The Saskatchewan Roughriders took care of the Toronto Argonauts in the second game on Friday Night Football 30-16 at Mosaic Stadium.
On the Roughriders first possession of the game, quarterback Cody Fajardo and running back William Powell led the team down the field before Fajardo rushed for a one-yard touchdown. This put the Roughriders up 7-0 with 11:01 left in the first quarter.
The Roughriders defense stopped the Argo’s offense, giving the offense another chance to add to their lead. Late in the first quarter, Cody Fajardo and William Powell teamed up to march the Roughriders down to the Argo’s 38-yard line. This set up a field goal. However, Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther missed a 46-yard field goal.
Luckily, the Argonauts did not return the ball out of the endzone, and a single point was awarded. Roughriders were now up 8-0 with 3:20 left. The Argonauts had the ball to start the second quarter down 8-0.
In the second quarter, Argo’s quarterback Nick Arbuckle and company moved the ball to the Roughriders’ eight-yard line. Then kicker Boris Bede made a 15-yard field goal that cut the Roughriders lead 8-3.
On the Argo’s next possession, Nick Arbuckle was scrambling out of the pocket before the Roughriders’ defense knocked the ball out of his hand, forcing a turnover. After Roughriders running back William Powell rushed for 33-yards, quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brayden Lenius, extending the lead 15-3 with 8:55 left in the second quarter.
Late in the second quarter, Argo’s quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the team down to the Roughriders’ one-yard line. The Argo’s tried to score on third down, but the defense stopped them, forcing a turnover on downs. As a result, Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo and running back William Powell used up every second of the clock to get to the Argo’s sixteen-yard line. Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther made a 24-yard field goal for an 18-3 lead at halftime.
On the Argo’s first possession of the third quarter, Argo’s quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the team on a five-play drive before finding DaVaris Daniels for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The Argo’s went for a two-point conversion and failed. The score was now 18-9 with 12:00 minutes left.
While both offenses moved the ball, nothing came about as both defenses did their job to keep the game at 18-9 heading into the fourth quarter. The Roughriders were on the Argo’s 31-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
On second and fourteen from the Argo’s 24-yard line, Cody Fajardo threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker, plus a two-point conversion made it 26-9. The Roughriders got a single point on the kickoff after the Argo’s special teams did not return the ball out of the endzone. The score was now 27-9.
Argo’s quarterback Nick Arbuckle and running back John White led the offense to the Roughriders’ 18-yard line. Then Nick Arbuckle connected to Eric Rogers, who fought off a Roughriders defender, for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Now they trailed the Roughriders by eleven points 27-16 with 10:49 left in the game.
With 1:27 left in the game, Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 30-16 lead. On the Argo’s last possession of the game, Nick Arbuckle’s pass was intercepted by Nick Marshall. The Roughriders went into victory formation to win the game 30-16. There were some heated exchanges after the game was over.
Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo finished the night 21/31 for 212-yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 58-yards rushing, and one rushing touchdown. William Powell had 21-carries for 122-yards. Kian Schaffer-Baker led the team in receiving with nine receptions for 99-yards and one touchdown. In addition, the defense recorded four sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
For the Argo’s quarterback, Nick Arbuckle went 22/33 for 309-yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and five-rushing yards. Running back John White had seven carries for 39-yards. Eric Rogers led the team in receiving with four receptions for 97-yards and one touchdown. The defense recorded two sacks and one interception.
Next week, The Argonauts host the Montreal Alouettes next Friday, September 24th, at 7:30 pm on ESPN+. After the Argo’s and Alouettes game ends, the Roughriders travel to BC to take on the Lions at 10:30 pm on ESPN2.
