Mitchell Blair
Riderville.com

REGINA -- Even the most optimistic of Rider fans had to know the team wouldn’t go through the 2010 season unbeaten.

After three wins to start the season, the green and white came crashing back to earth with a solid thud as they were beaten soundly 40-20 by the Calgary Stampeders leaving both teams in a tie for first at 3-1.

It could have been worse for the visitors on this night had it not been for safety James Patrick. He intercepted two Henry Burris passes in the endzone in the first half meaning that the two teams went into the dressing room tied at 7. However, it was all Calgary in the second half as Henry Burris threw three touchdown passes.

Coach Ken Miller was not one to make excuses after the game, but he says there was no doubt as to who the better team was on this evening.

“We were tied at the half, but they had two big plays early in the third quarter to change the momentum”. Miller said. “After that, we became very uncharacteristic in all areas. We have a lot of work to do to get ready for our next game.”

Miller also says its one of those games that can be used as a valuable learning tool when it comes to watching film.

“I told the players after the game they need to go back through that video and learn about things they did well and where they need to improve.” Miller told 620 CKRM’s Carm Carteri. “We will look over everything and we will be ready to hit the practice field later this week when we start getting ready for Hamilton.”

Darian Durant struggled throwing three interceptions. He did throw one touchdown late in the 4th quarter to Weston Dressler. The 3rd year Rider receiver who hauled in nine passes for 125 yards says you can’t pin this one on Durant because it wasn’t just his fault.

“It makes it tough on your quarterback when you have guys in his face the whole game.” a disappointed Dressler said. “It is something we will have to address as a whole when we watch the films and make the appropriate changes.”

The team will have a couple of days to stew over this loss as they won’t get back on the practice field until Tuesday. They won’t have Mosaic Stadium though as the facility is getting renovated for Wednesday’s Bon Jovi concert. It means practice will move to the University of Regina Rams facility on the U of R campus. They will be back at Mosaic for a date against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Saturday with kickoff going at 430.


NOTES:

-While it was hard to find positives, coach Miller did pick out the job done by Eddie Johnson in his first game as the team’s punter. Johnson had 6 punts for a 42 yard average.
-The Riders are now winless in their last four games at McMahon Stadium counting the 2009 Grey Cup and the exhibition game loss earlier this year
-For the first time this season, the Riders did not score the first points of the game