If Duke Williams wishes come true, Pil Country will turn into a prairie fiesta on Friday night.
All of the talk this week in Riderville was the receiver’s end zone celebration in Edmonton on Saturday. Williams hauled in a 24 yard pass from Cody Fajardo during the fourth quarter of Saskatchewan’s 34-23 win over the Elks and then proceeded to run into seated area outside of the endzone to enjoy a bowl of nachos.
The nachos at Commonwealth Stadium didn’t measure up to Williams’ standards.
“No cheese, no salsa, no queso, it was like they just crunched it in their hands and put it back in the thing.”
The former Auburn Tiger was able to bounce back from a season low game against the Lions on July 29 with a 80 yard performance along with a touchdown against the Elks. Williams said he had a solid week of practice leading up to last week’s game.
“I was just back to relaxing and focusing on what I can control and it turned out what I needed it to be.”
Before the game while warming up with Mario Alford, the Riders receiver took note of the section of seats positioned behind the endzone, it was at that point Williams had the nacho celebration planned out.
Besides the lack of cheese with the nachos, the 29 year old was happy to be back celebrating in the end zone and is hopeful to collect more touchdown receptions for the green and white. He hinted that he may have another celebration planned if he scores six points on Friday night against the Lions.
Despite the recent struggles for Saskatchewan, Williams is confident in the team steering the ship in the right direction before the post season.
“When we lost them couple of games, we didn’t panic, cause we know what type of team we have and I feel the league knows what type of team we have, we just got to put it together and I feel we are putting it together at right time and that’s what we got to do, we got to come out with a lot of confidence and compete.”
Back in their first matchup against the Lions, Williams was limited to five catches for 39 yards. This week, Williams is planning to let his play on the field do the talking for him.
“I’m just ready to play, they know I’m ready to play, they going to see that come Friday, I’ve got nothing to say to them on the field, I don’t want to talk them, I don’t want to be buddy-buddy, to Pete (Garry Peters), Loucheiz (Loucheiz Purifoy), to Lee (TJ Lee), I don’t want to talk to them when I get on the field, there’s nothing to talk about no more, it’s all work from here on out.”
There are plenty of events going along with the Riders game on Friday. Before the game, fans can take part in Purolator’s Tackle Hunger. With a donation you can get your picture with the Grey Cup.
Also on Friday’s game it’s Riders Legends Night. The three newest inductees of the Plaza of Honour Weston Dressler, Mike McCollough and Ken Miller will be recognized at Mosaic Stadium.
You can catch the game on 620 CKRM, with an opening kickoff at 8:00.
