Edmonton sat atop of the CFL standings heading into Friday night's game.
In fact, it had only lost one game the entire season.
And on paper, it shouldn't have had any issues. The Eskimos took on Saskatchewan, the last-place team in the Western Division.
Yet on Friday night, the Roughriders didn't play like the last-place team. Saskatchewan dominated first-place Edmonton 54-31 on the road.
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The Roughriders got things started with a easy 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Glenn to Naaman Roosevelt for the first score of the game. Then, the Saskatchewan defense blocked an Edmonton punt and returned it to the house for a touchdown.
Willie Jefferson III (@Stmn_Willie_Bmn) does it all on this punt block return! pic.twitter.com/9ony1mdDSm
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) August 26, 2017
Edmonton did respond to start the second quarter, thanks to a 1-yard Mike Reilly touchdown run. However, the Roughriders marched downt the field and kicked a 21-yard field goal attempt.
Then, with just 15 seconds left in the quarter, Glenn dumped the ball off to running back Cameron Marshall, who broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown to extend their lead to 23-6 just before half.
Never. Say. Die. @qterback5 escapes pressure to find @Cam_Marshall32 for the helicopter touchdown. The highlights continue on #CFLGameDay! pic.twitter.com/x3Di28rVIa
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) August 26, 2017
The second half was all defense for the Roughriders, who picked off Reilly twice en route to touchdowns, first from Kenny Stafford who returned his pick for 40 yards, and then from Bryant Mitchell who did the same for 50 yards.
Two offensive TDs. Two special teams TDs. It was only a matter of time until the @sskroughriders defence got one too #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/nh84cPe8Av
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) August 26, 2017
Update: Make that two offensive TDs, two special teams TDs, and TWO defensive TDs. The @sskroughriders continue to pour it on. #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/UIT16dGTT8
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) August 26, 2017
And while Edmonton finally got its offense rolling in the fourth quarter, putting up 24 points, it didn't matter. Saskatchewan was too far ahead — and added more touchdowns, too.
Glenn finished the game going 19-of-31 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Marshall carried the ball for 44 yards on seven carries, and Roosevelt had seven receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown.
So while the win doesn't help Saskatchewan much in the standings, it does bring it a half game back from the B.C. Lions. And, who knows? Maybe the blowout win over the league's top team will have them trending in the right direction through the second half of the season.