Greg Marshall got his first win as a CFL Head Coach

(Written by Marc Smith)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were tired of the negative talk going on around Rider Nation after their 0-3 start to the 2011 season, so they did something about it, coming away with a big 27-24 win in Montreal on Sunday.

 

It had been a rough week in Riderville following the 33-3 debacle in Hamilton to send the Green & White to their third straight loss to start the year, but the team responded with good week of practice and carried it over into a complete game against the Alouettes on their home turf.  

 

The 27-24 win was the Riders’ first at Percvil Molson Stadium since the 2007 season and avoided their first four-game winless streak to start a season in over a decade.

 

Quarterback Darian Durant looked more like the young CFL star in the making with an efficient and effective effort against an Als’ defence that had beaten him just two weeks before.  He went 14-for-20 with 177 yards and one touchdown, but more importantly zero interceptions after throwing three last week in Hamilton.

 

Something that had been missing for the Riders throughout the first three games was a consistent ground threat, but they had it against Montreal on Sunday -- picking up a 169 yards along the ground.  Durant led the way with 71 yards rushing on just seven carries, running back Wes Cates chipped in 69 yards and a TD and Hugh Charles got things started with 35 yards.

 

The Durant-to-Dressler connection finally found some electricity, hitting for a 75-yard major in the second quarter.  Dressler was the Riders’ top receiver with 85 yards.  Chris Getzlaf also had four catches for 51 yards.

 

Montreal had to go back to the drawing board in the first half when veteran QB Anthony Calvillo was knocked out of the game with an apparent concussion.  

 

Back-up Adrian McPherson did a good job of keeping the game close in the second half, but the Als offence was obviously limited without their future Hall-of-Fame pivot.  McPherson had 98 yards passing in the fill-in roll.  He also rushed for two touchdowns.

 

Eddie Johnson made sure Saskatchewan stayed close early on with 40 and 45-yard field goals and finished four-for-five on the day.

 

The game got crazy at the end with James Patrick getting his first interception of the year in the end zone on a pass to Jamal Richardson with under a minute to go.  Montreal didn’t have to wait to get the ball back however, as Charles fumbled the ball back right back and McPherson scrambled in for a score two plays later to pull the Alouettes within three.

 

Saskatchewan recovered the onside kick and held on their first win of the year.

 

It should be a more upbeat week of practice at Mosaic Stadium for the Riders now as they get set to host the Calgary Stampeders next Saturday in the first meeting of the season between the West Division rivals.