Sep
Boreham puts boot to Eskimos
Courtesy Regina Leader Post:
Jamie Boreham gave the Saskatchewan Roughriders a leg up on the Edmonton Eskimos when it came to Saturday’s swirling winds at Commonwealth Stadium.
The veteran punter used a series of rugby-style kicks to keep the Eskimos off-balance and cut through the winds, which were gusting to 80 kilometres per hour. Boreham’s running punts helped the Riders record a 23-20 victory.
“He did a tremendous job,’’ Riders head coach Ken Miller said after Saturday’s game. “We’ve been working on that rugby-style kick, even last year against Edmonton at our place when the wind was so strong. We utilized it to a great advantage. It’s something that is in his repertoire and he does a great job with it.’’
A 46-yard rugby-style kick by Boreham produced the Riders’ first touchdown when Eskimos returner Bradley Robinson couldn’t handle the bouncing ball. A host of Riders had chances to recover the loose ball but it was Rey Williams who jumped on it in the end zone for a touchdown.
“When the ball gets on the ground, you never know what’s going to happen,’’ said Boreham, who averaged 41.5 yards over eight punts. “It also takes away the 15-yard no-yards penalty. A little dumb luck and they mishandled the ball. Then we had about six guys jump on it.’’
The touchdown salvaged what could have been a disastrous series for the Riders. A 41-yard field goal by Luca Congi into the teeth of the gusting winds was wiped out when the Riders were assessed a 10-yard penalty for having too many men on the field.
A 10-yard time count violation on the next play pushed the Riders out of field-goal range, which prompted Miller to send out the punt team.
“That was a huge momentum swing,’’ said Boreham. “We thought we had three points and we were happy. Then there was a penalty and we got backed up again. There was a lull there but basically it was just dumb luck.’’
Boreham’s contributions extended beyond his rugby-style kicks. He ran for a first down from the set position in the third quarter when the Riders were faced with a third-and-one on their 34. The five-yard run kept a drive alive that culminated in 36-yard field goal by Congi.
“That wasn’t dumb luck,’’ said Boreham, who also gained a first down on a fake punt in Edmonton’s 31-27 victory over the Riders on Sept. 20. “That was taking advantage of what we had. I had the edge because the punt team blocked so well. The punt team blocked well all day and we controlled field position. That was huge.’’
Boreham also contributed a special-teams tackle in the fourth quarter when it appeared that Robinson might be able to break free on the outside.
“That happened because it was a bad kick,’’ said Boreham, who has four special-teams tackles this season. “The coverage team strung him out and when they do that, I have to cover as well as I can.’’
The win helped the Riders (7-5) maintain a share of first place in the West Division with the Calgary Stampeders. The Riders, who were off Monday, are to play the B.C. Lions in Vancouver on Friday.
