Rider backups love playing in Hamilton, after all history is on their side. Rocky Butler came in relief duty in 2006 to lead the Riders to victory at Ivor Wynne. Current Rider starter Darian Durant did it in 2008 when he came in during Week 3 to lead Saskatchewan to a 33-28 win over the Ti-Cats in his breakout season.
So it was no surprise when after a blowout shutout victory in Week 4 that the Riders still looked like the more dominant team with Drew Willy. Willy threw for three touchdowns, including Geroy Simon's first as a Rider, to lead the Riders to their fifth straight win to start the 2013 season 32-20.
Shockingly, Saturday also marked the fifth straight game the Riders opened the game by trailing. A Henry Burris first quarter touchdown pass gave the Ti-Cats a 10-3 lead after the first quarter ended as Hamilton looked strong early despite playing at a neutral site in Guelph.
With Hamilton settling in after the opening quarter and feeling that they could steal a win from the Riders with Durant sitting out with his foot injury before the bye week, it was once again the defense that provided the spark for Saskatchewan against the Tiger-Cats. On a third and one from the goal line the Riders stuffed Burris to prevent the Tiger-Cats from going up two scores early in the second quarter.
After the goal line stand Willy would connect on a 35 yard touchdown pass to Simon that was the game's turning point. From then on it would be all green and white as Willy threw two more touchdowns in a 23 point second quarter that was enough to seal a 32-20 win in Guelph.
Kory Sheets was once again magnificent at tailback for Saskatchewan:
Sheets rushed for 140 yards on 25 carries and became the first player in CFL history to rush for 100-plus yards in each of his team's first five regular-season games. Sheets is now on pace to break George Reed's single season rushing record, a number that many thought could never be broken.
In fact Sheets big start to his season already has him ahead of former Riders running back Wes Cates' entire production for the 2011 season. Part of that success is in part to the full rebuild of the offensive line showing the fruits of its labour this year, but Sheets running performances so far have been outstanding and a huge part in why the Riders offense looks like a well oiled machine each week.
This weekend marks the dreaded bye week for Riders fans as the team will take a much deserved week off to heal and it could come at no better time as Durant continues to nurse his injuries. A big rematch against Calgary at McMahon Stadium is next on August 9, hopefully the bye does Durant some good as the Riders will need his help to keep the Riders undefeated.
