Roughriders defensive end Fred Perry sacks Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris during CFL action in Regina earlier this season. Along with B.C., Saskatchewan's frontline is considered the toughest in the league. (Troy Fleece/Canadian Press)
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Last Updated Tues, 31 Oct 2006 15:25:16 EDT
CBC Sports
The additions of quarterback Kerry Joseph and receiver Jason Armstead in the Ottawa dispersal draft significantly raised expectations in Regina at the beginning of the 2006 season. But Saskatchewan struggled to find their offensive chemistry early and limped into the second half with a 4-5 record.
With the Riders in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in five years, the team fired Roy Shivers, the first black general manager in pro football history, and replaced him with CBC football analyst Eric Tillman on Aug 22.
The move made an immediate impact as the Riders won their next two games by a combined score of 90-20. Saskatchewan finished off the remainder of the season winning five of its last eight games, including a one-point victory over Montreal on Oct. 13 that clinched a playoff spot for the team.
Through those early offensive struggles, the Riders' defence remained solid. Defensive end Fred Perry led the defence with 14 sacks and linebacker Reggie Hunt ranked second in the league with 83 tackles. Opposing running backs also had a hard time against the Riders frontline, finding the end zone only 10 times.
The Riders' offence gradually improved and finished third in the CFL in points scored. Running back Kenton Keith led the team in rushing with 1,037 yards, while Matt Dominguez finished with the fourth-best yards per catch average (16.2) of receivers with at least 1,000 yards.
| Name | Position | Uniform # |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Armstead | WR | 1 |
| Corey Grant | WR | 2 |
| Omarr Morgan | DB | 3 |
| Kerry Joseph | QB | 4 |
| Craig Yeast | WR | 5 |
| Davin Bush | DB | 5 |
| Jason French | WR | 6 |
| Thomas Stancil | LB | 7 |
| Marcus Crandell | QB | 8 |
| Reggie Hunt | LB | 9 |
| Luca Congi | K | 10 |
| Rocky Butler | QB | 12 |
| Donnie Ruiz | DB | 17 |
| James Johnson | DB | 19 |
| Kennedy Nkeyasen | DB | 20 |
| Rontarius Robinson | DB | 21 |
| Dustin Cherniawski | DB | 22 |
| Jackie Mitchell | LB | 24 |
| Shermar Bracey | RB | 25 |
| Scott Gordon | DB | 26 |
| Dominique Dorsey | RB | 27 |
| Kenton Keith | RB | 28 |
| Eddie Davis | DB | 29 |
| Imokhai Atogwe | DB | 30 |
| Neal Hughes | RB | 32 |
| Chris Szarka | FB | 33 |
| Tim Fleiszer | DE | 34 |
| Cory Hathaway | FB | 35 |
| Tristan Clovis | S | 37 |
| Fred Perry | DE | 41 |
| Anton McKenzie | LB | 42 |
| Mike McCullough | LB | 45 |
| Kitwana Jones | LB | 46 |
| Maurice Lloyd | LB | 47 |
| Mike Mahoney | LB | 49 |
| Marcus Adams | DL | 51 |
| Charles Thomas | T | 53 |
| Jeremy O'Day | C | 54 |
| Jocelyn Frenette | G | 59 |
| Gene Makowsky | T | 60 |
| Antonio Hall | OL | 63 |
| Rob Lazeo | G | 66 |
| Matt O'Meara | T | 67 |
| Andrew Greene | G | 68 |
| Fred Childress | T | 69 |
| Dwan Epps | DE | 77 |
| Terrell Jurineack | DE | 79 |
| Ibrahim Tounkara | WR | 82 |
| Andy Fantuz | SB | 83 |
| Kareem Kelly | WR | 85 |
| Yo Murphy | WR | 87 |
| Matt Dominguez | WR | 88 |
| Jamal Richardson | WR | 89 |
| Kyle Mitchell | DL | 94 |
| Luc Mullinder | DE | 95 |
| Scott Schultz | DT | 96 |
| Nate Davis | DT | 98 |