SaskatcheWIN RoughRiders: First Place

Riders' Durant proves naysayers wrong


Color me wrong. Count me among the naysayers. I have been on and off the Darian Durant bandwagon so many times.
I mean I always agreed Durant was a good one. A keeper, one the Riders should hang on to. They have let so many good ones get away. BUT I didn't think he could do it this year and my thought were the Riders should secure a very good experienced quarterback just in case.

Well to be honest, Darian Durant hasn't done it yet. I mean the ultimate prize is the Grey Cup and two more wins are required before the Riders can claim that. BUT first place after a win over the Calgary Stampeders. The end of a 33 year drought.
I got married 33 years ago. 33 years is a long time and thats the last time the Riders finished in first place. 33 years ago.
1976.
I mean think how improbable that is. For much of the time there were only five teams in the West. For the rest of those 33 years there were only four teams in the West. And the Riders have not managed first in 33 years. I mean even the Toronto Maple Leafs would have a shot at first if there were only five teams. Ok so the Maple Leafs are a bad example. But they might have a shot at the playoffs if four teams got in. But anyway the drought is over. And the man to end the drought is quarterback Darian Durant.
Good for him and good for the Riders and Ken Miller for their faith in this man.
The Riders win first this week with a 30 - 14 win over the Stampeders and I was wrong as I picked Calgary to win.
In the other games this weekend Edmonton destroyed British Columbia 45 - 13 to grab the final playoff spot in the West.
BC then had to wait for Hamilton to defeat Winnipeg 39 - 17 to give the Lions the cross over playoff spot in the East.
Only in the wacky Canadian Football League can you have the west coast BC Lions play for the Eastern Division championships.
Wouldn't it be great to have British Columbia win the East Division championship.
In the other game Montreal hammered Toronto 42 - 17.
So the playoffs next week.
West semi final - Edmonton at Calgary
East semi final- British Columbia at Hamilton

Predictions - Ricky Ray always struggles against Calgary but call this wishful hoping, I am going to go with Edmonton to pull an upset and wipe off Henry's smile with a win over Calgary.
In the east - BC is so banged up. Wally Buono may have to dress as quarterback. Due to the injuries I have to go with Hamilton to win this one as much as I would love to see the Lions win the East.