Roughriders take first step of tough, unfamiliar climb

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Some brave and forgetful Saskatchewan Roughriders players doused head coach Corey Mace with green Gatorade following their 28-19 victory over the B.C. Lions on Saturday. He wasn’t particularly amused.

At least it wasn’t obsidian green. That stuff probably stains.

“(It felt) kind of like it did after the second game of the year,” Mace said during his postgame media scrum. “You know, a Gatorade shower, I’m not interested in those ones.

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“I know the intention’s really good though. The guys are happy and I’m happy for them, but we wanna save those ones.”

Mace’s initial dousing came early in the 2024 campaign following his first victory as a CFL head coach. Although he was understanding, he has now repeated a stern message for his players: Wait until it truly matters. The implication was to stay focused, that only winning the Grey Cup was worthy of such a celebration.

It’s been 11 years since the Roughriders last appeared in and won a Grey Cup.

To get into this year’s championship game in Vancouver on Nov. 17, they will have to visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday and upset the four-time Grey Cup qualifiers in a stadium where the Roughriders haven’t won since 2018.

Judging by their ability to bounce back after surrendering an opening-drive touchdown against B.C., the Roughriders seem capable of overcoming the loss of another offensive lineman (left tackle Trevor Reid) and following their coach’s advice.

They typically hang on his every word, every reaction, every mantra. Mace’s leadership skills were evident from his first day in charge, but as a defensive player and coach throughout his career this has been his first season as the head decision-maker.

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Calm on the sideline — even through a seven-game winless streak — Mace has been learning to wear the two hats (or toques) of a defensive co-ordinator/head coach. There were a couple of strategic missteps earlier this season, particularly when the Roughriders botched chances to score just before halftime of some games.

Lo and behold, the Roughriders found themselves leading B.C. 13-6 late in the second quarter of Saturday’s game and were poised to punt from their end zone into a strong wind. Or they could have conceded a safety and kicked off, giving the Lions another chance to score before intermission.

Mace elected to punt.

A no-yards penalty gave B.C. possession at Saskatchewan’s 22-yard line; three plays later Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a game-tying touchdown to Justin McInnis. It may have seemed like the wrong strategy, but two extra points would have made a difference in such a close game. Mace actually made the right call.

It also helped that Lions kicker Sean Whyte hit uprights on a convert and field goal, costing B.C. four points. Plus Adams, a mercurial quarterback who will likely be traded in the offseason to clear B.C.’s depth chart for Nathan Rourke, was intercepted three times.

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Saskatchewan’s defence led the CFL with 49 turnovers this season, so it’s not surprising three defensive backs came up with important plays.

It was redemptive for the interceptors — Marcus Sayles, who was cut by B.C. during training camp; Nelson Lokombo, who recovered from a torn Achilles to become Saskatchewan’s starting safety and hadn’t been too impactful before recording his first pick; and Rolan Milligan Jr., the West nominee for defensive player-of-the-year whose game-clinching contributions should have earned him player-of-the-year consideration.

While Saskatchewan’s defence clinched the victory, the execution of the offensive game plan was equally vital.

For the first time power-backs A.J. Ouellette and Ryquell Armstead were together in Saskatchewan’s lineup. Ouellette ran for two touchdowns — a 30-yarder and a one-yarder, when he switched backfield positions with quarterback Trevor Harris — and was occasionally spelled by Armstead.

The apparent devotion to a late-season running attack clearly set up Saskatchewan’s passing game.

Always accurate, Harris completed 26 of 33 passes for 279 yards with no interceptions and a 13-yard touchdown strike to Jerreth Sterns, with 11 minutes remaining and the wind at their backs. Harris followed with a two-point convert to KeeSean Johnson that put the Roughriders ahead 28-19.

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Being ahead nine points forces an opponent to score twice, a tougher task working into the wind.

The Roughriders got into that dominant situation because of Mace’s coaching decisions. He deferred his choice of ends to the fourth quarter, plus the two-point convert gave the Roughriders a magical nine-point lead that they retained with good offence, defence and special teams. Good coaching, too. Just don’t get him wet!

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