The heart may miss a beat during suspenseful overtime games, but the same cannot be said for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive line.
Considerable credit must go to Logan Bandy, who has received significant playing time in two CFL contests that have ended with a walk-off defensive play by the Green and White.
On June 24, Bandy joined the front five after Jerald Hawkins injured his left leg in the second quarter against the host Calgary Stampeders.
Logan Ferland promptly moved from right guard to Hawkins’ spot at left tackle. Bandy took over at right guard and went the rest of the way as Saskatchewan won 29-26 in OT, the clincher being an end-zone interception by Nic Marshall.
Then came Sunday, when right tackle Colin Kelly injured his right leg shortly before halftime against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium.
Ferland again shifted to a tackle spot — this time on the right side — and Bandy entered the game at right guard.
The Roughriders went on to post a 32-30 victory in the 58th Labour Day Classic, which ended when a blitzing Jaxon Ford deflected a Zach Collaros pass to thwart the Blue Bombers’ attempt at a game-tying two-point convert.
“Ferland just keeps on making plays, and Bandy came in and played well, too,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said. “Credit to the O-line group and credit to the O-line coach, Anthony Vitale.”
Kudos to Bandy as well.
“I was very pleased with him,” Dickenson said. “I felt like we didn’t skip a beat. We were able to run the same stuff that we were running during the first half and call the same plays.
“I thought he was able to execute and do a good job.”
Against the West Division’s first-place team, no less.
“We play so well as a unit,” said Bandy, who as a rookie started 11 games at centre last season while Dan Clark was injured.
“Obviously, when you have a guy go down, you never want to see that. Losing Colin was really tough, but I knew that I had to go in there and perform and I’m really happy with the way I did that. I feel pretty good about it.”
So did his cheering section.
“I had my whole family here, so it feels pretty special to get the win in front of the home crowd,” the Calgary-born Bandy said.
“The stadium was sold out. It was rockin’ all night. Those are the wins that you’re going to remember, so it felt pretty good.”
The gathering of 33,350 included Bandy’s parents (Karen and Gord) and brother (Nicholas). They were part of a group of eight people who travelled to Regina to cheer for the Roughriders’ 24-year-old offensive lineman.
“I can attribute everything to my family,” Bandy said. “They’ve supported me the whole way and they make it whenever they can. They’ll drive seven hours to see me play and then drive back after a game.
“It’s pretty special to have support like that and it’s really special to go out and win like that in front of them.”
