Monday Morning Sentimonies: Still On Top

Riders 31 – Lions 27

As noted philosopher Ric FLair famously said, to be the man you gotta beat the man. The general consensus coming into this season was that the Grey Cup was BC’s to lose… well Saturday the Riders made a statement that they aren’t ready relinquish the top spot without a fight. 

If you would have told me prior to the game that there would be a scenario where we needed Lokombo to play halfback I would have bet heavily against us. If you had told me that later in that same game a scenario would arise where Lokombo was no longer playing half and I wished he was, I would have openly wept. But Mace has built this team to be gritty and resilient and it took all of that to down a very good BC team. 

This one was all about the offense. Oh man can Trevor Harris dish the ball when he is fully healthy! He was hitting windows that should not have been there. He was finding guys wide open. He also got bailed out a couple times by his receivers, like when he just floated a prayer into triple coverage and Emilus managed to come down with it. Over 400 yards, over 80% completion, 3 TDs, we punted twice. Old man Harris still got game. That drive from our own 2 was a thing of beauty. Last season we had very limited times when Keesean, Emilus and Baker were all healthy. Saturday showed what a problem those 3 can be when they are on the field together. For a while Emilus was on pace for 72 receptions for 72 TDs this season and while he slacked in the second half and let that pace drop to 54 TDs he’s still a force to be reckoned with. O-line held a very strong BC pass rush relatively in check. Marc Mueller called a great game. All around a great offensive performance in a game where we needed to put up points. The offense was actually one of our primary defensive contributors. Turns out even for a guy as talented as Rourke its tough to score when you don’t have the ball. Our offense kept the ball out of his hands. Through the first 17 minutes of the game Rourke was able to get 1 drive consisting of 6 plays… that was it. 

I need to see more of our defense before I can make my mind up about them. They looked okay but certainly not great. Kinda like a 3am booty call… it got the job done but probably not something you are bragging about. But I am also mindful that they faced one of the best offenses in the CFL, without their best defender for a large portion of the game. Pass rush was not super disruptive. The ends kept contain pretty good and did get some pressure. But again is that a mediocre D line or is that a product of facing the O-line that gave up the least sack last season? I need to see more before I know for sure. But I give the D full credit they grinded out a win and made plays when it mattered most. I think Evans will be OK at edge. Obviously the sight of Milligan in a sling is not great. Hopefully he’s out too long. I will say this, for all the hype about Nathan Rourke and all the talk about what a great offensive mind Buck Pierce is Exume came into the game at corner in the 4^th and they did not test him at all. Even when Keon Hatcher (a guy who put up 1600 yards last season) was lined up on him. In what world is there a better read than that? 

Alex Hale (aka the CFL’s Rodrigo Blankenship) was mostly OK for a debut. I was perfectly happy through most of the first half when I didn’t know whether or not we dressed a punter because he was not required.

Overall a strong opening game from the defending champs. Very strong on offense. Hard fought effort for a depleted defense. We picked up a very crucial win against a division rival that is likely to be fighting us for top spot in the standings. Great way to start 2026. 

Other random thoughts:

-        I really hope 2026 doesn’t end up like 2008. As the defending champs we started that season 6-0 but it cost us a starting player to injury every week to the point where we were so desperate we had to bring in Michael Boshop. I don’t know what the modern day version of Bishop is but I’d prefer no to find out.

-        It was clear that the concessions could have benefits from a preseason game to work the kinks out. This was an actual conversation I had while attempting to get drinks:

o   Me: I’ll have 2 rye diets

o   Cashier: The pop gun isn’t working, I don’t think I can do diet.

o   M: Ok, how about regular Pepsi?

o   C: (Attempts pop gun) that also appears not to be working?

o   M: what can you put in there?

o   C: Ginger ale

o   M: Perfect, do that

o   C: Turns out ginger ale is also not working.

o   M: Just give me a beer.

-        By all accounts tailgating was a huge success. Look forward to seeing that evolve and grown.

-        In what I can only assume is thanks to my efforts to lobby for the Riders to come up to my section, they came and handed out direct west footballs in my section. I mean the lady came with exactly 3 footballs but a win is a win.

-        I remain appalled at how terrible people are at Price is Right strategy. Fortunately the person won but it was in spite of an awful bet.

-        How badly do you think Dhonte Myers wanted to get in on the aerial assault Harris was launching?