Plan the parade. The Saskatchewan Roughriders haven't lost a game since November.
Two touchdowns in the final minute of play leaped the Roughriders over the Edmonton Eskimos in a 31-24 victory in their first pre-season game of the year on Friday at Commonwealth Stadium.
Following Riders quarterback Tino Sunseri hitting DeDe Dorsey for a TD on third and goal from the Eskimos one-yard line to tie the game 24-24 with 54 seconds left, Craig Newman picked off a deflected pass by Edmonton pivot Jonathan Crompton and ran the ball back 57 yards for a touchdown.
Although the win doesn't mean anything in terms of the future regular-season standings, Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin believes there is value in it.
"Our purpose was to come in here to win," said Chamblin to 620 CKRM after the game. "It means something. Pre-season, regular-season or post-season, we have to win football games."
The loss wasn't the Eskimos' biggest concern, though. They were more worried about quarterback Matt Nichols' injury. Nichols left the game in the first quarter with a right knee injury after he was hit by Riders defensive end Kenny Rowe; he was seen leaving the stadium on crutches after the game.
"I just went down and felt a little twist," Nichols said to the Canadian Press. "The doctors have looked at it and it looks like there are decent signs. We won't know anything until we get a picture of it. All I can do right now is hope for the best."
"I'm optimistic. My ankle injury last year, that was the first time I have ever been hurt. This is a new feeling for me, so it is hard to have an idea on my own how bad it is. I'm just hoping for the best right now."
Nichols is in competition with Mike Reilly, who was acquired from the B.C. Lions in the offseason, for Edmonton's No. 1 QB position.
What we learned
The Roughriders dressed four quarterbacks: Darian Durant, Drew Willy, Tino Sunseri, and Levi Brown. All of them shined at times, but Sunseri impressed the most. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder completed nine of his 12 passes for 122 yards, including a 50-yarder to Greg Carr.
"Tino played a good game," said Chamblin to 620 CKRM. "Just to be coming into the CFL, he threw some nice balls. Greg Carr helped him out."
Carr, Taj Smith, and Chris Getzlaf led the way among wide receivers, catching four apiece. Weston Dressler, Geroy Simon, and Rob Bagg didn't dress.
Kory Sheets struggled to generate yards on the ground. In nine attempts, he only mustered 19 yards and had some miscommunications at times with his quarterback.
Carlos Thomas, Woodny Turenne, Macho Harris, and Newman snagged interceptions. In addition, Antonio Coleman, Tearrius George, Will Davis, and Kenny Rowe combined for five sacks. This, however, is more of a testament to the Eskimos' inexperienced quarterbacks than the Roughriders' strong defensive play.
Question marks remain around the Roughriders' kicking situation. Chris Milo missed two attempts from around the 40-yard line, going one for three. And Brody McKnight, who was signed in the offseason, went two for three.
In terms of kick offs and punting, Milo and McKnight were fairly even. Milo edged McKnight by a five-yard average on kickoffs and a .25-yard average in punts.
The Roughriders host the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday, June 20 at Mosaic Stadium in their second and final pre-season game.
