Just as Friday’s result in Montreal didn’t go right for the Stamps, neither did Jerome Messam’s outing.

When the CFL all-star was suddenly ejected in the second quarter at Percival Molson Stadium, kick-return specialist Roy Finch was pressed into duty as the primary running back.

Quite the task for someone who had sat out the past two weeks and thus was appearing in just his second game of the season.

“A little bit of rust,” assessed Finch of his personal performance. “I’m going to work out the kinks this week. It just felt good to play multiple snaps and get in a rhythm of seeing my protections and different movements on the line and seeing where to go using my eyes. I felt real comfortable out there and I just want to continue to get better and gain more confidence on the practice field so that when game time comes, I can just go out there and continue to build.”

Knowing he had to fulfill his responsibility to his teammates, especially after he himself was not available to contribute in the consecutive wins over Ottawa and Winnipeg, Finch was not fazed.

The one-time Oklahoma Sooner finished with five carries for 26 yards and six receptions for 33 yards.

Photo by Angela Burger

“Honestly, when I was out those two games, he (Messam) stepped in for me and other guys had to step up for me being out,” Finch explained. “I just really appreciate that and honour them for that. When Mess went out, it was an emotional game and he made the decision that he made. He’s my brother so I had to back him up. And not only just going in, but understanding what to do.

“Some guys get their number called and they don’t know what to do because they didn’t prepare on the practice field. So I just felt good gaining the trust and confidence of Bo (Levi Mitchell) and Dicky (Dave Dickenson) and (John) Hufnagel.”

Now with the focus having already shifted from a fourth straight loss at the home of the Alouettes to back-to-back home games on the horizon, the talented 25-year-old knows the Stamps need to get back on track.

“We’re very strong at home and we feed off the crowd and we’re going to be ready,” promised Finch with both the Roughriders and Tiger-Cats set to visit McMahon Stadium. “We’re going to play physical and we want to focus on some things this week and change up some things that we need to get better at and insert some things that we want to implement and do.

“The leaders and the vets, we’ve got to up our level of practice and up our level of play so we can show these young guys how it’s done. We can’t talk. We’ve just got to go to work.”

And while fans may feel cautious of their modest 2-1-1 record and third-place spot in the standings, Finch stresses there is no need to panic or entertain thoughts of self-doubt.

“Last year we kind of went through the same thing and had a tough loss at the beginning to BC,” No. 14 recalled. “It’s early in the season and we’ve got a long season and we’re going to be strong like we always are.”