The Saskatchewan Roughriders hoped to emerge from Friday\u2019s game while smelling like a rose.<\/p>\n
Mike Rose detected a different fragrance after a 40-34 CFL loss to the Toronto Argonauts<\/a> at Mosaic Stadium \u2014 a result that left both teams with 2-1 records.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we lose, we lose as a team,\u201d the veteran defensive tackle said. \u201cWhen we win, we win as a team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stunk it up, but we\u2019ll get back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a uniformly fetid performance \u2014 there were, in fact, several bright spots \u2014 but periodic breakdowns prevented Saskatchewan from starting a third consecutive season at 3-0.<\/p>\n Offence: On first-and-goal from the five-yard line, a miscommunication between quarterback Trevor Harris<\/a> and receiver Samuel Emilus led to the only interception Saskatchewan has thrown this season. In the fourth quarter, the Roughriders\u2019 Jaylen Johnson fumbled on his 32-yard line and Toronto struck for a touchdown three plays later. The convert gave the Argonauts a 40-31 lead with 4:17 remaining. (Johnson soon rebounded by making a spectacular one-handed catch for a 23-yard gain.)<\/p>\n Defence: Twenty-four seconds before halftime, Toronto began a series on its 46-yard line while trailing 17-13. Chad Kelly struck for back-to-back completions \u2014 finding Damonte Coxie for 37 yards before throwing a 27-yard TD pass to Tyler Kahmann. \u201cNo doubt that\u2019s a tough one to give up,\u201d Head Coach Corey Mace lamented<\/a>.<\/p>\n Special teams: Toronto opened the scoring when Janarion Grant returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown.<\/p>\n \u201cIn all three phases, we took our turns,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lost and we\u2019re going to take a look at how we can get better, because complementary football is the name of the game in pro football.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we can stay on the field and keep our defence off the field, that\u2019s going to help them more. And if the defence can generate two-and-outs and the special teams can flip the field for us, obviously we\u2019re going to be in a better position.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all going to take a look and be better.\u201d<\/p>\n Mace, ever accountable, put the onus on himself.<\/p>\n \u201cYou hate what this feels like right now, but it\u2019s a learning lesson,\u201d the CFL\u2019s 2025 Coach of the Year said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to address it as a team. That\u2019s obviously with myself first, and then with the rest of the coaches and the players.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is pro ball and it didn\u2019t work out for us today.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, as referenced earlier, there were positive developments:<\/p>\n \u2022 Johnson\u2019s one-handed catch (repeat) \u2014 part of a game in which he made five receptions for 67 yards.<\/p>\n \u2022 KeeSean Johnson\u2019s leaping grab near the sideline for a 28-yard gain, despite tight coverage from Benjie Franklin. Four plays later, Harris found Daniel Wiebe<\/a> for a 17-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Wiebe touchdown \u2014 in the former University of Saskatchewan Huskies standout\u2019s first CFL regular-season game.<\/p>\n \u2022 A 10-catch, 112-yard gem by KeeSean Johnson, coupled with eight receptions for 89 yards by Kian Schaffer-Baker. Both of them have more than 300 receiving yards after three games.<\/p>\n