ROUGHRIDERS SHOCK DEFENDING CFL CHAMPION STAMPEDERS

The Saskatchewan Roughriders snapped a two game losing streak as they outlasted the defending Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders by a 24-23 on Saturday night.  Riders’ backup receiver Chris Getzlaf caught two TD passes as Saskatchewan erased a 23-17 deficit on the Stamps’ home field.  With the victory, Saskatchewan improved to 3-2 straight up on the season, while Calgary dropped to 2-3.

Much of the talk around the CFL this week had been centered on the recent dominant form of the Stampeders.  After dropping their first two games this season they had won their next two in overwhelming fashion by a combined score of 92-19.  Saskatchewan had done the opposite, winning their first two games before dropping two straight due in large part to a horrible defensive performance—the Rough Riders’ stop unit gave up a total of 92 points in losses to Edmonton and Montreal.
 
Underdog players who backed Saskatchewan as +9’ road underdogs were rewarded with the victory, while the combined 47 points went well under the posted total of 61.  Over the past few CFL seasons, betting on the Rough Riders away from home has been a ‘license to print money’—with today’s win Saskatchewan is on a 15-5 ATS run in road contests.   They’ve now won and covered both of their road games this year, with their ATS mark standing at 3-2.  Calgary dropped to 3-2 against the spread this season.
 
Getzlaf—the older brother of NHL All Star Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks—was in the lineup due to an injury to starter Andy Fantuz.  In his postgame comments he praised his teammate before discussing his good chemistry with QB Darian Durant on the game winning TD catch:

"You have to set the bar really high in order to replace him.  Me and double D were on the same page. He threw it up, so I just ran a post to the middle of the field. This is definitely the biggest touchdown I've ever got in the CFL."

Durant finished with three TD passes and commended his team’s character in gutting out the road victory after two straight losses:

"This is a huge win for us after two losses. This team showed character."

Roughriders’ coach Ken Miller was also effusive in his praise of Durant and the offensive line:

"He managed the ball well. You have to give the offensive line credit as they gave him great protection.”

Stampeders’ QB Henry Burris suggested that his team’s lack of focus and carless mistakes resulted in the loss:

"We had ample opportunities. We played poorly enough to give the game away and that's what happened."

The Stampeders will travel to Edmonton for a game next Thursday looking to get back to the .500 mark on the season.  Saskatchewan will hit the road as well, facing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night.