Roughriders alone at the top of the West Division, defeat Blue Bombers 21-6

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the sole owners of top spot in the CFL’s West Division.

The Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 21-6 on Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium. Earlier in the day, the Calgary Stampeders lost 21-17 to the Montreal Alouettes, meaning the winner of the game in Regina would be alone at the top of the West Division standings.

“It definitely (felt like a playoff game),” Saskatchewan defensive back L.J. McCray said following the win. “I haven’t been in the playoffs yet but that game was very intense, even before it started.

“All week, we prepared like it was a playoff game and that was our mindset going in with the thought that this was going to be a tough game. It was going to be a battle and that’s what it was.”

McCray, who signed his first CFL contract in April, was one of the stars of the game for a defence that bottled up the Blue Bombers’ offence. McCray made multiple big hits throughout the game.

“When I can set the tone and get some good hits at the beginning of the game, it kind of softens up those receivers and they get to looking for me,” he said. “If they’re looking for me, other guys get to make plays.”

McCray also had a highlight-reel interception at the goal line, making a one-handed interception of a pass by Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler in the fourth quarter.

'Cause using both hands is just boring, @J_McCrayii…#UniteInGreen | #BEL13VE pic.twitter.com/1VR2cbz3ec

— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) October 6, 2019

“I’ve made some good interceptions in my career but never a one-handed one over the shoulder like that, so I feel pretty good about that one,” McCray said.

Defensive back Ed Gainey grabbed his second interception in two games after recording zero in his previous games this season. He picked off a Streveler pass in the end zone late in the third quarter.

On the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver Shaq Evans led the way for the Green and White. Evans hauled in seven passes for 193 yards, which included Evans turning a seven-yard pass into a 61-yard touchdown.

“I knew this was a big game and we knew we had to make big plays this game and either one of us could’ve done it — me, Naaman (Roosevelt), Swerve (Kyran Moore) — it just happened to be me tonight,” Evans said.

Evans also caught a 49-yard pass that put him over 1,000 yards in a season for the first time in his professional career.

“It feels great. I pretty much set that goal at the end of the season last year because I felt like I could’ve had it last year but things didn’t work out,” Evans said. “To get it this year is just a testament to my work ethic and the work I put in and the determination I had.”

Evans’ touchdown was the only one scored in the game. The Roughriders (10-4-0) got their scoring on four field goals (49, 48, 21 and 34 yards) and a convert by Brett Lauther and two singles from punter Jon Ryan.

The Bombers’ points came from two field goals from kicker Justin Medlock. Streveler, who led Winnipeg (9-6-0) to a 35-10 win in the Banjo Bowl on Sept. 7, completed 26 of 40 attempts for 254 yards and zero touchdowns. Streveler also rushed for 48 yards.

Bombers running back Andrew Harris, who missed the teams’ previous two meetings this season due to a suspension, had 67 yards on the ground.

Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo said the game had a playoff atmosphere to it, which will help the team down the road when the elimination games begin in November.

“It’s absolutely critical. For me, the high-pressure situation, big-game stuff you put on it, it just helps me with my experience,” he said.

“I’m still young in terms of starting and that’s going to be the question heading into playoffs. I’ve never started a playoff game. The West is so tough and at this point from here on out, every game is going to be a playoff game.”

Fajardo completed 18 of 28 pass attempts for 299 yards and the touchdown to Evans. Fajardo also rushed for 47 yards to lead Saskatchewan, which won the season series against the Bombers — and that could be a factor in the event of tiebreakers.

While the Roughriders are the first team in the West with 10 wins, Fajardo said they still haven’t accomplished their goal.

“Our goal is to be in first place at the end of the year,” Fajardo said. “If we said that we were the Week 18 first-place team, that doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s finishing the end of the year in first place.”

The Roughriders will have a road playoff game atmosphere to deal with in their next contest. They’re to travel to Calgary on Friday with first place in the West on the line.