Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca
EDMONTON — It’s hard to imagine a single yard causing so many problems, but for the Saskatchewan Roughriders that’s been the reality of their 2016 season thus far.
Those 36 inches may have cost the Riders a win against the Argos in their home-opener last week when a quarterback sneak on third down was fumbled and returned for a touchdown. It definitely cost them on Friday night in overtime when, down three points, the sticks revealed that Darian Durant came up short on yet another third down gamble for the Riders.
The third-down stop clinched a wild 39-36 overtime win for the Edmonton Eskimos in Chris Jones’ return to the City of Champions.
“We needed a little less than a yard and, again, just like in the Grey Cup last year, if you can’t get a yard you shouldn’t be in this game,” the Eskimos’ head coach and general manager told Riderville.com following the game.
“[The defensive line is] off a yard and we didn’t have a challenge flag to do anything about the spot but that was the decision that was made,” he added. “We’re gonna be aggressive and we’re playing to win. We’re not sitting here trying to tie the ballgame in their house.”
Jones defended his always-aggressive coaching style following the loss, which sent the Riders to 0-2 to start their first season under the new regime, but in the end it was that same aggressiveness that even gave Saskatchewan a chance to win.
The Eskimos went on a run of 26 straight points and took a 33-19 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Riders never gave up. A fumble by Eskimos rookie return man Joe McKnight opened the door, then a pair of third down gambles ended with a touchdown in one-on-one coverage by John Chiles, also on a third-down play.
The former basketball player Jordan Reaves went vertical and just got his fingertips on a surprise onside kick, giving the Riders the ball right back. They kicked a field goal to cut into the deficit, then with the ball back drove down the field again and took the lead on a Shamawd Chambers touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.
The Eskimos tied it on a 51-yard field goal by Sean Whyte, then won it in overtime after another Whyte field goal and the stop on third and inches.
One thing’s certain, whether it’s with a 14-point deficit or an 0-2 start to the season: the Riders aren’t a team about to give up.
“We’re always going to have fight in us,” said Durant, who threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-38 passing in defeat. “We’re never going to give up – not as long as I’m the leader of this team.
“We’re always going to fight. You’ve got to give those guys credit, they made the plays when necessary and that’s why they’re the defending champs.”
“I like our group,” added Jones. “I like the character of our group because it could have been really easy in their house with five minutes left down two scores to hang your head and just accept defeat. Just like last week there wasn’t any of that on our sideline and that’s a good indicator of things to come.”
“We’re always going to fight. You’ve got to give those guys credit, they made the plays when necessary and that’s why they’re the defending champs.”
Darian Durant
Darian Durant and Rob Bagg celebrate during the Riders’ comeback bid (The Canadian Press)
If anything, Jones wishes he would’ve been a little more aggressive even, particularly when the Riders defended a three-point lead in the last 19 seconds. Two quick completions, including one on the sideline in under six seconds to Derel Walker, made the game-tying kick possible.
Make no mistake, Jones has no plans to change his approach. He believes picking up a yard in third-and-short situations is a necessity and an expectation in the three-down game.
“That’s our philosophy, that’s what we’re going to live with,” Jones added after the game. “We’ve got to be able to get a yard. We’ve had four opportunities in the first two games to get a yard and we’ve failed to do that.
“We’re going to continue to work at it and I’m going to coach it a little better and get to where we can get a yard when the defence is off a yard.”
The Riders are in action on July 16 and look to pick up win number one when the Lions visit Mosaic Stadium.
– With files from Riderville.com
