The bad spell is over.

Luca Congi booted six field goals and Kerry Joseph ran for a score to help the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 33-21 victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Monday.

Saskatchewan’s Andy Fantuz, left, comes down with the ball as Calgary’s Shannon James, middle, and Brian Clark tackle him during the second quarter.
(Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

The win was Saskatchewan’s first in the regular season in Calgary since the 2004 CFL campaign.

Calgary (6-7-1), losers of three straight, remain in third place in the West Division, five points behind second-place Saskatchewan (9-5) with four games left in the season. The B.C. Lions, the only team in the league to have earned a playoff berth, lead the division with a 10-3-1 record.

Monday’s victory gives the Roughriders a decided advantage over the Stampeders in the battle for second place and the right to host the West Division semifinal. The Roughriders haven’t hosted a playoff game in Regina since 1988.

“We’ve got a two-game winning streak going into the final third of the season and hopefully we can continue to carry the momentum,” Saskatchewan receiver D.J. Flick told the CFL on CBC after the game.

With star quarterback Henry Burris still sidelined with a shoulder injury, Akili Smith started against Saskatchewan but was pulled at the start of the third quarter following an ineffective first half that saw him complete just four of 12 passes for 42 yards. 

Ben Sankey came on in relief of Smith and posted decent numbers: 19-of-26 passing, 262 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

Burris told the CFL on CBC he could return for next week’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Saskatchewan quarterback Kerry Joseph had a strong game, completing 19 of 25 passes for 290 yards. Joseph also ran for 83 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries.

Flick caught six passes for 157 yards for the Roughriders.

“They left a lot of zones open, and it was just a matter of finding those and getting the ball and making plays,” Flick said.

After a quiet first quarter, the Roughriders suddenly came alive and took a 22-7 lead into halftime on the strength of five Congi field goals (37, 27, 41, 31, and 37 yards) and a short touchdown run by Joseph midway through the second quarter.

“It was a matter of getting a feel for what they were doing defensively and then making our adjustments after that,” Flick said of Saskatchewan’s slow start.

Calgary got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Markus Howell returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown.

On the Stampeders first possession of the second half, Sankey impressively marched his team downfield and completed a five-play drive with a 30-yard touchdown strike to Nik Lewis.

After the teams traded turnovers, Saskatchewan regrouped and running back Corey Holmes scored on a four-yard run late in the quarter to restore the Roughriders’ 15 point lead.

Undaunted, Calgary fought back and Sankey put together an efficient, eight-play drive that climaxed with a 50-yard touchdown throw down the middle of the field to a wide open Ken-Yon Rambo.

Congi added a single and another field goal from 42 yards late in fourth quarter to seal the win for Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan can clinch a playoff berth when it visits the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Oct 14. Calgary hosts Winnipeg the same day.

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Tags: Roughriders, corral, Stampeders

Posted on June 24th, 2007 by Klaus Roe
Filed under: Fun and Games