After one-sided loss in Montreal, Riders look to rebound at home against Alouettes

REGINA — Dealing with a nightmare defeat isn’t easy, but Cody Fajardo believes the Saskatchewan Roughriders are up to the task.

The Riders, coming off a short week, were trounced 37-13 by the Montreal Alouettes on June 23. It was a game that started badly for the Riders — Montreal’s Chandler Worthy took the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown — and didn’t improve as the game progressed.

Fajardo admitted Riders, who will host the Als on Saturday in Regina, were a little overwhelmed by the start and couldn’t find a way to turn back the tide.

“They run back the opening kickoff and the self-doubt starts to creep in,” said Fajardo. “You're already down seven points. Then on our first play the game we had some miscommunication and a missed assignment that almost was a pick six. And then the next was a throw to Shaq (Evans) and he was probably a half of an inch out of bounds so we go two and out.

"Then they get a field goal and you’re looking at an early 10-0 deficit and we’d only had two plays. As an offence, it's hard to overcome that."

The offensive woes were compounded by an impressive performance by the Montreal defence, which recorded eight sacks and three interceptions.

It was the first game for the Riders without starting centre Dan Clark, who suffered a broken fibula on June 18 in a 26-16 victory over the Edmonton Elks. With Clark sidelined, rookie Logan Bandy stepped into the lineup against the Alouettes with just one practice to prepare for his first CFL start.

Bandy’s inexperience, combined with the lack of practice time and the strength of the Montreal defence, resulted in a long evening for the Riders.

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson feels the offensive line shouldn’t bear the brunt of the blame for the