How the heck did that happen?<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Roughriders don\u2019t have a dependable kicker. They don\u2019t create turnovers and their injury-depleted roster was filled by unknowns.<\/p>\n
And their main offensive weapon was short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens, whose three touchdown plunges let the Roughriders sashay Saturday into fuller-than-usual Commonwealth Stadium and somehow avenge a recent CFL loss by beating the first-place Edmonton Elks 28-26.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe other guys got pushed in and were still able to beat a good team,\u201d Riders head coach Corey Mace told reporters after his squad improved to 5-2 and knocked the Elks to 6-2 before 31,757 fans sporting lots of green jerseys representing each team.<\/p>\n \u201cShoutout to every one. We truly needed something from everybody on our roster to win this game.\u201d<\/p>\n Running back Quali Conley, playing his third game in the absence of injured starter A.J. Ouellette, backwards-hurdled and spun around would-be tacklers while gaining 97 all-purpose yards.<\/p>\n Little-used receivers Dhel Duncan-Busby, Johnny Johnson III and D\u2019Sean Mimbs made key catches, returns or blocks.<\/p>\n Replacement offensive linemen Erik Andersen and Daniel Johnson were part of a short-yardage unit that helped Stevens score and also run out the clock with hard-earned gains.<\/p>\n \u201cAny time I can have any positive influence on the game, I appreciate it,\u201d said Stevens, who said his \u201cheart sank\u201d when he fumbled the football on a potential scoring plunge before getting another, successful chance because the Elks were penalized for having too many men on the field.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got lucky down there.\u201d<\/p>\n Stevens told reporters afterwards he traditionally buys his blockers a box of doughnuts for every touchdown they help him score, so he\u2019s planning to bring three dozen pastries to the locker room while the Roughriders prepare to play host Friday to the winless Ottawa Redblacks.<\/a><\/p>\n On defence, backup DBs Jonathan Edouard, Malcolm Bell and James Burgess Jr. played in a patchwork secondary that surrendered only 286 passing yards and one touchdown to Elks QB Cody Fajardo. Newcomer Derick Roberson was one of two players to sack Fajardo.<\/p>\n