Grid Iron Glory

Saskatchewan - National Champions!!!

For the first time in history, Saskatchewan has won the U19 Football Canada Cup and they did it by playing typical Saskatchewan football.

It may be cliché but in this province, it may as well be law - Defence wins Championships. You saw it with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007, you see it with junior teams across the province and tonight you saw it with the U19's.

Saskatchewan took on Alberta for Gold and quite frankly, it was one of the worst starts for the Green and White. On the very first offensive play, Jake McGeough threw an awful interception. After the game he told me that he was a little disappointed but the coaching staff quickly relaxed him and told him to forget about it. And quite frankly, it's easy to forget about it when you have such a stellar "D". Led by Seamus Neary, Luke Theil and Levi Steinhaur - this defence put up a wall that was virtually unbreakable.

They frustrated Alberta's offence and held them to just four points - FOUR POINTS!!!

So again, a big congratulations to Ryan Hall and the rest of his coaching staff and of course all the players from every corner of the province who have once again put us on the map.

SASKATCHEWAN - 2009 U19 FOOTBALL CANADA CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!

Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are proving just why they're one of the elite in the Canadian Football League. Heading into the season, there was an uneasy feeling in Riderville and why not...

- GM Eric Tillman is charged with sexual assault on a minor
- Longtime Defensive Coordinator, Richie Hall, becomes Head Coach of the Eskimos
- Some key pieces to the Riders "D" leave town: Maurice Lloyd, Anton McKenzie
- Questions surrounding the ability of starting QB Darian Durant

In Week One, the Riders survived a late scare and edge past the BC Lions 28-24. It was a thrilling game at Mosaic Stadium but let's face it, the Riders had nothing to smile after a comedy of errors and too many mental mistakes.

A much different story in Week Two. The Riders were down 10-0 to the Toronto Argonauts when the pendulum of momentum swung towards the Green and White. They took advantage of inexcusable penalties and undisciplined play by the Argos, who racked up 14 penalties for 131 yards in the first half alone!

The Riders humiliated them at the Rogers Centre in the second quarter, scoring 30-unanswered points.

Darian Durant didn't throw for over 300 yards but he was effective - 18/28, 205 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT.

The defence - led by Stevie Baggs - is proving that they're still as powerful if not better than they were with Lloyd, McKenzie and Richie Hall.

So with that, the Riders are a perfect 2-0 to start the year and are in sole possession of first in the West Division. The real test comes this weekend when the Riders host the only other undefeated team in the CFL, Anthony Calvillo and the Montréal Alouettes.

It's a battle of two great defences and two high powered offences. It should be a classic!