Roughriders edge Redblacks after conservative name by Ottawa backfires
REGINA — Brett Lauther capped a wild fourth quarter with a 54-yard subject purpose within the dying seconds to provide the Saskatchewan Roughriders a 26-24 CFL victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday.
Ottawa overcame a 23-11 deficit, taking a 24-23 lead with 1:04 remaining within the fourth quarter on an eight-yard subject purpose by Lewis Ward.
Mario Alford returned the following kickoff 37 yards to the Saskatchewan 50-yard line with 56 seconds remaining. The Riders moved into Ottawa territory however have been pressured to convey on Lauther when their drive stalled on the Ottawa 47-yard line.
Lauther, who entered the sport 0-for-3 this season on subject purpose makes an attempt longer than 50 yards, nailed the kick and the Riders defence held on to safe the victory.
Lauther, who was 4-for-4 on the night time, mentioned it was essential to not let the second be overwhelming.
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“You go at it prefer it’s the primary kick of the sport. When you make it greater than what it’s, then it’s going to be greater than what it’s,” mentioned Lauther. “And for me, I see the laborious work that’s put on this group and I owe it to everybody in right here to attempt to come via.”
The 32-year-old kicker, in his fifth season with the Riders, admitted the feelings change after making a game-winning kick.
“It’s one thing you at all times wish to do. That’s what I dwell for. I imply, I can’t actually examine it to anything. I’m not going to be taking part in for without end so we’re simply making an attempt to get pleasure from it whereas we will. It’s an unimaginable excessive to be on the market in entrance of everybody and to get a win for the fellows. It feels good,” mentioned Lauther.
Saskatchewan quarterback Mason Positive was disillusioned that the offence couldn’t put Lauther in a greater place for the kick.
“I wasn’t pleased. I used to be upset that we couldn’t get Brett nearer. Fifty-four yards is not any gimme. I do know Brett’s an ideal kicker and he’s clutch however we’ve acquired to do a greater job as an offence to get nearer,” mentioned Positive, who completed 23 of 37 passing for 296 yards and one landing.
“We are able to’t depend on a 54-yard subject purpose however credit score Brett and the sphere purpose ops for making it.”
Saskatchewan in command of the sport till a few disastrous third-down performs enabled the Redblacks to get again into the competition.
Early within the fourth quarter, Riders backup quarterback Jake Dolegala fumbled on a quarterback sneak. Ottawa defensive again Josh Valentine-Carter scooped up the unfastened ball and returned it 45 yards for a landing to scale back the Redblacks’ deficit to 23-21.
Then, with 2:06 left within the fourth quarter and the Riders holding on to the two-point lead, they confronted a third-and-one from their very own 19-yard line. Dolegala got here up quick on the hassle and the Redblacks took over on the turnover.
Ottawa drove to the Saskatchewan one-yard line. Reasonably than playing on third down and going for the landing, Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce determined to kick the sphere purpose. When requested why he chosen that possibility, Dyce supplied a direct reply.
“Kick the sphere purpose. Get the factors and go up. I had nice confidence in the way in which our defence was taking part in,” mentioned Dyce.
Regardless of the loss, which dropped the Redblacks to 3-5, Dyce refused to be disillusioned.
“I couldn’t be extra happy with this workforce. They proceed to combat each single time they play. We’re by no means out of any recreation,” mentioned Dyce. “We didn’t begin as quick as we’d have appreciated to, however on the finish of the day we have been we have been up in a important state of affairs.”
The victory ended a three-game shedding streak for the Riders, who enhance to 4-4 with the win. The victory additionally marked the primary win as a beginning quarterback for Positive, who took over the reins of the Saskatchewan offence after Trevor Harris suffered a tibial plateau fracture of his proper knee on July 15 towards the Calgary Stampeders.
Though the Riders earned the victory, Positive was dismayed that the offence wasn’t as constant as he would really like.
“I needed to begin quick and I’m extra disillusioned that we couldn’t hold that going, particularly within the first half. Within the third and fourth quarter, it felt like we might’ve put much more factors on the board,” mentioned Positive, who related with Shawn Bane Jr. on a 42-yard landing cross on the opening drive of the third quarter.
“I used to be pissed off at occasions, particularly after we acquired down there within the purple zone … I simply want we’d’ve carried that momentum extra all through the entire recreation.”
The Riders sacked Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum six occasions. Anthony Lanier had three sacks with Micah Johnson, Charbal Dabire and Lake Korte-Moore having one every. For Korte-Moore, it was the rookie’s first CFL sack.
Bane led the Riders with six receptions for 88 yards whereas rookie Jerreth Stearns, taking part in in his first CFL recreation, had seven catches for 71 yards. Jamal Morrow gained 47 yards dashing on 13 carries and scored on a five-yard run on Saskatchewan’s opening drive of the sport.
Crum was 16 of 20 passing for 174 yards. Ward had 5 subject objectives for the Redblacks.
UP NEXT
The Roughriders head to Montreal on Friday to play the Alouettes (4-3), whereas Ottawa travels to Toronto to face the Argonauts (6-1) on Sunday.
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