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“Anytime you have a defence rolling like that, it makes it easier for us offensively.”

Saskatchewan’s defence didn’t let up. B.C.’s opening three possessions ended with either a punt (on two occasions) or a safety touch. Seun Idowu sacked Reilly before punter Josh Bartel conceded a safety to give the Riders a 5-0 lead.

Loucheiz Purifoy returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. Ferraro’s convert gave the Riders a 12-0 lead at 10:12 of the first quarter.

“We knew they would come out fighting and we were going to take the fight to them, or at least try,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said. “That’s why we elected to defer. Well, we didn’t even have to (defer) because they took the ball, but we would have deferred.

“We wanted to be on defence first and really try to set in motion the game plan, which is to be physical.”

Saskatchewan registered four sacks, courtesy of Elimimian, Idowu, Zack Evans and Makana Henry.

Reilly has now been sacked a league-high 25 times. Charleston Hughes, who leads the CFL with eight sacks, was held off the stats sheet Saturday after getting three sacks in the Riders’ 38-25 win over the visiting Lions on July 20.

“(Hughes) was still getting there,” Evans said. “It doesn’t matter who shines, it’s just that one or two of us who needs to shine every game. As a defensive line, we set the tone for every game. If we’re on it, then the whole team is on it.”

The trickle-down effect was noted by members of the offence.