The Riders made the Grey Cup's most memorable play, but not the big ones.
It seems rather odd that in the quiet locker room of the Saskatchewan Roughriders that a backup offensive lineman and a defensive lineman would be sought after for interviews, along with the star player.
Guard Marc Parenteau and defensive tackle Keith Shologan were asked for their remarks about the plays they made, just as quarterback Darian Durant was queried about the one key play he almost made but didn't.
Parenteau scored a touchdown reception, the first of his career. He was left wide open because he was lined up as an eligible receiver, who wasn't considered important by the defence. He was so alone he could have counted steamboats.
The play had only been put into the offensive package, for the Western final.
"I released and I realized no one was close to me," he said. "I wanted to get my head around in case there was pressure on Darian, which it looked like there wasn't. He didn't drive it in there too much."
He celebrated by holding up the ball, pointing one tip toward his mouth as if chugging a beer, something offensive linemen are prone to do. It wasn't the greatest touchdown celebration, but rather original.
"I wanted to do something quick, not too elaborate, plus I can't do cartwheels," he said in a way only a lineman could.
In reality, it was a bittersweet moment.
"I want to help the team win," Parenteau said. "I'd rather be out there full-time as an o lineman. Helping by catching the ball was what I was supposed to do. I was happy to do it. But I want to hold the (Grey) Cup, not the ball."
"It will be a while," he said, when asked how long it would be before he will be able to enjoy the moment. "It will be a good memory when my mind floats back in the off-season, but every time I'll see the ball I'll think how we lost that one instead of winning it. It would have been nice to have the picture next to one holding the Cup. It's nice but not that great."
On the opposite side of the room, Shologan talked about being voted the top Canadian, recognized for recording two defensive tackles and two quarterback sacks. He was told about the award while walking off the field, spared from having to stand on the podium of the winning team.
Teammate Jason Clermont was voted the top Canadian in the 2004 Grey Cup, as a member of the losing B.C. Lions. Somebody was using their head this time.
"Luckily they didn't bring me out there because it was pretty sour," he said. "I'll probably be happy in a couple days, but right now we're just sad that we lost. I guess I have to thank God that I won it and got a little recognition, which is nice. But right now looking at the game, it's tough that you lose and it's tough we lost as a team. It's tough for the older guys, who haven't won yet. Your heart drops. So the award don't mean too much. It's all about the team and we didn't get it done tonight."
Durant couldn't do what he had done so many times -- make a play from nothing. And similar to last year, he had to speak of the anguish of losing.
Last year, it was a penalty by special teams for too many men on the field, this time it was an interception, although too many plays before that were not executed.
"For the past two Grey Cups, we've been through probably every situation you could go through as a football player," he said. "There's nothing but things to learn from, especially with us being a young team. We all have to be better, it starts with me. I'll take it upon myself to make sure I'm better, to make sure our receivers are better and games like this don't come down to last drives or last-minute situations."
He wanted so hard to make that play, just like Parenteau and Shologan wanted to make a play, but he couldn't scramble from the clutches of the defence.
He didn’t get enough on a pass intended for a teammate near the sideline and it was picked off.
The Als ran out the clock afterward.
"I tried to get away like I always do. It is risk versus reward, trying to make a play with a minute left in the game," he said. "I didn't want to take a sack, but looking back a sack would have been the thing to do. You live and you learn. Unfortunately it happened that way for us."
It could have been the most amazing play. It could have been something to cherish. It didn't happen.
Parenteau and Shologan made plays that they will cherish in time. Heroes in a game they didn't win.
