Roughriders avoid season sweep in downing Stampeders
CBC
A 20-17 win over the host Calgary Stampeders on Saturday was a breakthrough of sorts for Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo and head coach Craig Dickenson.
Dickenson earned his first win as Saskatchewan's head coach over the Stampeders, who are coached by his brother Dave.
"Winning here at McMahon, it's been tough," Fajardo said on a post-game media conference call. "I've got a lot of bad memories here.
"Most importantly, I think it's good because you guys won't be able to tell me that I've never beat Calgary again. So I'm going to take that to the bank, and that's going to feel good.
"That one was really for Coach Dickie, because he was in the same boat as I was, right? Obviously it's a little bit different because his brother obviously coaches on the other side."
Said Craig Dickenson: "I thanked the guys. I said now I can go home and have Christmas dinner and not have to sit at the kiddie table."
WATCH l Roughriders hold off Stampeders' late push to snap losing streak:
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hammering the B.C. Lions 45-0 in another West Division game Saturday to get to 10-1 means the defending Grey Cup champions will host the division final Dec. 5.
Saskatchewan (6-4), Calgary (5-6) and the Lions (4-6) are in a race to have the Nov. 28 division semifinal in their stadiums, while the Edmonton Elks (2-7) languish in the basement.
By a quirk of the CFL schedule, Calgary is the only opponent the Roughriders have played so far in October interrupted only by a bye week.
Calgary would rank higher in the standings in the event of a tie between the two clubs at the end of the regular season.
"I don't think it takes the pressure off of us, but I think there's a sense of relief we did finally beat Calgary and we can move on," Craig Dickenson said.
"And if we do see them again, at least have the confidence to know we can beat them if we play our best."
Trailing 10-6 at halftime Saturday, the Roughriders rallied with a pair of second-half touchdowns in front of an announced 21,672 at McMahon.