Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Jason Clermont picks up his son after their CFL football games against the Hamilton Tiger Cats in Regina, Saskatchewan October 29, 2011. The Saskatchewan Roughriders won the game 19-3. REUTERS/David StobbeDAVID STOBBE/Reuters
Craig Butler isn't buying the notion that you've got to be good to be lucky.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders' rookie safety had two interceptions, including a third-quarter pick in the end zone, as the Riders' defence led the team to a 19-3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in CFL action Saturday.
"The first one I got lucky," said Butler. "It should have been a touchdown ... I stumbled and fortunately the ball was thrown a little high. On the second one I just read the quarterback and he threw it right to me.
"You've got to be lucky to be good."
With the win Saskatchewan (5-12) snapped a five-game losing streak, while also denying Hamilton (8-9) its first winning record in nearly a month.
The game had no playoff implications for either team with the Roughriders already out of contention and Hamilton locked into a third-place finish in the East Division.
"It just feels good to win," Butler added. "We haven't won in awhile so it feels good when you get that W. There's a lot of positive energy going around and we're going to aim to get another one next week."
Butler accounted for half of the four turnovers served up by Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn as the Riders got it done with youth.
Halfback Tyron Brackenridge, making his first CFL start, and second-year cornerback Nick Graham also picked Glenn, and rookie kicker Chris Milo was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts.
Milo was good Saturday from 11, 40, and 12 yards, and has now scored 45 of the Riders' 59 points over their last six games.
He also contributed three punt singles, including a 108-yarder in the first quarter that tied the CFL record set by Zenon Andrusyshyn of the Toronto Argonauts in 1977.
"Certainly the defence made a lot of big plays when we needed to make big plays, interceptions in the end zone, just a great job," said Riders head coach Ken Miller. "Our special teams were special today too. They made a lot of big plays. Chris Milo with punting and kicking ... did a great job."
Ryan Dinwiddie started at quarterback in place of the injured Darian Durant and finished 7-for-20 with 139 yards but no touchdown throws, extending Saskatchewan's streak without one to over 390 minutes.
Instead it was fullback Neal Hughes scoring the Riders' only touchdown of the day on a three-yard run in the second quarter, giving Saskatchewan a 17-0 halftime lead.
Hamilton's only score came on a 47-yard field goal from Justin Medlock to open the third quarter.
"We love our head coach too much, we love the fans too much, we love this organization too much, and we love each other too much," said Dinwiddie. "We're not going to quit on each other."
Dinwiddie rotated early on with Cole Bergquist, who threw his first CFL passes and finished 0-for-2.
The Tiger-Cats also split quarterbacking duties, using both Kevin Glenn and starter Quinton Porter. Porter finished 6-of-13 for 53 yards while Glenn went 14-for-22 with 171 yards.
Saskatchewan's Dallas Baker led all receivers with 86 yards, including a 72-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter that set up Milo's first field goal.
The Roughriders will close out their 2011 season Friday in Edmonton against the Eskimos. Hamilton meanwhile will aim to finish 9-9 for a third straight season with a road win Thursday over Toronto.
Notes: Saskatchewan slotback Jason Clermont's only catch of the day, an eight-yarder in the first quarter, was the 500th of his CFL career ... Roughriders regulars who sat Saturday's game out included Durant, Andy Fantuz, Wes Cates, Barrin Simpson, Lance Frazier, and Sean Lucas.