Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Tristan Jackson (38) attempts to break through the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence during the first half of their CFL football game in Regina, Saskatchewan June 29, 2014.STRINGER/CANADA/Reuters
Anthony Allen rushed for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns to pace the Saskatchewan Roughriders' new-look offence in a 31-10 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
In front of just 19,285 spectators on a rainy and windy day at Mosaic Stadium, quarterback Darian Durant looked sharp from the opening snap. He led the Riders on scoring drives on three of their first four possessions.
Saskatchewan starts the 2014 CFL season 1-0 and will visit the Toronto Argonauts (1-0) in Week 2. Hamilton (0-1) will travel to Edmonton next week to face the Eskimos (1-0).
Chris Milo opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal on the Riders' first possession. Allen scored his first touchdown on a two-yard reception from Durant the next time the Riders offence had the ball.
Allen's second touchdown came early in the second quarter, a one-yard plunge, and gave the defending Grey Cup champs a 19-0 lead.
The Riders led 24-1 at the half and racked up 196 yards on offence, compared to Hamilton's 80 yards.
The halftime break didn't slow the Riders. Durant marched the offence 79 yards and punctuated that drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brett Swain, one of eight different receivers to catch a pass from Durant.
Durant finished the day 14-for-21 passing for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Tiger-Cats quarterback Zach Collaros was 16-for-30 for 130 yards and a TD. The Riders defence sacked him 10 times, including two apiece from John Chick and Derek Walker. Ricky Foley had three sacks.
Hamilton scored its first and only touchdown of the day midway through the fourth quarter on a four-yard pass from Collaros to Luke Tasker, a score that made it 31-10.
The Tiger-Cats scored a single point on a 64-yard punt through the end zone in the second quarter, and added a safety in the third quarter.