Huskies, Rams open Canada West football playoffs on road
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"The thing with the playoffs is every play gets amplified," said Huskies head coach Scott Flory.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t have an answer for the Alouettes in Montreal on Friday.
Saskatchewan was defeated handily by Montreal, losing 41-12 despite the fact the Als started their backup quarterback.
“They got us right from the opening bell,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game and it was all of that and more.
“It felt like they came out and really smashed us on that opening kickoff return and really physically got after us the whole game.”
To add to the Riders’ woes following the game, the status of quarterback Mason Fine is also in question. The 26-year-old pivot left the game in the second quarter with a leg injury after rushing the ball. Fine had been the starter for the Riders in four straight games after Trevor Harris suffered a knee injury.
“It’s a leg injury. We will know more from the doctors probably (Saturday),” Dickenson said.
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Dolegala throws a pass against the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 11, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
Jake Dolegala entered the game in Fine’s place, throwing for 107 yards with an interception. He did score the Riders’ only touchdown of the day, rushing the ball in from the one-yard line.
“It sucks for Mason to go down. You never want to see that happen — especially your boy,” Dolegala said. “He will be back before you know it. I don’t really know what’s going on with him but that’s my job being the backup. You have to be ready to step in at a moment’s notice.
“We have to do better as a unit, myself included. There are decisions that could be made quicker and trusting guys. Credit to Montreal’s defence, they did a really good job scheme-wise and execution-wise. They kind of had our number but that’s no excuse for the way I played and the way we played as a unit.”
Coming into the game, a lot of chatter was about quarterback Cody Fajardo and Als head coach Jason Maas facing the Riders for the first time since the two were not brought back after the 2022 season.
But Fajardo, who missed practice this week due to a shoulder injury, didn’t play so Caleb Evans started in his place.
Evans needed to complete only eight passes in the game, doing a lot of damage on the ground. Evans had 66 yards and two touchdowns rushing to go along with 149 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Linebacker Derrick Moncrief didn’t think the Als’ late quarterback change affected the Riders’ defensive game plan.
“We knew they were going to come in and run the football and try to control the clock,” Moncrief said. “They did that and we just didn’t execute tonight at the high level we should have.”
The Als’ ground attack racked up 186 yards thanks to 73 yards from Walter Fletcher and 47 yards and a touchdown from Jeshrun Antwi.
“We just couldn’t get those stops and those turnovers we needed,” Moncrief said. “They just started off hot and kept on rolling. It was just a momentum game and we just didn’t play our best ball tonight.
“Sometimes it happens like that. We’re going to bounce back next week.”
While the Riders didn’t use it as an excuse for their performance, the team also faced a short practice week to prepare for a road game in Montreal. Saskatchewan played Ottawa on Sunday — posting a 26-24 win over the Redblacks — and held only one full practice on Wednesday before a walkthrough and travelling on Thursday.
“It didn’t help us, but the way they played, it would be a reach to say (the short week) was the reason we got beat,” Dickenson said. “We have to get a lot better in a lot of different ways and we have to work hard this next week to try to have a good bounce-back game.”
The only other points the Riders scored were from a pair of Brett Lauther field goals. Saskatchewan failed on a two-point convert attempt after its only major.
Alouettes kicker David Cote was good on both of his field-goal attempts.
The loss drops the Riders to 4-5. They have a big test in their next game as they welcome the B.C. Lions to Mosaic Stadium next Sunday.
“I think we will bounce back strong,” Dickenson said. “That’s a good group in there and they care. It’s important to them to be good at what they do and it’s important to them to play well.
“I think the rest will do us good and I think we will have a bounce-back game against B.C.”