If you’re keeping score at home, that’s Darian Durant one, Chris Jones zero.
A jubilant Durant could be seen shouting, jumping and celebrating after Tyler Crapigna missed a last-second game-winning field goal from 44 yards out.
All week Durant stressed that it was just another game for him, Saskatchewan was in the way of another win, but in the heat of his post-game celebration, he admitted the win was “so sweet” and even suggested he had a higher power on his side.
“The football gods they always come through in the end, and those were the football gods that pushed that ball right because they know that what happened wasn’t supposed to happen that way,” he told TSN after the game.
But Chris Jones attributed the 17-16 to something else: Penalties.
“When you take 21 penalties and you have three turnovers it's hard to beat anybody,” he said after the game.
And he did not take any comfort in the fact that game was close.
“Close is not good enough, you either win or lose a ball game and there’s no consolation prizes for one-point losses.”
It’s not the missed field goal, however, that has people scratching their heads, it’s a call that he made when the team was in a position to score.
After setting up a drive into the red zone, Roughrider quarterback Kevin Glenn was pulled in favour of back-up quarterback Brandon Bridge.
The Riders had marched down to the Alouettes' 13-yard line when Bridge was called into action. He was unable to get the touchdown, the Roughriders settled for a go-ahead field goal.
Jones said he called on Bridge because he ran a play for the position they were in.
“We ran our wildcat play and then there was a play we had specifically for him for the second down as well,” he explained.
Unfortunately, after getting the ball back with seven minutes left the Alouettes offence gambled on third and one. Durant handed the ball off to B.J. Cunningham who ran 20 more yards than necessary and was brought down on a horse-collar tackle that put Montreal on the Riders 13-yard line.
An incomplete pass to Tyrell Sutton left the Alouettes to settle for a field goal themselves, but it would turn out to be the game-winner.
With two minutes left on the clock, Glenn marched offence down the field once more, setting Tyler Crapigna up for the game-winning field, but he missed from 44 yards out sealing the win for Darian Durant and his new team.
But it was not a dominant performance by either team as evidenced by the 17-16 final score. It may have given Durant bragging rights overall, but both teams fought to shake off game one rust and find their groove.
That rust was definitely there during the first quarter. Durant was able to get the Alouettes into field goal range but Boris Bede missed from 45 yards out leaving the first frame scoreless.
It took until late in the second quarter for the first blood to be drawn. After a four-yard run, Durant found B.J. Cunningham deep in the Roughrider zone for the first touchdown of the game. A beautiful long bomb, right on the money to put the Alouettes up 7-0.
But the Roughriders would respond with Kevin Glenn putting together an impressive 83-yard drive that ended with a close-call touchdown.
Glenn found an open Bakari Grant, who scampered 14 yards, but was stripped near the goal line. The play was reviewed, but not reversed. Crapigna kicked the point after, tying the game at seven with about 90 seconds left in the half.
The Alouettes offence was unable to get a first down to hold onto the ball, giving the Riders another shot with the football with a minute left in the half.
Glenn with the help of a 33 yard catch by Nic Demski got the team into field goal range. Crapigna was good from 35 yards out to make it 10-7 going into halftime.
The Alouettes offence came out sharp in the third period getting back on the board with a march down field – aided by a Durant scramble and solid catch and run by Nik Lewis – before Durant throws a 12-yard pass to Ernest Jackson in the end zone.
The point after gave the Alouettes a one point lead.
Until the third, the game was devoid of turnovers, but late in the quarter and into the fourth the Riders and Alouettes traded them.
First, Cameron Marshall lost the ball on a run and Montreal recovered, but not long after, Nik Lewis lost the ball and the Riders recovered giving the Riders a second chance on the Montreal 45, but Glenn is intercepted by Jonathan Mincy.
Glenn would end the game 31 of 44 with 298 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Durant went 20 of 31 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The game would also be a breakout performance for third year Rider, Demski who was the Riders top receiver with 7 catches for 87 yards.
The Riders will look to bounce back at their home (and stadium) opener in Regina on July 1.
More to come…
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