Each week of the CFL season, The News Review Sports will recap the week that was in Rider Nation as well as preview the upcoming week's action in a weekly segment called Rider Report.
Former Riders legend Kent Austin's return to Taylor Field, this time with fellow former Riders QB Henry Burris, was not so plesant as the man who was in command for two of the Riders Grey Cups (one as a player, one as head coach in 2007) as the Roughriders completely shut down the Tiger-Cats in a 37-0 clinic that kept the Riders undefeated start intact.
After a week of speculation on whether he would play after injuring his foot in Toronto the week before, Darian Durant suited up as did Geroy Simon for the first time this season and the Roughriders came into their final home game of July on fire.
With Durant continuing one of the best months of his career, no Riders receiver benefited more on Sunday than Rob Bagg. Bagg was named Canadian Player of the Week after a breakout game in his return from knee injuries that nearly ended his career. The 28-year-old Kingston native had five receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard score. For Bagg, it was his sixth career 100-yard game and second highest single game total.
Bagg caught two of Durant's four touchdowns in the blowout win as Bagg would catch the Riders first touchdown of the game in the first quarter before putting the icing on the cake in the fourth quarter with an incredible 60 yard catch and run that looked like a throwback to the days when Bagg was one of the top Canadians in the league.
This is the third time in his career Bagg has been named Canadian Player of the Week after picking up honors once in 2008 and once in 2009, but none will be sweeter than this one as it was nice to see a player who has spent much of his last two seasons rehabbing back on top in one of the feel good stories of the Riders season so far.
Bagg would be one of three Riders to earn Player of the Week honors as Darian Durant and Rey Williams earned Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors respectively after being major contributors to the Riders dominance on the field.
Williams was named the Defensive Player of the Week after leading a dominating defensive performance in the Riders shutout win over Hamilton. Williams had two sacks in the win and has been one of the pleasant improvements to this year's Riders roster, Williams has matched his career high in sacks in just the first four games.
This is the third time in his career and the second consecutive week that Williams has been the Defensive Player of the Week as he was dominant in the Riders' win against Toronto in what has been a blazing start for the veteran Williams.
Durant was named Offensive Player of the Week following Sunday's 37-point victory at Mosaic Stadium.
The eight year Rider completed 20 of 32 passes for a season high 347 yards and continued his early season perfection with zero interceptions on Sunday.
Durant has been ten fold better than he was last season and with an improved line and receiver depth the sky is the limit for Durant who is now poised to become the CFL's best quarterback with passers around the league struggling early.
Overshadowed by Durant and Bagg's heroics, Geroy Simon did make his Riders debut in the win. Simon, who may end his career as the best statistical pass catcher in league history, snagged two catches in his debut with the Green and White.
Kory Sheets also continued his blazing start to 2013 with a 118 yard rushing performance on 23 carries in what was a complete beat down of the Ti-Cats.
With a Saturday rematch in Hamilton, it looks promising that the Riders will be able to head into their bye week 5-0.
With high expectations heading into the season, Corey Chamblin has surpassed even the most demanding of Riders fans expectations early this season as he has guided his team through some injury concerns and wins against the two teams in last season's Grey Cup.
After a month of football, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are back to being at the top of the CFL.
Still a lot can change during the course of the long CFL season and all of the goodwill that has been created with this 4-0 start will be forgotten the minute the Riders stumble, it is now their mission to keep that momentum going.
