Rock solid: Armstead’s 207 rushing yards ends Riders’ 7-game slide

The Saskatchewan Roughriders found the remedy for their recent woes — a bye week, a CFL showdown against the Calgary Stampeders, and a Rock.

Ryquell Armstead — also known as Rock — rushed for 207 yards in his Riders debut after signing with the team on Monday. It was the most rushing yards ever by a Rider in their Green and White debut according to Saskatchewan Roughriders historian Rob Vanstone.

“I practiced the whole week and it was hard. I put in multiple meetings outside of meetings and practice just to understand the schemes and the plays and things like that,” Armstead said. “I’m just grateful and glad I was able to come in here and help my team win.”

His performance was a big part of the team’s 37-29 win over the Stamps to end a seven-game winless slide. The Riders’ last win came on July 19 in a 19-9 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Armstead had been released by the Ottawa Redblacks on Sept. 3 after 11 games despite being the CFL’s fourth-leading rusher.

“It means the world to come out here and prove the world wrong and prove (head coach Corey Mace) right,” Armstead said. “He believed in me since last year.”

Mace said he knows this performance meant a lot to Armstead, so it meant a lot to the coach as well.

“There was a second early in the game where you thought (he may take a penalty) but he composed himself. I talked to him and I told him that’s exactly what I was looking for,” Mace said. “I’m proud of the way he responded in that situation.”

The Riders have dealt with many injuries at the offensive line group this season with only Logan Ferland — who has had to move from guard to centre — and tackle Trevor Reid playing in every game for Saskatchewan thus far.

But the past couple of weeks have allowed the Riders to build some continuity in the group, which is what Mace credited with helping the Riders’ rushing attack.

“It was a heck of a performance from the offence, specifically as we talk about the run game. It’s certainly something we wanted to improve on and it’s a heck of a start.”

The Riders came into the game with the worst rushing attack in the CFL but the Stamps are the worst rushing-defence in the league.

The win also ended a dubious streak by the Riders over recent years — this was the first win after Labour Day for Saskatchewan since 2021.

Quarterback Trevor Harris didn’t have a busy night but the 38-year-old was efficient. Harris completed 16 of his 18 pass attempts for 248 yards and a touchdown. Harris only threw five passes in the second half as the Riders leaned on a potent ground game.

“In the second half, I thought we just dominated them physically up front,” Harris said. “Ryquell is explosive and he was breaking tackles … he was doing a tremendous job with it.”

Slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker caught the only passing touchdown of the game with Harris rushing in a score along with two rushing touchdowns from short-yardage quarterback Shea Patterson.

Stamps quarterback Jake Maier had thrown two touchdown passes in the game along with 197 yards but threw an interception to linebacker Jameer Thurman on a third-and-one play late in the game to seal the victory for Saskatchewan.

“It’s just capitalizing on your opportunities. Every single play in the game is an opportunity to do something special but the reality is you have to dial it down on the details of just getting your job accomplished and if there’s a blip for you to make a play, you have to make it,” Mace said. “When we needed a big play, they showed up.”

Stamps short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens got the Stamps out to an early lead in the game, going 69 yards on a third-and-one to score on Calgary’s opening drive.

Stamps kicker Rene Paredes missed one of his three point-after attempts and made his only field goal attempt.

Riders kicker Brett Lauther was good on all three of his field goal attempts and the four point-after kicks.

Saskatchewan (6-7-1) will host the Redblacks (8-4-1) next Saturday.

“This is only one win. We haven’t done anything,” Harris said. “This is not a time to take a sigh of relief, this is the time to put our foot on the accelerator. I know what this team is capable of and heck or high water, I’m going to make sure we are pressing the envelope every single day to make sure that happens.”