The next game day is Friday, when the Roughriders’ season reaches - brace yourself for more Queen City Ex terminology - the midway point.A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. “I’ll go to war with that guy any day of the week.” “He’s got that fight in him and he’s never going to quit. “That dude’s just a leader,” Sterns said of Fine. Yes, there were the two incompletions he lamented earlier, but the final connection - a five-yarder to Sterns on second-and-one - moved the Roughriders far enough for a game-winning field goal to become reality. Most importantly, he moved the offence into field-goal range when timely plays were of the essence. 16, when Cody Fajardo retrieved his own pass and was tackled for a loss of four against the visiting Edmonton Elks.įine’s eventful evening also included five rushes for 17 yards. It was the first reception by a Roughriders quarterback since Sept. He never seems to lose his confidence or his belief in his teammates, so I was very pleased to see him get that win today.”įine completed 23 of 37 passes for 296 yards, 42 of which came on a picturesque payoff pitch to Shawn Bane Jr.Īnother eight yards resulted from a pass from Fine to Fine, who retrieved a deflected throw behind the line of scrimmage and scampered eight yards on the opening play of the fourth quarter. The guy just keeps plugging away back there and makes a lot of good throws. “I’m super-proud and happy for him,” Dickenson said. 1 quarterback, dating back to late last season. The win was the first as a CFL starter for Fine, who had made three previous appearances as the No. “It’s an unimaginable high to be out there in front of everyone and, to get a win for the guys, it feels great.” “I’m not going to be playing forever, so I’m just trying to enjoy it while I can. “I can’t really compare it to anything else. “It’s what I live for,” the 32-year-old Lauther said. Lauther calmly converted from near midfield to transform angst into exhilaration. “Whenever we’re in his range, I know he’s going to kick it, but I’d like to make it a little easier and less stressful, (instead of going) to the sideline knowing it’s a 54-yarder.” Regardless, Lauther was typically unerring in the clutch. I know Brett’s a great kicker and he’s clutch, but we’ve got to do a better job as an offence of getting it closer.” “I was upset that we couldn’t get Brett closer,” Fine said. Fine then found Jake Wieneke for nine yards and Jerreth Sterns for five, giving the Saskatchewan the ball on Ottawa’s 46-yard line and advancing to within Lauther’s considerable field-goal range.īack-to-back incompletions ensued but, as it turned out, additional yardage was not required. It helped matters considerably that Mario Alford returned Ward’s kickoff 37 yards to the Roughriders’ 50. The Green and White’s defence saved the day by holding Ottawa to a field goal - an eight-yarder by Ward - and leaving it to the offence to move the football into three-point territory. “We don’t have a lot of time to get ready for Montreal, but we have to figure out a way to get a yard, whether it’s a quarterback sneak or handing the ball off.”Īs Ottawa assumed possession deep in Saskatchewan territory, the tension was palpable throughout the stadium, where the Roughriders welcomed 26,625 CFL patrons on Sunday. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get a yard when we need it, so we’ll look at it,” said Head Coach Craig Dickenson, whose team will carry a 4-4 record into Friday’s game against the host Montreal Alouettes. The Roughriders’ short-yardage struggles continued with just under two minutes left, when the home side could not move the chains on third-and-one from its 19-yard line. Ottawa with 13 consecutive points - including two field goals and one convert by Lewis Ward, who punctuated Douglas Coleman III’s 45-yard fumble-return touchdown at 1:09 of the fourth quarter.Ĭoleman III scored after retrieving a fumble in a second-and-two situation. With slightly more than a quarter left, the Roughriders were ahead 23-11. The level-headedness was admirable, and ultimately crucial, considering the mind-bending events that led up to Brett Lauther’s game-winning, 54-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. “It was stressful,” victorious quarterback Mason Fine said, “but I was more low-key calm.” Fittingly, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ latest fair game - coinciding with the Queen City Ex - produced a rollercoaster of emotions.Īfter a seemingly secure lead evaporated in the fourth quarter, the Roughriders were able to retain their composure and ultimately win a 26-24 nailbiter against the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.
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