The Saskatchewan Roughriders, apparently victorious, gleefully shook hands with members of the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Thursday night at TD Place.
And then, within a matter of seconds, it was time to shake off disappointment and preserve the point that would be awarded for a tie.
The Roughriders did precisely that, forcing Ottawa to settle for a chip-shot field goal on the final play of the second overtime period — which ended with 22-22 on the scoreboard.
“Those guys (on defence) have to check back in mentally to go and get that job done,” said Corey Mace, Head Coach of the 5-3-1 Roughriders. “That’s so incredibly hard.
“So I was proud of them to be able to hold them to three at that point. The penalty already put (Ottawa) in field-goal range to tie the game.”
It looked for a brief period as though the Roughriders had won 22-19 after recovering a fumble on the final series of the second overtime period. However, a review by the CFL’s Command Centre led to the assessment of a roughing-the-passer penalty against Saskatchewan.
“It is what it is,” defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. said. “You’ve got to line up and go back at it.”
The REDBLACKS’ final possession stalled on the seven-yard line, leading to a Lewis Ward field goal that ended a wild game.
“That’s the craziest ending I’ve ever been a part of,” Roughriders quarterback Shea Patterson said, “but I like how we stayed together until the last minute.”
The Roughriders went ahead 13-10 by scoring 10 points within 68 seconds late in the fourth quarter.
Brett Lauther converted a seven-yard touchdown pass from Patterson to Shawn Bane Jr. to create a 10-10 deadlock at 13:07 of the fourth frame.
Shortly after a league-leading sixth intercepton by Milligan Jr., Lauther kicked a go-ahead, 37-yard field goal at 14:15.
However, Ottawa had just enough time to move into field-goal range, whereupon Ward kicked a 47-yarder on the final play of regulation time to make it 13-13.
Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum concluded the first possession of overtime by running for an 11-yard TD. The REDBLACKS led 19-13 after the two-point convert attempt failed.
Saskatchewan countered with a 10-yard TD pass from Patterson to Samuel Emilus but, again, a two-pointer try was unsuccessful — necessitating a second OT period.
Saskatchewan proceeded to go ahead 22-19 on a 29-yard field goal by Lauther.
On the next play, Malik Carney sacked Crum for a 12-yard loss. Crum then fumbled while being felled on the next play. A fumble recovery by Roughriders linebacker Adam Auclair, formerly of the Bob Dyce-coached REDBLACKS, incited a victory celebration by the visitors.
“I had already shaken hands with Bob and a bunch of players and other coaches,” Mace said. “When (the officials) approached me and said that they were putting the play under review, I was confused, because they had waved the flag and the game was over.
“At that point, it was a matter of trying to get an explanation. They were reviewing the play in the replay booth and then everybody heard the news. That’s when I heard the news. I was just hoping that everybody was still on the field, because a few players had already gone to the locker room.
“It was just a unique situation. But, hey, that’s why you love the CFL. Anything can happen.”
BLOCK PARTY
Saskatchewan has blocked three field-goal attempts over its past two road games.
On July 25, Anthony Lanier II blocked a 48-yard attempt by the Montreal Alouettes’ Jose Carlos Maltos.
Caleb Sanders blocked Ward’s attempt at a 38-yarder late in the first half on Thursday.
Miles Brown batted down Ward’s bid for a 22-yarder at 8:22 of the third quarter.
Before the game in Montreal, Saskatchewan had not blocked a field-goal attempt since Sept. 2, 2018, when Zack Evans thwarted a 51-yard try by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Justin Medlock.
QUICK KICKS
• Saskatchewan and Ottawa were tied 3-3 at halftime. It was the Roughriders’ lowest-scoring game at halftime since July 6, 2023, when Saskatchewan and Edmonton were knotted at 3-3 at Mosaic Stadium. Thursday’s game was scoreless until 22 seconds remained in the second quarter.
• Patterson was one yard shy of his second consecutive 300-yard passing game.
• Roughriders receiver Dohnte Meyers had eight catches for 101 yards in his CFL debut. Meyers, Bane Jr. and Emilus each had eight receptions.
• Micah Johnson had one sack and two tackles for a loss. Roughriders teammates Nelson Lokombo and C.J. Avery each registered a sack for the first time in the CFL.
• Saskatchewan had five sacks and six tackles for a loss. Ottawa registered only one sack even though the Roughriders’ injury-riddled offensive line included two first-time starters — left guard Zack Fry and right tackle Nick Jones.
• Auclair led Saskatchewan with nine defensive tackles. Amari Henderson was next in line with eight, including one for a loss.
SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
No scoring
SECOND QUARTER
Ott — FG Ward 14 14:38
Ottawa got on the board after 43-yard interception return by McGhee
Sask — FG Lauther 47 15:00
Patterson’s 22-yard pass to Bane Jr. put Saskatchewan in field-goal range
THIRD QUARTER
Ott — FG Ward 28 10:06
Addae’s 25-yard interception return gave Ottawa a first down on the Roughriders’ 21-yard line
Ott — Single Leone 80 13:12
Leone’s boomer of a punt rolled out of bounds in the Saskatchewan end zone
Ott — FG Ward 31 9:47
Crum went 8-for-8 during a 10-play, 68-yard drive
Sask — TD Bane Jr. 7 pass from Patterson (Lauther convert) 13:07
Wide-open Bane Jr. scored on third-and-goal from the seven
Sask — FG Lauther 37 14:15
Milligan Jr.’s league-leading sixth interception set up go-ahead field goal
Ott — FG Ward 47 15:00
Ottawa moved 32 yards in six plays before Ward’s field goal forced OT
FIRST OVERTIME PERIOD
Ottawa — TD Crum 11 run (two-point convert failed)
Crum scrambled for a score on second-and-goal
Sask — TD Emilus 10 pass from Patterson (two-point convert attempt failed)
Pass-interference call on third down sustained Roughriders’ possession
SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD
Sask — FG Lauther 29
After back-to-back incompletions, Lauther kicked his third field goal of the game
Ott — FG Ward 14
Pass interference penalty on Saskatchewan extended Ottawa’s final drive
NEXT UP
The Roughriders are to meet Montreal on Aug. 16 (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). After playing the host Toronto Argonauts six days later, Saskatchewan will meet a West opponent in six of its final seven games.
