Riders GC Poem

This is on the Leader-Post's Rider Rumblings blog. I had to steal it and post it. This comes to them courtesy Riders fan Keith Willoughby who found prose as a way to get through the pain.



The outlook wasn't brilliant for the ‘Rider-nation and their pals,
‘Cause we were 9-point underdogs to the all-star laden Als.
But after Luca Congi hit his second field-goal try,
Each of us realized that the team would not lay down and die.

Chunky hit Calvillo and the pigskin trickled out,
Shologan nearly found the endzone – would this be a ‘Rider rout?
Durant tossed the ball to Fantuz for the game’s first major score.
The Green and White now led by 10 and our hopes began to soar.

Late in the second quarter, Durant went for the long ball.
Fantuz made an impressive catch as the refs reversed their call.
Congi made another kick and the province cheered with glee,
‘Cause the ‘Riders were now leading Les Alouettes by a score of 17 to 3.

Calvillo found Jamel Richardson with an 8-yard touchdown pass.
Could it be that the Green and White were simply running out of gas?
But summoning their will to win the team responded like valiant men
Congi nailed a 23-yard kick to give Saskatchewan a lead of ten

Then with just 10 minutes left, Durant made a thrilling score
As fans began to contemplate another trip to the ‘Rider store.
We hollered and we cheered amidst a McMahon Stadium sea of green
For how could we ever lose this game with the Als now trailing by sixteen?

But Montreal rallied with a score, as Cobourne was their guy
Calvillo then passed to Kerry Carter for a completed 2-point try.
The ‘Riders tried to rally, but the team could not get a first down
As Durant served up an INT to the Alouettes’ Jerald Brown

Now only down by eight, Montreal began to move
For Anthony Calvillo was truly in his groove.
Fans across this province, from Saltcoats to Saskatoon
Could only stand and sadly watch as Calvillo found Cahoon

Montreal attempted another 2-point try, but this one wasn’t good
Could it be that our victory plans were unfolding as they should?
We could not advance the ball as our offense began to stumble
But Louie Sakoda delivered a towering punt, then Bratton made a fumble.

But with our victory so extremely close, the Als recovered the elusive ball
It would now be up to Etcheverry’s daring defense to somehow answer the call.
But Calvillo passed to Richardson, then Watkins for seventeen
As the final seconds approached us like a horror movie scene.

The snap went to the holder, the ball was positioned on the tee.
Then Damon Duval began his approach for the heroic game-winning three.
And now Damon boots the ball, and now it soars through the November night.
And now the cheers are mounting as the kick ends up wide right!

Oh, somewhere in this province
The sun is shining bright.
People are making holiday plans,
And somewhere hearts are light.
We know that in some future day
Our collective hearts will all be healed
But there is no joy in ‘Riderville --
We had an extra player on the field.