The Saskatchewan Roughriders scored a 40-37 overtime win in Calgary on Saturday night to improve to 2-0 on the CFL season.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders showed plenty of resilience on Saturday night.
Despite surrendering a missed-field goal return touchdown at the end of the first half and watching a double-digit second-half lead disappear, the Green and White found a way to earn a dramatic 40-37 overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders to improve to 2-0 on the CFL season—one of the biggest reasons why was receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker.
The 28-year-old delivered a huge performance with eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns, including a key reception in overtime that helped set up the winning score. After the game, Schaffer-Baker said there was never any panic on the Riders’ sideline despite the momentum swings.
“Football is like life, man. It’s going to be a roller coaster ride. It’s full of ups and downs,” Schaffer-Baker said. “It’s all about riding those waves and never getting too high in those high moments and never getting too low in those low moments. I think we did a phenomenal job of that. We didn’t answer the way we wanted going into the half, but when we came back out, we responded. The game’s not over until the clock hits zero, and we had a little bit of extra time on that clock, but we kept fighting. Everyone was leaning on the guy next to them, and we got the job done.”
Schaffer-Baker’s overtime catch was another example of staying prepared for when the moment arrives.
“Being ready whenever your number’s called,” he said. “You never know when that opportunity is going to present itself, but it’s just being locked in every single moment. Especially being a receiver, you never know when that ball is going to come your way. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.”
His biggest highlight of the night came on a 53-yard touchdown reception, a play Schaffer-Baker wasn’t surprised to make.
“They call me 7-11,” he said with a smile. “I’m open 24 hours. I’m always open.”
At the end of the day, though, the only stat that mattered to him was the final score.
“As long as we get the win, I don’t care how the game goes,” Schaffer-Baker said. “The goal every single week is to go 1-0, and that’s what we did.”
The Roughriders will try to make it three straight wins to open the season when they host Toronto on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.