When the Saskatchewan Roughriders went out for their first bye of the 2021 CFL season, they were 3-0 and feeling good about themselves.  As they head out for their second bye of the year, they are a team asking a lot of questions after a 19-16 loss to Calgary in the second of three games in four weeks between the two and a game that gives the Stampeders the season series.

In what had a playoff type atmosphere to it, Rene Paredes kicked a 44 yard field goal as time expired to give Calgary the win.  The Riders had the ball with two minutes left at their 10 yard line, but they could not get into position for a Brett Lauther field goal or better and had to kick to Calgary.  The Stamps took the ball at their own 41 allowing Bo Levi Mitchell to get his team in position for Paredes’ heroics which he had to do twice after a procedure call negated what would have been a game-winning 39 yard field goal.

Head Coach Craig Dickenson felt his team didn’t play very well, but they played hard even though it wasn’t enough.  He was frustrated at night’s end knowing they have allowed the Stampeders back into the Western Division race.

“We knew we needed to win two out of three against these guys and if we did we put Calgary behind the eight-ball, but now they are right on our tail.  It will make every game that much more important down the stretch. “Dickenson said. “As a group we are frustrated because we felt we had a good plan, but we just didn’t play well enough. Give credit to Calgary. They ran it up and down on us pretty good and outplayed us even though we won the turnover battle.”

The loss, which was Saskatchewan’s straight, means they are now 5-4 on the season while the Stampeders are 4-5.  When the Riders return from their bye week, they will get ready to face Calgary again at McMahon Stadium on October 23.

NOTES:

• Craig Dickenson is now 18-9 since becoming the Riders head coach prior to the start of the 2019 season. Four of the nine losses have been to his brother, Dave.
• Bo Levi Mitchell is now 5-1 against the Riders in his CFL career.  That ties him with former Toronto quarterback Condrege Holloway for most wins in Regina.  The leader in that category is former Winnipeg quarterback Dieter Brock. In 11 games at Taylor Field, Brock won 10
• Brett Lauther was 4-4 on field goals. Lauther has connected on his last 13 field goal attempts
• While the Riders are 3-0 against Eastern Division clubs, they are now 2-4 against the West.