Roughriders’ defence pivotal in beating Blue Bombers 19-9

When nan Saskatchewan Roughriders called connected Ajou Ajou against nan Winnipeg Blue Bombers connected Friday, nan rookie receiver answered nan call.

After an wounded to Kian Schaffer-Baker, Ajou, a 6-foot-2, 211-pound receiver from Brooks, Alta., took a spot pinch nan Saskatchewan offence successful nan 2nd half. He responded pinch 4 catches for 110 yards arsenic nan Riders defeated nan Bombers 19-9 to amended to 5-1.

In 4 games this season, Ajou had six catches for 81 yards. On Friday, he contributed 2 large plays that helped Saskatchewan extremity Winnipeg’s two-game winning streak, dropping nan Bombers to 2-5.

With nan Riders holding a 13-9 lead successful nan 3rd quarter, Ajou caught nan attraction of nan 29,649 fans successful attendance pinch a 34-yard drawback and run. The awesome portion was aft Ajou caught a short walk successful nan level from backmost Shea Patterson, he turned nan area and collapsed nan tackle of Winnipeg mediate linebacker Adam Bighill.

After escaping from Bighill, a three-time Most Outstanding Player successful nan CFL, Ajou escaped down nan sideline to complete nan large gain.

It mightiness beryllium expected that a rookie playing successful his 5th CFL crippled would beryllium intimidated erstwhile confronted by a legendary defender for illustration Bighill. Ajou had a elemental mentation why he wasn’t.

“Because I’m that man, too. You’ve sewage to cognize that erstwhile you measurement connected nan field. It’s each confidence. I don’t want to travel disconnected arrogant aliases ignorant aliases thing for illustration that, but I’m a bully shot subordinate too, truthful you amended bring your A crippled because I’m going to bring mine. I opportunity that humbly pinch respect to him because he’s a awesome player,” said Ajou.

With nan Riders holding a 16-9 lead, Ajou helped crystal nan crippled pinch his 4th catch, grabbing a short crossing way and moving 46 yards to nan Winnipeg 32-yard line. The play group up Brett Lauther’s 4th section extremity of nan crippled that put nan Riders up 19-9.

The Riders’ defence is earning a estimation arsenic ballhawks by forcing turnovers. Friday was nary objection and linebacker Jameer Thurman kept nan champion effort for a important clip precocious successful nan game. With nan Bombers moving nan shot and only trailing by 7 points, Thurman forced a fumble that sealed nan triumph for nan Riders.

Bombers receiver Nik Demski caught a 20-yard walk astatine nan Saskatchewan 25-yard statement but Thurman caught up to him and punched nan shot loose pinch nan location squad taking complete connected its 29-yard line.

“I saw a chance to punch it out. I was watching connected film, and I thought location mightiness beryllium an opportunity this week and it came my way. I cognize nan magnitude of nan play but we arsenic a defence talk astir turnovers. It was going to beryllium large for america to return nan crippled complete truthful we could win, and I was conscionable fortunate capable to beryllium successful nan position to make nan play,” said Thurman.

The Riders scored nan game’s only touchdown midway done nan 3rd 4th erstwhile Patterson engineered a six-play, 83-yard drive. He was four-for-four passing for 62 yards connected nan drive, which ended pinch a 15-yard touchdown walk to moving backmost Clint Ratkovich.

It was nan first CFL touchdown for nan 26-year-old rookie and it gave nan Riders a 13-6 lead.

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Ratkovich managed to gaffe retired of nan backfield and ran uncovered into nan extremity area wherever he hauled successful Patterson’s pass.

“In practice, (that play) comes up successful a lot. He was wide unfastened and couldn’t miss him,” said Patterson, who vanished nan crippled 17 of 25 passing for 261 yards and 1 touchdown.

Coming disconnected a 35-20 conclusion astatine nan hands of nan big B.C. Lions connected July 13, nan Riders stressed nan value of getting backmost into nan triumph file connected Friday.

“We preach bounceback aliases bounce backwards. We had a unsmooth 1 past week. I’m happy pinch nan measurement we responded tonight,” said caput coach Corey Mace.

Patterson said nan effort said volumes astir nan Riders and what benignant of squad they are.

“That’s our character. I retrieve saying it correct aft nan B.C. crippled that it would beryllium each astir really we would respond this week coming disconnected a short week. Right disconnected nan plane, nan very, very, very adjacent morning, immoderate guys came retired and sewage to work. We put successful nan activity to play for illustration we did tonight,” said Patterson.

There was a insignificant melee astatine nan extremity of nan crippled aft Bighill tackled Patterson who was trying to tally retired nan clock. The Riders took objection to nan hit, which was correct successful beforehand of their bench, and confronted Bighill. The Bombers past ran onto nan section arsenic well.

Both teams struggled to move nan shot successful nan first half pinch nan only scoring coming from nan kickers. Castillo was successful from 35 and 56 yards, while Lauther deed from 28 and 41 yards. Castillo was short connected a 61-yard section extremity effort precocious successful nan 2nd quarter.

A.J. Ouellette had a beardown crippled for nan Riders, carrying nan shot 17 times for 88 yards.
Zach Collaros vanished 20 of 31 passing for 266 yards and 1 interception. Running backmost Brady Oliveira, who was coming of consecutive 100-yard games, was held to 49 yards connected 9 carries.

This study by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2024.