The Saskatchewan Roughriders headed into McMahon Stadium on Saturday looking to make a statement, but a slow start put an end to that before it could even get started.

The Riders lost 27-10 to the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, dropping their record to 1-3 on the year and extending their losing streak in Calgary to nine years.

“In the first half, they came out and they were the more physical team,” Riders head coach Chris Jones told the media after the game. “They out rushed, they out passed us, they out stat’d us across the board. We got beat by the better football team today.”

Saskatchewan didn’t register a first down until late in the first quarter and they already trailed 10-0 at that point. They would fall behind 17-0 heading into halftime.

The second half saw the Rider team that many expected this week show up and make it a one score game at 17-10, but Calgary put their foot down in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

“With a team like that, you can’t come out slow like that,” said Quarterback Kevin Glenn. “You can’t have the type of first half that we did and think that we’re going to win game. We’ve got to give Calgary credit, they came out and won the game.”

A milestone night for Glenn was spoiled by the loss. The 17-year veteran became the seventh quarterback in CFL history to surpass 50,000 yards passing when he completed a 23-yard pass to receiver Naaman Roosevelt early in the third quarter.

Glenn finished 20-of-29 for 203 yards in the loss.

“It’s tough to enjoy it because the bigger prize was the win, I’m a team guy, so that’s what I’m all about,” said Glenn. “It’s good to be recognized with your individual statistics because we are individuals playing a team sport.

“I know I probably have a bunch of text messages from family and friends congratulating me, even one of the refs came over and congratulated me, all my teammates did too. I credit that stuff to all the guys that I played with, from the first time that I stepped on the field in the CFL, getting that opportunity, there’s been a whole slew of people who have been a part of my success in this league.”

Outside Glenn’s milestone, the Riders’ offence had a night to forget as Calgary’s defensive line put together a big night, led by three sacks from Charleston Hughes.

James Vaughters also picked up a pair of sacks in the win for the Stampeders.

“They did a good job, their coaching staff had them prepared and once they got up, they were able to pin their ears back and come after our quarterback,” said Jones.

“Charleston Hughes was the player of the game, so he played pretty well. When you have five guys lined up against four, it’s not one-on-one battles, but Charleston got his tonight.”

Running back Jerome Messam won the battle against the Riders’ defence, finishing with 135 yards on 28 carries. He sealed the win with a one-yard touchdown run with just over three minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

“Certainly anytime you get handled like we got handled tonight, it’s not a positive thing,” said Jones.

The Riders scored ten points in the second half to get back into the game, but it was too little, too late.

Cameron Marshall finished with nine carries for 40 yards and had the lone Riders’ touchdown on a five-yard run in the third quarter.

Tyler Crapigna was hit his lone field goal attempt from 27 yards out in the fourth quarter.

“I thought in the second half, we did a better job of handling their front a little bit, our play selection was better in the second half and our offensive line executed a little bit better in the second half, it certainly wasn’t great, but it wasn’t good enough,” said Jones.

The Riders will now look to regroup before they host the Toronto Argonauts coming up this Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.