2012 CFL Replay: A look back on Week 1

CFL.ca Staff

CFL.ca Staff

Week 1 of the 2012 season is in the books – and there are plenty of storylines and headlines to go through. Ricky Ray came up just short in his return to Edmonton, as his Argonauts fell 19-15 to the Eskimos. Rider Nation rised up against the new-look Tiger-Cats, stymying Henry Burris and Andy Fantuz in a big road win. Geroy Simon became the CFL’s all-time leading receiver in BC’s win over the Blue Bombers in a rematch of the 99th Grey Cup. Finally, the Stampeders routed the visiting Alouettes on Sunday night, 38-10.

Saskatchewan 43, Hamilton 16

HAMILTON — Weston Dressler had 180 yards receiving and scored three touchdowns as the Riders opened the 2012 season with a 43-16 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Dressler finished the evening with 186 all-purpose yards and was a part of a big night from Darian Durant. The Roughriders’ pivot completed 23 of 32 passes for 345 yards four touchdowns.The loss was the Tiger-Cats 8th straight to open a CFL campaign.

In somewhat of a surprise move, the Tiger-Cats started rookie Chevon Walker at tailback as Avon Cobourne was a healthy scratch. Many thought that Cobourne would be the primary rusher after signing with the club in the middle of training camp but Walker impressed in pre-season, earning him the start.

BC 33, Winnipeg 16

WINNIPEG — Geroy Simon became the league`s all-time leading receiver as he and the BC Lions defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-16 in a rematch of last-year`s Grey Cup.

The Bombers entered halftime down 13-3 but the deficit was the least of their worries as starting quarterback Buck Pierce, who has had his fair share of injuries in his career, went down after sustaining a hit on a Lions quarterback sack.

Pierce would not return and give way to Alex Brink in the second half. He finished 3 of 9 for 11 yards and no touchdowns.It was then time for Simon make history. Lulay aired out a pass down the near sideline for Simon who made the 56-yard grab to move ahead of Milt Stegall on the CFL’s all-time receiving list.

Entering his 14th CFL season, the Maryland alum needed just 67 yards to pass recently-named Hall of Famer and former Bomber Stegall’s career total of 15,153.

Edmonton 19, Toronto 15

EDMONTON — It was rude homecoming Saturday for Ricky Ray, the former Edmonton Eskimo quarterback turned Toronto Argonaut.

Ray was pushed, hurried, sacked, and levelled by the Eskimos defensive line en route to a 19-15 Edmonton win before 35,538 fans in CFL opening weekend action.

“They played us really well and we did some things that we obviously need to clean up – penalties and doing a better job in the red zone to come away with touchdowns,” said Ray.

Ray was 29 for 39 in passing for 298 yards and one touchdown pass.

“It felt weird coming back and playing in a place where you played for so long, seeing a lot of your ex-teammates across the field instead of playing with them,” he said. “But it is what it is.”

Calgary 38, Montreal 10

CALGARY — Jon Cornished registered 86 yards on 18 carries for a pair of touchdowns while Drew Tate threw for 317 yards and a touchdown, as the Stampeders rolled to a 38-10 Canada Day victory over the visiting Montreal Alouettes.

The game marked the first time since the 2004 season in which the Stampeders started a season without both Henry Burris and Joffrey Reynolds in the Calgary offensive backfield.

Brian Bratton caught Montreal’s lone touchdown from veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who went 16-for-31 for 174 yards and was also picked off twice.

“It was just a pathetic performance on us, especially myself,” Calvillo said. “We’ve got to accept that and move on. It doesn’t matter what we did the year before. We’ve got to come back and perform this year and today we didn’t do it.”

Follow CFL