By Joel Gasson

Riders collapse late to drop fifth straight

Oct 25, 2014 | 9:35 AM

Things were looking up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders before it all came crashing down on Friday losing their fifth straight 40-27 to the Calgary Stampeders.

The Green and White actually held a 27-15 lead heading into the fourth quarter but then the wheels fell off and the Riders were never able to get back on track giving up 25 unanswered points dropping them to 9-8 on the season.

After the game it could have been easy for Head Coach Corey Chamblin to rip into his for failing to play a full 60 minutes yet again. Instead, he chose to stay positive during tough times.

“The biggest thing I told them was I was proud of the way that group fought,” he said. “I told them we have to stay together. It’ll be a lot of people who question why I’m proud of this group even though we didn’t win. It was a small victory there and as we keep going eventually it’s going to turn around for us.”

Chamblin feels that right now his team is growing and in theory that is true. The Riders were able to hang tough and actually control most of the night against statistically the best team in the CFL. They just couldn’t do it all night.

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“We got a chance, I think over the next couple of weeks this team will grow. I think at the right time we’ll be ready,” said Chamblin. “It showed where they are and where we are. We know just as a whole we have a little bit more to go to defeat a team like that.”

It seems like the unnatural response to a losing streak. Often, you want to see anger and fire from a team. Instead, Chamblin appears to be trying to build his team back up and keep them together.

It’s a message the players seem to appreciate.

“I think the best thing he said to us after the game was there’s going to be a lot of guys attacking this team and attack the guys in this room and think that we don’t have a chance. I don’t feel that,” said defensive end Ricky Foley. “It’s hard to take a positive out of a loss, but I feel to a man we all still believe in each other.”

It appears Chamblin is getting ready for the post-season and the message is becoming clear, it’s us against the world. A feeling and belief that is sometimes one of the most powerful in sports.

“Every week we’re going to have doubters,” said defensive end Tearrius George. “We got to go out and execute regardless of what they say.”

Kerry takes the blame

After the game Kerry Joseph was visibly upset as he slammed his helmet on a black bin that was located outside of the Riders locker room.

When the room opened and the media was allowed in the room Joseph remained slumped over in his locker.

“Just let the guys in this locker room down. They brought me in here to lift this team up,” said Joseph. “Two weeks in a row I turned the ball over and let these guys down. I take that put it on myself to be better, just inexcusable.”

Chamblin again though Joseph played well and gave his chance to win on Friday night. His teammates continued to have his back after the game.

“It’s all together, we can’t put it on one person at all,” said running back Keith Toston. “We just have to figure out ways to win.”

Number Crunching

According to the CFL linebacker Brian Peters finished the game with 10 tackles including 9 in the first half.

Toston, who made his first appearance of the season, ran for 72 yards on just six carries, including 41 on his first of the game. Receiver Chris Getzlaf scored his first touchdown of the season and picked up over 100 yards for the first time. Rob Bagg wasn’t far behind with 85 yards.

Joseph did crack the 300 yard passing mark in the game, the first individual quarterback to do so for the Riders this year. Joseph threw two touchdowns but also three interceptions.

John Chick, Macho Harris and Ricky Foley all picked up sacks on Friday night.

Chris Milo was again 2-for-2 in field goals and has made four straight.

The Riders are now on their bye-week and will host Edmonton on November 8.

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