"Joseph returns to Regina but Roughriders still beat Argos 28-22" REGINA - Kerry Joseph encountered a stormy reception in his return to Regina, but not in the way he might have expected. A sudden deluge, complete with lightning and hail, engulfed Mosaic Stadium and caused a 40-minute delay after the first quarter Sunday as the Saskatchewan Roughriders came from behind to defeat the Toronto Argonauts 28-22. A one-yard touchdown run by Wes Cates led the Riders to victory in their second straight

game to be delayed on account of weather. The start of the team’s 41-33 win over the visiting Montreal Alouettes on July 19 was delayed approximately 50 minutes before the Roughriders (5-0) went on to win their fourth straight game to start the year.
The win also marks the first time that the Riders have won five straight games to start a season since 1934.
“What a great tribute to our players that they battle and they find a way (to win),” said Roughriders coach Ken Miller, whose team was down 11-0 nearing the midway point of the second quarter. “We want to win every game regardless of who the opponent is.”
Joseph was traded to Toronto in the off-season as the Riders worked to abide by the CFL’s salary cap. Playing his first game in Regina since quarterbacking the Roughriders last year to their first Grey Cup since 1989, Joseph was cheered wildly when he stepped on the field wearing Argos blue to accept a Riders team award for leadership and community involvement in 2007.
But he made his allegiances clear in the second quarter by running for one touchdown and throwing for another in helping Toronto stake out an 18-10 halftime lead. Joseph ran 13 yards for his team’s first TD of the game and found Arland Bruce in the end zone on a 19-yard throw before the half was out.
Joseph finished the game 21 of 42 for 259 yards.
“It was a little tough but I was fine and ready to go,” he said, giving the rain delay credit for helping calm his nerves.
The Argonauts held a 4-0 lead after one quarter on a 71 yard single and 38 yard field goal from kicker Mike Vanderjagt. And they wasted no time expanding their lead after the storm subsided, with Joseph’s touchdown run coming less than three minutes into the second quarter.
“It’s different (being on the other sideline),” added Joseph. “You just have to try and take their momentum away. I appreciate what they did for me … but I just wanted to play football.”
The win didn’t come without its price for Saskatchewan, which lost quarterback Darian Durant to reportedly broken ribs in the first quarter and star receiver Andy Fantuz to a broken fibula in the third quarter. Coach Ken Miller could not give a timeline on either player’s return after the game.
“At some point we’re going to hit the critical mass here I’ve been talking about,” said a visibly shaken Miller.
Other Riders currently sidelined include defensive back John Chick, return specialist Weston Dressler, receiver D.J. Flick, and No. 1 pivot Marcus Crandell.
The Roughriders answered Toronto’s early onslaught when relief quarterback Steven Jyles connected with receiver Fantuz on a 31-yard touchdown strike on the next series after Joseph’s running TD. Jyles played briefly in the first quarter and then started the second after Durant was KO’d.
Durant himself was starting in relief of Crandell, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Miller promised an update on Saskatchewan’s quarterback status for next week on Thursday.
“(Jyles) did an excellent job,” said Miller. “He executed the plays we gave him extremely well. Some of you have been saying to me the last few weeks that we have two quarterbacks who can win and I say no, we have three.”
A 46-yard field goal from Luca Congi gave Saskatchewan the momentum heading into the third quarter and they never looked back.
The Riders sandwiched a Cates touchdown and Congi’s second field goal of the game (a 32-yard try) around another Vanderjagt single to hold a 20-19 lead after the third quarter.
Vanderjagt gave Toronto a 22-20 lead with a 41-yard field goal midway through the final frame. But Cates again came through with a one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Riders ahead for good. Jamie Boreham kicked a 56-yard single to round out the scoring.
Cates ran for 130 yards on 24 carries to regain the lead in the CFL rushing race.
“I think the third quarter with my touchdown and the way it ended was the turning point,” said Cates. “It was good to get us up and make our defence breathe a little easier.”
The loss drops Toronto to 2-3 but they remain tied atop the CFL’s East Division standings with the Montreal Alouettes after the Als dropped a 36-34 decision to the B.C. Lions on Friday.
“(Joseph) put up 20-some points and that should be enough for us to win most days,” said Argos head coach Rich Stubler. “We just didn’t play well enough on the other side of the ball.”
Next up for Saskatchewan is a trip Saturday to Calgary to take on the Stampeders. Toronto heads home to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday.