OTTAWA — Brendon LaBatte didn’t pull any punches Thursday.
“We got a dirty beating put on us,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ veteran guard said after a 40-17 CFL loss to the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place. “It was right from the start of the first quarter and it didn’t really let up.
“We tried to weather the storm and fight back, but it was just one of those deals where if it wasn’t a bust in protection, there was a one-on-one beating getting done. We’re damn lucky to only be on our second-string and not our third-string quarterback after a night like tonight.”
Starting quarterback Zach Collaros left the game in the second quarter, reportedly to be checked for a concussion. Brandon Bridge replaced Collaros and played the rest of the game.
“We’re going through the protocol with (Collaros) and that’s about all I know right now,” Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones said. “(Over) the next couple of days, we’ll see where he’s at physically.”
The loss dropped the Roughriders’ record to 1-1-0; they’re to face the Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium on June 30.
The Redblacks won their season-opener and exacted a measure of revenge for Saskatchewan’s 31-20 victory over Ottawa in the 2017 Eastern Semi-Final.
The 40 points were the most surrendered by Saskatchewan since Sept. 9 of last season, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the visiting Roughriders 48-28.
Six days after turning in a solid defensive game in a 27-19 victory over the Toronto Argonauts, the Roughriders gave up 459 yards to Ottawa.
“I think you can look at the scoreboard and tell that the defence didn’t play very well,” Jones said. “Anytime you give up 40 points, that’s not a good night.
“(The Redblacks have) a very good offence and a very good football team. You’ve got to take your hats off to them.”
Ottawa took the game’s opening kickoff and drove 53 yards in 11 plays, but the march stalled at the Saskatchewan 19-yard line. Lewis Ward kicked a 26-yard field goal to put the Redblacks ahead 3-0 at 5:18 of the first quarter.
Saskatchewan’s subsequent possession ended with a sack, forcing a Josh Bartel punt. The kick bounced back toward the line of scrimmage, earning the Roughriders a five-yard no-yards penalty.
Ottawa then marched 38 yards in five plays before Ward hoofed a 23-yard field goal. The Redblacks led 6-0 at 9:45 of the opening frame.
The Roughriders answered at 14:28 of the first quarter, when Jordan Williams-Lambert caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Collaros.
The pass actually was aimed for Naaman Roosevelt, whose route had him crossing right behind Williams-Lambert. But the CFL rookie snared the pass to record his first career touchdown in the league.
Brett Lauther converted the major and Saskatchewan led 7-6.
The Redblacks regained the lead at 1:24 of the second quarter, when Jonathan Rose intercepted a Collaros pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. Trevor Harris found Greg Ellingson for the two-point convert and Ottawa led 14-7.
The Roughriders tied it at 4:31, when Duron Carter snared a Harris pass and returned it 28 yards for a TD. It was Carter’s second pick — and second pick-six — in two career starts at cornerback; he had a 43-yard TD return against the Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 20 last season.
On Thursday, Lauther kicked the convert to even the score at 14-14.
The Redblacks reclaimed the lead at 9:01 of the second quarter, after a seven-play, 77-yard drive that culminated in a 15-yard TD run by William Powell. Harris found Ellingson for the two-point convert to put Ottawa ahead 22-14.
Bridge replaced Collaros with six minutes left in the second quarter, but couldn’t generate any points in his two possessions to finish the half.
Ward kicked a 45-yard field goal at 13:36 to conclude the first-half scoring.
Ottawa stretched its lead at 7:33 of the third quarter, when Harris put a perfect pass over Carter’s outstretched hands into the mitts of Diontae Spencer for a 55-yard major. Harris rushed for the two-point convert to put the Redblacks ahead 33-14.
After Lauther kicked a 35-yard field goal at 2:19 of the fourth quarter, the Redblacks answered with a five-yard scoring pass from Harris to Powell. Ward’s convert gave Ottawa a 40-17 lead at 7:03 of the fourth.
Collaros completed four of 10 passes for 106 yards with one TD and two interceptions. Bridge was 13-for-22 for 145 yards with one interception and also rushed four times for 27 yards.
Saskatchewan’s quarterbacks combined for three interceptions, two of which were recorded in the Ottawa end zone.
Caleb Holley was Saskatchewan’s leading receiver with three catches for 71 yards. Tre Mason led the rushing attack with seven carries for 33 yards.
Harris was 26-for-36 for 345 yards with two TDs and one interception. Powell rushed 19 times for 94 yards, while Ellingson led Ottawa’s receivers with eight catches and 104 yards.
After sacking Ricky Ray three times and getting continuous pressure on the Argos’ quarterback in Friday’s season-opener, Saskatchewan didn’t get to Harris at all.
“They had a good game plan to slow the pass rush down and try not to get Trevor hit too much,” Roughriders defensive end Charleston Hughes said. “It worked.”
