Speedy Sexton sparks Saskatchewan’s second-half surge in 27-22 victory over REDBLACKS
A 14-point-third quarter surge helped the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeat the host Ottawa REDBLACKS 27-22 on Friday.
The game was tied 13-13 at halftime before Saskatchewan scored on a 101-yard punt return by Mathew Sexton and a 23-yard pass from Trevor Harris to KeeSean Johnson.
Saskatchewan led 27-16 after three quarters en route to its third victory in four games this season. Ottawa fell to 0-4.
“That’s an ugly win,” Harris told CKRM’s Luc Mullinder after the game.
“I think it’s the worst we’ve played this year, but we were able to make some big plays when we needed them. That’s the most important thing — being able to respond to adversity.
“(Ottawa) got a pick and a blocked punt, so we put ourselves in a 10-0 hole, but we were able to respond and climb out of the hole and get a win.
“It was complementary football and a team win.”
Ottawa opened the scoring when ex-Roughrider Jake Maier threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Cade McDonald at 4:59 of the first quarter. Another former Roughrider, Brett Lauther, added the convert.
Lauther’s 32-yard field goal gave Ottawa its 10-0 lead at 8:56 of the first frame.
Saskatchewan got on the board when Harris found Dhel Duncan-Busby for 13 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Duncan-Busby scored at 3:12 of the second quarter. Alex Hale added the convert.
Hale’s 21-yard field goal, at 6:10 of the second quarter, created a 10-10 tie.
Lauther kicked a 40-yard field goal to give Ottawa a 13-10 lead at 8:30 of the second frame.
Hale’s 36-yarder knotted the game at 13-13 at 12:07 of the third quarter.
Saskatchewan assumed its first lead of the game when Sexton went the distance on a punt return. Sexton, playing in his first CFL game, scored at 2:15 of the third quarter. Hale’s convert gave Saskatchewan a 20-13 lead.
“That was an explosive return,” Head Coach Corey Mace said, “and that was huge for us.”
Lauther’s 18-yarder at 11:11 of the third quarter reduced Saskatchewan’s lead to 20-16.
Saskatchewan went ahead 27-16 when Hale converted the touchdown pass from Harris to Johnson, who scored on the final play of the third quarter.
Bryson Barnes’ one-yard touchdown run reduced the Roughriders’ lead to 27-22 at 3:48 of the third quarter. The two-point convert attempt was unsuccessful.
Late in the fourth quarter, Ottawa advanced to the Roughriders’ 15-yard line before Barnes was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on third and inches. Saskatchewan safety Jaxon Ford led the push that forced the turnover on downs with 2:35 remaining.
From there, the Roughriders ran out the clock while leaning on short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens.
Stevens ran for six yards before Harris completed a 27-yarder to Samuel Emilus to crucially move the chains. Stevens followed up with runs of six, seven and 10 yards before converting an opportunity on second-and-inches.
Three subsequent kneel-downs by Harris ensued.
“(Stevens) is such a weapon,” Harris said. “Everybody talks about how great he is in short yardage, but the Tommy package comes in late in the game and he’s able to dagger a team like that.
“If we get in a second-and-medium or second-and-long situation, I’ll go back in and try to keep Tommy on the field, which is what we were able to do.
“Tommy closed it out with the O-line, playing some smash-mouth football.”
Harris completed 18 of 31 passes for 243 yards. Maier was 23-for-30 for 259 yards.
Quali Conley, making his second start in place of an injured A.J. Ouellette, led the Roughriders’ rushing attack with 12 carries for 57 yards.
KeeSean Johnson had game-high totals of nine receptions and 137 yards. He has 19 catches for 249 yards and two TDs over his past two games.
Josh Woods and Antoine Brooks Jr. were Saskatchewan’s co-leaders in defensive tackles (seven). Brooks Jr. added a tackle for a loss.
The Roughriders are to return to action on July 12 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). Tickets are AVAILABLE HERE.
TREVOR’S 12TH
A 23-yard completion to Johnny Johnson III late in the third quarter moved Harris past Tom Clements and into 12th on the CFL’s all-time passing yardage list.
Clements, who spent the first half of the 1979 season with Saskatchewan, compiled 39,041 aerial yards. Harris finished the game with 39,115.
The reception was Johnson III’s first in the CFL. KeeSean Johnson scored on the next play.
EXTRA POINTS
• Hale’s second-quarter field goal was set up by a forced fumble and fumble recovery by Nick Wiebe on an Ottawa kickoff return. The Roughriders moved 27 yards in six plays after the turnover. The forced fumble and fumble return were both the first in the CFL for Wiebe, who was playing in his 21st career regular-season game.
• Wiebe and Jonathan Edouard were tied for the Roughriders’ lead in special teams tackles (two).
• For the second season in a row, Duncan-Busby scored his first TD of the season in the fourth game. Both of Friday’s starting QBs had a role. Maier hit Duncan-Busby for the score — his first in the CFL — last year. Harris provided the payoff pitch on Friday.
• Harris gained nine yards on his first carry of the season to put the Roughriders in a third-and-inches situation. Stevens ran for a first down on the next play.
• Roughriders middle linebacker Jameer Thurman registered his first sack of the season — as he did against Ottawa last year when the REDBLACKS visited Mosaic Stadium on June 5.
• Saskatchewan scored all its points in the second and third quarters.
