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Photo by BRANDON HARDER / Regina Leader-Post

“You know with a defence as good as ours and playmakers as good as ours that you don’t need to do too much,” he said. “They make it easy on you.”

Harker went 23 of 28 for 213 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. The latter was a critical stat, although he did throw one pick that was reversed by a penalty.

“I told him (before the game) to take care of the football,” said head coach Craig Dickenson. “Consider yourself a point guard, distribute the ball, and it’s OK if we have to punt. He didn’t give the ball up. That was the key to our game plan.”

Harker executed it well. He also received kudos from veteran guard Brendon LaBatte for his command of the huddle.

“I loved the kid in there — just the moxie, the swagger he has about himself,” LaBatte said. “He inspires confidence from everybody in the huddle. He got fiery a couple times and that was good to see. I like that out of a young guy.

“That’s a tough situation to come in and play the biggest game of the Riders’ season. He did an awesome job.”

It was a game of firsts for Harker, who made his first CFL start and picked up his first win, leading Saskatchewan to first place in the West Division for the first time since 2009.

The 24-year-old rookie conceded that it was “a lot to take in.”

“It’s crazy and you’re really thankful that you’re getting the chance to show your (ability), “ he said. “But, at the same time, your best friend is the one who’s down and he has gotten us to this point where we could clinch. I really wanted to win not only for Cody but for the whole team.”