Bomber fans threaten surge into Riderville this weekend!

The Riders for their part snapped a two-game losing streak with a 28-24 win over Toronto with a lineup sapped by injuries and practice squad players being called upon to make plays. The Riders started last week with a team meeting where Head Coach Cory Mace talked about the team need to play with discipline and show some intensity on the field.

The Riders were facing Chad Kelly who apparently had not lost to the Riders as a starting quarterback. This year Kelly not just throws what seems like an average of four touchdowns a game, he also is capable of throwing four interceptions in the same game as Toronto seems to have abandoned its running game at some fire station.

Toronto struck first and took advantage of the middle of the Rider secondary. The Riders continued going through growing pains with their receiving corps which is trying to get accustomed to Trevor Harris’ timing.

Just before the end of the first half, the Argos had scored a touchdown to go up 22-7, but the point after convert was blocked and returned for two points by Marcus Sayles. Then the Riders took the kickoff and got into position for a 55-yard field goal to make the score 22-12 at halftime.

The second half was all Saskatchewan except for a safety given up by the Riders. The Riders had to be pleased with the performance of Daniel Wiebe who is reminding people of Weston Dressler due to his quickness and seemingly unreal ability to break the play for a touchdown whenever he gets his hands on the ball.

The Riders can thank the Argos special teams for the win, especially in the fourth quarter when the Riders got the Argos to go offside on a hard count on a short field goal. The Argo gaffe led to a Rider first down and then touchdown to clinch the game.

The performance of the Riders defense also helped stiffen the defensive secondary and the defensive line is playing better than one might think in putting pressure on Kelly.

This helped because the Argos apparently have no running game, except when they go to Taco Bell. The Bombers on the other hand do have a running game and they will be as physical as possible in running the ball. Of course the Bombers would not be the Bombers if their physical play didn’t result in injuries to their opponents so the Riders are going to have the extra touches the Bombers are going to bring.

This is the one game of the year where you can throw out the stats before kickoff. The Riders don’t like the Bombers and the Bombers like to pretend the Riders did not win the Grey Cup in the tool shed known as Princess Otto.

These two games are crucial for both teams for the Riders to climb back into contention for first place and the Bombers are hoping to slide into a playoff spot. With a 7-4 record the Riders are looking to move into a tie for first with Edmonton and stay two games ahead of the Bombers.

So expect an emotional and physical game and at the end watch for the Riders to get a walk off field goal from Alan Hale as the Riders post a 29-26 win.

The BC Lions avoided the distinction of being the first team to lose to the Ottawa Redblacks by swamping them 45-24. The Redblacks may have scored the first touchdown in the game, but they have not figured out how to win and let the Lions back in to claim the W.

The Lions now go to Montreal to meet the Alouettes who were not pleased with how they were physically molested by Winnipeg and with Alexander hobbling about with a calf injury. Alexander says he will play and Montreal is so far ahead of the eastern division they are going to have problems staying motivated although a home and home with the Riders later in the season will probably focus them.

BC is riding a winning streak but is facing an opponent who are convinced they are going to go back and win the Grey Cup. Montreal will use this game as a measuring stick against quality offenses and BC will find Montreal won’t be as easy as Ottawa and Montreal will emerge with a 30-28 win.

Calgary managed a bit of a surprise with a 28-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, especially with Jordon Love stepping in as quarterback over an injured Vernon Adams Jr. Love was an unknown quality but Hamilton probably felt their defense was be enough to bottle Love up until their offense could figure out how to move the ball.

Calgary has improved but inconsistency remains their biggest problem. This makes their Monday afternoon game against Edmonton more interesting because Edmonton is coming off a bye week are feeling positive about hosting a home playoff game or even a western final.

The Elk will be looking to remain in first, but you must wonder who Calgary will start at quarterback and what kind of game plan they will use. The odds are Calgary will rely on their running game and rely on their defensive line to keep the Elk’s Cody Fajardo trapped in the pocket and unable to roll out.

Not knowing which Calgary team will show up drives’ bettors crazy and fuels parity in the league. This Labor Day weekend, both teams want to make a statement to each other, their fans and the league and with that kind of animosity, look for Calgary to escape with a 31-30 win.

Toronto cut their kicker following the Rider game and now return to water-logged southern Ontario to meet their arch-rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The teams have split their games against each other this year and a win would give Toronto a two-game edge in the standings with Toronto having a game in hand.

A Hamilton win lifts them into a tie with Toronto and keeps them competitive with the west whose fifth-place team would be ranked second in the east. Toronto may have a few blatant flaws on their special teams, a few more on the defensive and offensive sides, but they are in better shape than Hamilton due to their strength at starting quarterback.

Kelly can throw deep and Hamilton can in theory throw deep, but not consistently so the ball comes down in the same area code as the receivers. Toronto has apparently never heard of a running game and Hamilton can run when Tre Ford gets pressured at quarterback. I suspect the Argos passing will be better than Hamilton’s rushing and Toronto will win a close one 29-27.

by Greg Urbanoski

Bomber fans threaten surge into Riderville this weekend!

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