Defensive tackle Scott Schultz and Co., helped ensure rookie Andy Fantuz's homecoming was a triumphant one.

Schultz and Saskatchewan's defence made Fantuz's first-half touchdown catch stand, anchoring the Roughriders' hard-fought 13-9 road win over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night.

Fantuz, a native of Chatham, Ont., who played collegiately at the University of Western Ontario, had plenty of friends and family present to watch his first-ever professional game at the Rogers Centre. And he gave them plenty to cheer about, hauling in Kerry Joseph's 12-yard TD strike in the second quarter to help stake Saskatchewan to its 13-0 half-time lead to quiet the gathering of 30,323. Dominque Dorsey's 43-yard punt return set up Fantuz's touchdown.

``I had a lot of people in the stands so it was nice to get the win in front of them,'' said Fantuz, who finished with two catches for a team-high 33 yards. ``Getting the only touchdown is pretty good, too.''

But the real stars of the game were both defences.

Toronto, which came in allowing a league-low 18.5 points per game, was solid throughout. The unit allowed just 201 total yards and forced three sacks and two turnovers while Joseph was 12-of-28 passing for 120 yards.

However, the Roughriders were much better, allowing 164 total yards, including just 58 yards rushing. And Saskatchewan did a great job of not allowing Argos quarterback Damon Allen get in sync as he finishing 17-of-36 passing for 127 yards.

Ricky Williams ran for 25 yards on eight carries while John Avery had 16 yards on five carries.

``They do a good job of rolling out the pocket to give Damon more time and we were just able to keep that in check,'' said Schultz. ``And when you can make a team one-dimensional, then you make it tougher for them.''

Toronto's best chance to score came in the opening quarter, courtesy of the club's defence. Byron Parker stepped in front of a Joseph pass and seemed to have a clear path to the end zone for his CFL record-tying fifth return touchdown of the season. Only a saving tackle by running back Kenton Keith prevented that.

Saskatchewan head coach Danny Barrett said his team's effort was typical of what's needed to succeed in the CFL playoffs.

``I thought that (the play of the Riders' defence) was the key,'' he said. ``A lot of people said this was a meaningless game for us but there's no such thing because you want to get as many wins as you can.

``This is how you want to be playing in games next month.''

The win had no bearing on Saskatchewan's playoff aspirations. The Riders (9-8) have clinched third in the West Division and will be in Calgary on Nov. 5 for the conference semifinal.

Toronto (10-7) suffered its first loss in four home games and three games overall. That means the Argos will have to beat Montreal in their regular-season finale next week to cement first place in the East, and home field for the conference final.

A loss, though, could drop the Argos to third and force them to play Winnipeg in the division semifinal Nov. 5, if the Bombers (8-8) can beat Calgary and B.C. in their two final games. Winnipeg owns the tie-breaker over Toronto should the two finish tied.

``We have to play well next week,'' said Allen. ``One win and this will all be forgotten.''

The loss tarnished a historic night for Toronto linebacker Mike O'Shea. In the third, the 14-year veteran from North Bay, Ont., registered his 1,000th career tackle. The 36-year-old became the first Canadian to reach that plateau and third player overall, joining Willie Pless (1,241) and Alondra Johnson (1,084).

O'Shea received the game ball afterwards, but wasn't willing to talk.

``The toughest thing was not getting a win in the game he (O'Shea) got the record,'' said Argos coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons. ``The brutal truth was we didn't play well.

``Now we'll play a game that means everything.''

Toronto appeared poised to score a TD with under three minutes remaining, driving to the Saskatchewan 29. But after Arland Bruce III couldn't break coverage to get Allen's pass, Noel Prefontaine missed a 36-yard field for the single at 12:30, cutting the Riders' lead to 13-9.

Toronto got the ball back with under two minutes remaining but stalled at the Saskatchewan 54-yard line with 1:01 remaining.

Prefontaine played with a brace and wrap on his right leg after straining knee ligaments last week. The lefty kicker averaged 42.3 yards on 10 punts and connected from 47 and 37 yards but hit the uprights on a 17-yard attempt and missed in the fourth.

``It was very cumbersome,'' Prefontaine said, using the analogy of a golfer trying to swing with one of his elbows tightly wrapped.

Congi booted a convert and two field goals for Saskatchewan.

Notes: Toronto came into the game having set a league record for interception return yards with 888 . . . Saskatchewan came in as the CFL's least penalized team . . . Roughriders offensive lineman Gene Makowsky appeared in his 157th straight game. He hasn't missed a contest since 1998.