Riders eliminated from CFL playoff race with 32-21 loss to Stamps

The Saskatchewan Roughriders got run over by the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, dashing what little hope Saskatchewan had of making the CFL playoffs.

Dedrick Mills rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown and Ka’Deem Carey, who came into the week as the CFL’s top rusher, added 75 yards and a touchdown of his own in Calgary’s 32-21 victory at Mosaic Stadium.

Overall, Calgary had 212 yards on the ground.

“I don’t think we’re really executing like we should be executing,” said Riders linebacker Darnell Sankey, who had 11 tackles in the loss. “I think that goes without saying. They are a great team but we’re a great team also, we’re just not clicking.”

The loss, combined with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ 30-27 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, officially eliminated the Riders from the playoff race.

“It is what it is,” Sankey said. “There’s really no thought to have. It’s terrible. When I first signed (here), I wanted to make the playoffs; that’s what everyone wants to do. I feel like we let down Rider Nation.

“We’ve had a lot of adversity this year, a lot of struggle, but I’m proud of my guys.”

“I just felt like we didn’t make timely plays this year,” added wide receiver Shaq Evans, who had two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in the game.

“In years past, we always won games we were supposed to win and that we needed to win and we made the plays, made the drive, made the stop when we needed it.

“It just felt like it wasn’t in the cards for us and that’s pro football. Some years it’s just tough and rough and you’ve got to hit the off-season and be prepared for next year.”

The loss was Saskatchewan’s 10th in its past 12 games and its sixth straight home loss. The paid attendance for Saturday’s game was announced as 27,192.

The team’s slide and lack of a playoff appearance in a year the Grey Cup will be held at Mosaic Stadium on Nov. 20 has led to a lot of fans calling for changes, including the head-coaching spot.

“We haven’t (been told we will be back) but we will keep working like we are because that’s the way we do it,” head coach Craig Dickenson said. “We all know in coaching that it’s not a profession where longevity is part of the deal. If you want to be somewhere for a long time, being one of the coaches, a (general manager) or a even player is not the way to go.

“If at the end of the day they decide to go a different way, that’s the organization’s prerogative and certainly you do what you’re told to do.”

In the week leading up to the game, Dickenson made the decision to go with Mason Fine instead of Cody Fajardo as his starting quarterback, citing the need for a spark.

“(I didn’t really see a spark) but I thought (Fine) played pretty well, I really did. That’s a good Calgary team and the reality is all of the teams in the back half of our schedule have been pretty good,” Dickenson said. “I thought he played well, (but) I thought he could play better. Was there a spark? I don’t know.”

Fine went 18-for-28 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown in his first career CFL start.

“I’m going to go back and watch the film and be a critic of myself but during the flow, I felt like me like back in my college days,” Fine said. “It’s been a while since I played a football game.”

Calgary quarterback Jake Maier finished the game with 15 completions in 24 pass attempts for 194 yards and a touchdown.

Rene Paredes was good on all four of his field-goal attempts for Calgary. Riders kicker Brett Lauther made two of his four field-goal tries. The Riders also scored a single point on one of the missed field-goal attempts.

One of the few bright spots for the Riders was returner Mario Alford, who returned a punt 104 yards for a touchdown to complete the kick-return hat trick. He has returned two kickoffs, a missed field goal, and a punt for a touchdown this season.

Saskatchewan (6-11) will finish its season on the road against Calgary (11-6) next Saturday.