The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Roy Finch didn’t worry too much when he coughed up the ball early in the first quarter of the Calgary Stampeders’ game at BMO Field on Thursday night.
He didn’t panic and he didn’t get frustrated. Instead, the speedy return man stayed calm and collected.
“It was just a lack of focus,” he said when asked what was going through his mind after the fumble that lead to an S.J. Green touchdown. “It’s uncharacteristic of me and I’m a strong minded person. Over the years of my career, I just had to mature and when something like that happens not to let it linger and cause me to be out of the game.
“I knew if I just stayed consistent and do what I always do, and stay firm with the coaching and what we were trying to do I knew I was come back and have a come back.”
And Finch did have a come back in the second quarter as he ran a Lirim Hajrullahu punt 103 yards to the house to score his second punt return touchdown in as many weeks.
“Fumbles happen,” head coach Dave Dickenson said of Finch’s mistake.
“Roy gave up seven on the previous drive so it was tit for tat there,” he continued. “He’s explosive though and he’s dangerous. Every time you kick to him it’s a possibility and I thought he really did well the rest of the game not just one return, he was solid the rest of the game. And I like that when guys reload and recover off of a mistake and Roy did a great job of that.”
Finch finished Thursday night’s game with one catch for 12 yards, five carries for 13 yards, seven punt returns for 164 yards and two kickoff returns for 79 yards.
The 25-year-old’s first punt return major of the season came last week against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he returned the ball 97-yards for the score.
“It just feels great,” Finch said with a smile when asked about his two special teams scores in a row as his teammates celebrated behind him in the locker room after the contest.
The entire Calgary Stampeders roster should be smiling heading into their Week 8 bye. The Stamps scored 101 points over their last two contests and have extended their winning streak to three games as the battle for first in the West Division continues with Edmonton.
But as Finch knows, the team can’t get comfortable, especially when they face a tough divisional opponent in the BC Lions when they get back to the field in Week 9.
“I just look forward to resting this bye week and continue to work,” he said. “Anything in life, if you want success, you’ve gotta work. Nothing comes easy.”
