The Saskatchewan Roughriders can only go up from here.

The Riders' preseason opener was anything but ideal as they lost 37-1 to the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Friday night.

"We got worked over, there's no doubt," said Riders head coach Craig Dickenson told the media after the loss, which was his first game in charge of the Green and White.

"I thought we'd compete better in the second half than we did, I was disappointed in that, but the good news is that we got through it relatively healthy but that group in there needs to step up their game, we have good veterans at home but there’s going to be some guys in that locker room that need to contribute."

Cody Fajardo started at quarterback for the Riders and moved the ball well despite being unable to put points on the board. He finished 10-of-12 for 73 yards.

"I thought Cody moved the team, disappointed we couldn't get in down there, but he did a good job," said Dickenson. "David made some decent throws, then the young guys showed some signs but when they got pressure, I didn't think they reacted very well, so a little bit of a mixed bag with the quarterbacks."

David Watford was 8-of-12 for 65 yards with an interception, while Isaac Harker went 5-of-10 for 54 yards and Ty Gangi was 0-for-1 with an interception.

Calgary opened with a 14-yard field goal from Rene Paredes on their opening drive and then quarterback Nick Arbuckle added a one-yard touchdown later in the first quarter to make it 10-0 after one.

Arbuckle found Griff Whalen for an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put the Stampeders in front 17-0.

Saskatchewan got on the board after Watford drove the team into scoring position and kicker Felix Menard-Briere missed a 37-yard attempt but scored the single to make it 17-1 at halftime.

Gabriel Ferraro made a 26-yard attempt in the third quarter as Calgary extended their lead.

The Stampeders put the game away with 17 points in the fourth quarter. Gerald Holmes ran in a three-yard touchdown, Ferraro made a 32-yard field goal and Anthony Gore returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown.

Saskatchewan will return to the field on Thursday to host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in their final preseason game. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.