The Saskatchewan Roughriders' running attack has been absent all season long with the team going over 100 yards just once this season going into last Sunday's game against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Riders ended up rushing for 146 yards as a team in their 26-23 overtime win against the Eskimos, giving the team a much more balanced look offensively.
Running back Curtis Steele toted the rock for a game-high 87 yards on 13 carries in his first game action since Week 4.
“My o-line did a good job of giving me some holes, I just pressed the line of scrimmage and made cuts off their blocks, they did a pretty good job,” said Steele after the win.
“Getting the carries that I got today was pretty good. I have fresh legs and I’m glad everything worked out the way it did.”
Quarterback Darian Durant got in on the action as well with 61 yards on five carriers, including a six-yard touchdown run in overtime to win the game.
He said their balanced really contributed to the win.
“Whenever you can be balanced, you’re unpredictable and teams don’t know what’s coming at them,” said Durant. “Having Curtis back was a huge boost for us, short yardage situations, we don’t have to throw all the time, it’s not on me all the time to make a play.
“This is what we brought him in for, to carry that load in the run game and he did a hell of a job.”
The Riders’ previous season high for yards in a game was 120 in Week 8 against Calgary and before last week’s game their season average was 55 yards per game.
They’re still looking for their first 100-yard rusher of the season, but Steele’s return should help the team get closer to breaking the century mark more often.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to help out this team in a good way... I was anxious to get out there and had a good game, so can’t complain,” said Steele.
The Riders will try to continue this trend as they prepare to host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats coming up on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.
Tue, May 14, 1:00 PM
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