What an exciting game, even though things looked dismal at times, but we kept fighting... and in the end won the game with a thrilling game winning drive!OFFENCE
It was a miserable first half as the Riders defensive line dominated our offence, keeping Jarious Jackson under immense pressure. The Riders zone blitzed and run blitzed in an attempt to shut down Joe Smith's inside running game in check and Jarious undere tremendous heat, forcing quick throws to well covered receivers. Kruck and Dorazio wisely went to the ptich series,as was suggested in 'Keys To The Game" ies in the second quarter and Joe Smith was able to get outside of Regina's run blitz for some key running plays.
However, it really was only big two special team plays that allowed our offence to pick up a couple of scores and stay in the thick of it. We only completed three passes in that first half. At the end of the first half, following a Jarious Jackson sack, a donnybrook ensued with Rodgers thrown out of the game. Sherko was very fortunate not to get thrown out as well although a Rider defender also ripped off Murphy's helmet and got away with it. The donnybrook seemed to liven up our offence in the second half. Our offensive line really picked it up in the second half and allowed Jarious more time to throw and he started to come alive.
However, there was a moment when it seemed that all was lost. Wally made the right call to gamble deep in our zone on third and less than one. The entire Riders defense lined up offside and got away with it and their quick explosion stuffed Jackson behind the line as he tried to slant left. The quick score could have deflated us but it didn't!!
Another heartbreaking play that should have gone for huge yardage was a great second dowon and short call by Kruck Jarious faked the sneak, dropped quickly and hit a wide open Ty Williams deep behind the Regina secondary but he dropped the football.
Jarious started to go to Simon and Clermont more later in the third quarter and early in the fourth. Geroy was also in his MOP form in the second half. You could see it in his eyes, in the way he approached the line of scrimmage, in his speed, and mostly in his double moves and stutter steps that he impressed us with so much last season.
In the end, we did in with Jarious's arm and Simon's legs with Paris Jackson and Jason Clermont also coming up huge. In order to beat the Riders we couldn't just do it with Joe Smith. Jackson went 6/7 on one huge fourth quarter scoring drive, capping it off with an end zone toss to Jason Clermont.
With less than a minute and a half left, on our own 35 yard line, and in a hurry up offence. Jackson drove our team down to the Riders 31 yard line with key tosses to Paris Jackson and Geroy Simon. Then, with time running out Jackson hit Simon with a purrfect toss deep behind coverage, as Geroy's double move got him by the halfback and behind the safety.
They say it's not how you start but how you finish. Under pressure, with first place on the line, with time running out, with the Riders crowd causing procedure penalties, our offence came through when it counted the most with a game winning drive, finished off in spectacular fashion!!
DEFENSE
If defensive pressure kills, then a lack of defensive pressure kills defensive backs!! That was the story of the first half. We couldn't get near Joseph, who often had more than 5 seconds to throw the football. The Riders offensive line dominated our defensive line. Our backs were beaten badly at times against a well conceived Rider passing game.
In the second quarter Ritchie finally went to the rotation, using Foley who got a sack but still we stuggled to get to Joseph, with Wake the only defensive lineman even getting occasional pressure.
However, in the second half it was a completely different defense. Ritchie started to blitz more on first down. Ty Williams got some big pressure inside at times. Wake became a force and was all over the field. We forced the Riders into continuous two and outs or short drives. However, when our offence failed on their third down gamble, deep in our offensive zone and the Riders scored quickly, it could have easily been a mortal blow.
However, as the game got closer, our defensive intensity and especially our pressure on Joseph got better and better. Our defense shut down the Riders offence twice with the game on the line, providing our offence with the opporunity for last second heroics.!!
SPECIAL TEAMS
I believed, before this game, that special teams could be the difference maker, as it usually is, in a tight game between two excellent teams fighting for bragging rights to being the best in the CFL. Ian Smart's brilliant return in the first half and Barrin Miles blocked punt were critical plays or the Riders could have walked away with this one early.
WRAP
Wally believed in Jarious in this game as did I but one wouldn't be human if there hadn't been a few doubts at various times in this game! However, when Jarious had the football with less than a minute and a half to play there was no other quarterback that I would have wanted to have the ball. Jarious just comes through in those situations! He has all season!! He often starts slow and you could see the nerves were back in the first half although it was mostly Rider pressure that shut down our first half passing game.
Our offence and our defense, in this game, fought through a lot of adversity. Jarious fought through early adversity as did our offensive line. Geroy Simon has fought through his own adversity and showed that he could be the go to guy again, now that he is running routes like Geroy of old. Joe Smith is still a special back, eccentric or not....he's just pure money on the football field. Paris Jackson is looking more and more like a star and Clermont is still a clutch player.
It was great to see Barrin Miles shine again, not only on special teams but also at his safety position. Phillips stuggled some in the first half but had a great second half!!
Time to have a few brews, get rid of the butterflies that are still there, and savor a great come from behind victory!!
