johnson said in the week leading up to the game, the defence stayed unified.
“Super proud. Guys never gave in, kept on fighting. We knew we were going to have adversity coming into the game when you’re down the amount of players you’re down: that’s adversity in itself. All week we were preaching just stay together. Guys did that,” Johnson said.
The Riders had a front-heavy home schedule, playing five of their six first games at Mosaic Stadium. However, only two of their final eight regular-season games will be on the road.
Johnson says capitalizing on home-field advantage wasn’t top of mind for the Riders, but it was a factor.
“It’s more so about protecting your house,” Johnson said. “Any time you have a home game you want to come out and win it. Especially with the fan base we have.”
The Riders will face the B.C Lions, who they beat 33-29 in the season opener, on Sep. 24th in Vancouver, BC.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.