Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo throws a pass during a 23-10 win over the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 21, 2021. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By Britton Gray, CJME News

Riders beat Redblacks 23-10, become lone undefeated team in the CFL

Aug 22, 2021 | 9:03 AM

While the Queen City Ex was next door, the Saskatchewan Roughriders game wasn’t filled with thrills and didn’t have a rollercoaster of emotions but the Green and White walked away with the biggest prize of the night — a 23-10 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

But quarterback Cody Fajardo isn’t concerned about the lack of fireworks as long as the Riders keep winning.

“Touchdowns would be nice but as long as we’re winning football games, the stats don’t matter,” Fajardo said.

While he didn’t toss a touchdown through the air, Fajardo was once again efficient for the Riders. The 29-year-old completed 30-of-35 (86 per cent) passes for 320 yards in front of 28,559 fans at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday. He was also the game’s leading rusher with 47 yards including a two-yard touchdown run.

Earlier in the day Saturday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were handed their first loss of the season — a 30-23 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. That loss means the Roughriders are the only undefeated team left — sitting at 3-0 — and have sole possession of first place in the CFL’s West Division.

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Saskatchewan will now enjoy a bye-week before hosting the Bombers (2-1) in the Labour Day Classic on Sept. 5.

“We know what’s on the other side of the bye-week – a really good football team so it’s good for us to get healthy. We’ve got a bunch of guys banged up,” Fajardo said.

The Riders receiving group was dealt a blow to it last week, with wide receiver Shaq Evans suffering a broken foot in the team’s Week 2 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

And the group might be dealing with another injury to the group – slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert left the game due to an injury. Head coach Craig Dickenson said he wasn’t sure how serious the injury was to Williams-Lambert or defensive tackle Micah Johnson is. Johnson also left the game early.

“We’re beat up. There’s no doubt – we had five new faces out there tonight,” Dickenson said.

Two players who have seen their roles expanded is slotback Paul McRoberts and slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker.

Both made their season debuts for the team, with McRoberts hauling in four passes for 42 yards while Schaffer-Baker also caught for passes but for 64 yards.

“It was amazing,” Schaffer-Baker said about catching his first CFL pass. “That’s just what I do every day – I come out here and catch footballs so I’m used to it. It was a great experience getting the first one out of the way and it gets the jitters and everything out.”

The 23-year-old slotback even made some new fans from his performance.

“I didn’t know them but they were asking for a picture so I was delighted to do that. One of the girls was wearing number 89 — it was a Duron Carter jersey but I told her I’d have to get he a Schaffer-Baker one soon,” Schaffer-Baker said.

Schaffer-Baker also took some time after the game was over to walk around the field alone.

“I was just soaking it all up. It was the best experience of my life and I just have to give thanks to god for it,” Schaffer-Baker said.

Fajardo said the offence didn’t miss a beat when a couple new faces joined the starters this week.

“We had guys step up. We lost two of our best receivers – we have the three-headed monster with (Kyran Moore), Williams-Lambert and Shaq – and when two of them are down, guys need to step up,” Fajardo said. “It made me comfortable and trust those guys.”

The Roughriders got the win thanks to a perfect performance from kicker Brett Lauther, who was five-for-five on field goals and connected on his only convert attempt. Punter Jon Ryan also contributed with a rouge.

The Redblacks scoring came from a three-yard touchdown rush from DeVonte Dedmon and a field goal from kicker Lewis Ward, who was one-for-two for the night.

The Riders defence continued to get after Ottawa quarterback Matt Nichols with six sacks on the night — two from defensive end Jonathan Woodard, two from defensive tackle Garrett Marino, and one apiece from linebacker Micah Teitz and defensive end A.C. Leonard.

Dickenson also praised the play of Johnson as he felt the entire defensive line did their job in the win.

“We want to be able push the pocket and get quarterbacks off their spot and I thought the guys did a good job of that tonight,” Dickenson said.

Nichols finished the game with 19 completions on 24 attempts for 176 yards and an interception after Saskatchewan defensive back Ed Gainey picked him off.

Now the team will enjoy some time off, and with loosened restrictions for vaccinated players, some like Lauther will get to go home for the first time in months.

“I’m always thinking about football but when I go out to east coast, my mind is going to be off it pretty quick especially when I see some of the boys, get out on the golf course and have a little fun,” Lauther said. “That’s what the bye-weeks are kind of for – just re-energize and relax a little.”

And Fajardo is going to get his bye-week started early with a celebratory meal at the fair.

“A corndog and a cherry coke is pretty bad for diet but it’s a good thing I’ve got a bye-week next week,” Fajardo said.