First-quarter field goal wins game for Riders

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This article was published 09/07/2012 (4835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — Chris Milo’s first-quarter field goal provided the game-winning points and the Saskatchewan Roughriders registered six quarterback sacks in a 17-1 win over the visiting Edmonton Eskimos in CFL action Sunday.

The win was the Roughriders’ first over a West Division opponent since November 2010. Saskatchewan (2-0) was 0-10 against divisional opponents last year.

After riding a player-of-the-week performance from quarterback Darian Durant to victory in Week 1, the Riders got it done Sunday with defence.

Edmonton (1-1) was limited to one first down in the first quarter as starting QB Steven Jyles struggled to find his receivers.

Milo was 2-for-3 on field goals, hitting a 32-yarder in the first quarter, missing from 46 in the third, and connecting from 17 in the fourth to cap the scoring. He also added a pair of 56-yard punt singles. Edmonton’s lone point came off a 62-yard punt single from Burke Dales on the first series of the second quarter.

Kerry Joseph replaced Jyles midway through the second quarter but the Eskimos’ fortunes changed little.

Brent Hawkins recovered an Edmonton fumble on the Eskimos’ next offensive series, and punter Burke Dales conceded a safety on the possession after that following Woodny Turenne’s sack of Joseph.

Jyles returned in the third quarter and gave the Eskimos their first offensive series of more than five plays, culminating in a missed field goal by Grant Shaw.

Brent Hawkins and Tearrius George also contributed sacks in the third, helping the Riders maintain a 6-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Joseph replaced Jyles for a second time with three minutes to play and finished the day with four completions on eight attempts and 34 yards.

Durant’s effectiveness was also limited early, with eight of Saskatchewan’s first nine possessions ending in punts. Last week’s Offensive Player of the Week warmed up as the game went on though, going 20-for-32 for 203 yards.

Jyles went 10-for-19 for 91 yards.

The spark the Riders’ offence was waiting for came with less than three minutes to play when Kory Sheets found open field down the sideline and ran 34 yards for the game’s first touchdown.

 

— The Canadian Press