Courtesy CFL.ca

CALGARY (CP) — The Saskatchewan Roughriders inched closer to hosting their first playoff game in almost 20 years with a 33-21 win over the host Calgary Stampeders on Sunday.

The Roughriders (9-5) haven’t had a post-season game in Regina since 1988.

Saskatchewan is second in the Western Conference and three points behind B.C.

The Roughriders padded their lead over third-place Calgary (6-7-1) to five points with Sunday’s victory and helped their quest to host at least the division semifinal if they can’t catch the Lions.

Saskatchewan’s Luca Congi kicked five of his six field goals in the first half and quarterback Kerry Joseph ran in a five-yard touchdown to spot Saskatchewan a 22-7 lead at halftime. Corey Holmes also ran in a major in the second half.

Ben Sankey replaced struggling Calgary quarterback Akili Smith to start the second half and threw touchdown passes to Nik Lewis and Ken-Yon Rambo. Marcus Howell’s 96-year punt return was Calgary’s lone major of the first half.

Sankey was six-for-six in a 104-yard march ending with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Rambo that pulled Calgary with a converted touchdown at 7:44 of the fourth quarter. Sankey finished the day 19-for-25 for 262 yards and two touchdown passes.

Congi’s 42-yard field goal at 13:37 sent Stampeders fans to the exits, while green-clad Roughriders faithful remained.

Joseph didn’t have a stellar first half in passing, but his 53-yard toss to D.J. Flick set up Holmes’s four-yard scoring run at 10:57 of the third quarter.

The Saskatchewan quarterback also ran for valuable yardage, including a pivotal touchdown at 6:58 of the second quarter to put his team up 13-7.

A late hit on Joseph by Calgary’s Terrance Patrick’s during that six-play, 85-yard scoring sequence gave Saskatchewan an extra 10 yards. Calgary took nine penalties to Saskatchewan’s two in the first half.

Congi was good from 31, 41, 27, 42 yards and twice from 37 yards.

Courtesy CFL.ca

MONTREAL (CP) — Kerry Watkins made a statement and his boss Jim Popp heard it loud and clear.

Watkins had a career-high 192 yards and a touchdown on seven catches to lead the Montreal Alouettes to a 27-19 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Monday afternoon.

The performance came only days after the veteran receiver got into a shouting match with teammate Chip Cox during a practice and then complained publicly that he was “disrespected” by Popp, the head coach and general manager.

“I took it on my shoulders,” said Watkins. “I told them, whatever I’ve got to do to get the win, make it happen.

All that happened last week no longer exists. That’s the past. Just move forward and focus on our next game against Toronto.”

Anthony Calvillo also threw touchdown passes to Jarrett Payton and Elijah Thurmon as Montreal (7-7) ended a three-game losing streak and moved into a tie with Toronto for second place in the East Division.

The Alouettes now have only three days off before facing the Argonauts in Toronto on Friday night, the first of back-to-back meetings.

With the loss, the Tiger-Cats (2-12) were officially eliminated from playoff contention and dropped to 0-8 on the road this season.