Riders ‘just hitting our stride,’ Durant declares

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This article was published 09/09/2009 (6204 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant is ready for the most important completion of the 2009 Canadian Football League season.

Durant would like the Roughriders to finish with a flourish heading into the second half of their campaign. As it stands, the Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders are tied for first place in the West Division with 5-4 records.

“We feel good about ourselves,” Durant said. “We’re starting to become the team that we know we can be. I think it’s a blessing and it’s a good thing that we have nine games left, because I think we’re just hitting our stride. I’m so anxious to work with these guys that I can’t wait.”

Following a bye week, the Roughriders returned to action Sunday by defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 29-14 at Mosaic Stadium. The Roughriders and Bombers (3-6) are to collide again Sunday in the Banjo Bowl.

“Obviously for us it’s not very fun, but it’s a good football environment,” centre Jeremy O’Day said of going into Winnipeg.

“They have a ton of fans. A lot of our fans go over there. They make a lot of noise. It’s their turn to get back at us for yelling all those obscenities at them during this week.

“Look for Winnipeg to be fired up, playing back at home, and trying to get back on track.”

The Roughriders are looking to be consistently on track after an erratic first half.

“We’ve been up and down,” O’Day said. “Obviously, we can play better. We played much better (Sunday). We showed spurts in all three phases of the team. The special teams played a lot better and the defence was on fire and we showed some good things, too.

“It’s a matter of us putting it all together and playing for 60 minutes and having all three phases playing at the right time.”

The defence sparkled in Sunday’s game against Winnipeg. The special teams avoided the miscues that had dogged the Roughriders throughout the previous eight games. Against Winnipeg, the offence was not flashy, but it was efficient while controlling the football for 37 minutes three seconds and amassing 26 first downs.

“It’s a stepping stone for the rest of the season so we can get this thing rolling and get some wins under our belt and put ourselves in position to be in first place at the end of the season,” Durant said.

For the Roughriders quarterback, the second half cannot begin quickly enough.

“I’m just ready to play,” he stated. “I’m healthy. I can’t wait. I wish we could play tomorrow.”

— Canwest News Service