Mon Oct 8 20:25:58 2007

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Congi's six field goals spur Riders over Stampeders

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Calgary, AB (Sports Network) - Luca Congi converted six field goals, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders came closer to hosting their first playoff game in nearly 20 years, after cruising past the Calgary Stampeders, 33-21, in a Thanksgiving Classic from McMahon Stadium.

Saskatchewan, which hasn't hosted a playoff game since 1988, is now second in the West Division, three points behind the B.C. Lions. It can clinch a playoff berth with a win at Hamilton next Sunday.

Kerry Joseph completed 19-of-35 passes for 290 yards for the Roughriders (9-5), who won 33-22 last week over Montreal. Wes Cates rushed for 84 yards on 11 carries, and D.J. Flick racked up 157 receiving yards on six catches.

Starting for the injured Henry Burris, Ben Sankey completed 19-of-26 passes for 262 yards with a pair of picks and a pair of scores for the Stampeders (6-7-1), who host East Division-leading Winnipeg next Sunday.

Joffrey Reynolds had 42 rushing yards on 10 carries, while Ken-Yon Rambo caught five balls for 93 yards and Nikolas Lewis caught six for 80 yards. Markus Howell returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown in the loss.

With Burris sidelined due to a dislocated shoulder, former NFL first-round pick Akili Smith made his second-career CFL start and completed 4-of-12 passes for 42 yards before Sankey replaced him at halftime.

The first-quarter scoring belonged all to Congi, who converted a 37-yard field goal 3:19 into the stanza. His 27-yarder more than eight minutes later put Saskatchewan ahead 6-0 heading into the second.

Calgary's special teams got the Stampeders on the board in the second when Howell broke loose and returned Jamie Boreham's punt 96 yards to paydirt with 3:51 played.

But, Saskatchewan regained control during the remainder of the first half. Joseph's five-yard touchdown run culminated a six-play, 85-yard drive, giving the Riders a 13-7 advantage, and Congi took over from there.

The Roughriders' kicker converted field goals from 41,31 and 37 yards before the half to put them ahead 22-7 heading into the locker room.

The Stampeders regrouped during halftime, and Sankey found Lewis for a 30-yard touchdown pass 3:06 into the third quarter.

Joseph's 53-yard pass to Flick set up a four-yard touchdown scamper for Corey Holmes, who scored at 10:57 of the third for a 29-14 Saskatchewan lead heading into the fourth.

The Stampeders got back on the board midway through the fourth when Sankey completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Rambo that capped an eight-play, 104- yard drive.

Saskatchewan put the game away down the stretch, though, as Congi's 35-yard field-goal miss yielded a single. An errant Sankey pass then was picked off by Maurice Lloyd two plays later, and Congi sealed the win with a 42-yard field goal.

Game Notes

The Riders won the season series, 2-1...Sankey played for the Stampeders from 2000 to 2002...The Stampeders played their first game since defensive coordinator Denny Creehan was fired earlier this week. Defensive backfield coach Tim Burke is taking over for Creehan on an interim basis until the end of the season.