Ottawa 22, Saskatchewan 22
After coming back from their week of rest, the Ottawa Redblacks’ momentum took a bit of a unusual pause Thursday against the West-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders at TD Place.
The Redblacks remain undefeated at home after tying the Roughriders 22-22 in a game that saw Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown go down with an ankle injury and two Ottawa field goal attempts blocked by the Green Riders.
The Redblacks thought they had won the game after having scored a touchdown but missing their two point conversion in their first possession of overtime. With Ottawa leading by six points, Saskatchewan got possession and were one pass away from scoring themselves when Ottawa defensive back Alijah Mcghee swatted away a pass intended for Saskatchewan receiver Shawn Bane Jr.
Unfortunately pass interference was called on Mcghee, giving the Roughriders another first down, where they capitalized, tying up the game with a touchdown followed by a failed two point conversion of their own.
This led to a second overtime, where Saskatchewan had the first possession and kicked a field goal, for a three-point lead, meaning the Redblacks had to score a touchdown to win or a field goal to tie.
The first two plays were disastrous for Ottawa, with backup quarterback Dustin Crum sacked 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage and fumbling the ball only for a Roughrider to pick it up.
Everyone at TD Place thought the game had ended with a Saskatchewan victory, with fans getting on the field and coaches and players making their way to the locker rooms. That was until a referee got on the microphone and announced an Ottawa first down because of a roughing the passer penalty called on Saskatchewan lineman, Malik Carney.
This news surprised everyone, as the radio and TV broadcasts had ended and video coaches from both teams had already left the press box. They finished the game on the sidelines. Players and coaches had to run back to the field and fans had to get off.
The Redblacks advanced to field goal range to allow their kicker, Lewis Ward to end a game with a field goal for the tie.
“In my 24 years in the league I’ve never been through anything like that,” said Redblacks Head Coach Bob Dyce when asked about the ending. He also said that two blocked field goals in the same game “…never happened against a team I coached.”
Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward however had some deja vu. “[I’ve been in a similar situation] maybe at a Panda game,” recalled the uOttawa alum. “You [sometimes] get everyone rushing the field when the game’s not over, but other than that I’ve [never seen it happen.]”
Ward also had two of his field goal attempts blocked by the Roughriders’ defence. Seeing a field goal blocked is rare, but two happens once in a blue moon.
“It’s unusual,” said Ward. “I’ve never had any [field goal attempts] blocked in my career before, but it’s part of the game. We knew [the Roughriders] like to bring pressure and they got through on two.”
As if the ending wasn’t confusing and eventful enough, in the first drive of the second quarter, Saskatchewan lineman Miles Brown fell onto Ottawa starting quarterback Dru Brown’s ankle, taking him out of the game and forcing Dyce to trust Crum to lead their offence.
“When I saw Dru go down, I felt I wanted to fight for a guy like that,” said the 25 year old CFL sophomore. “He’s such a great dude, a great leader and a great teammate so when I get the chance to fill his role for him, have his back, it means a lot to me.”
After the game, Dyce seemed optimistic that Brown’s injury wasn’t structural and was hopeful that he would be back on the field Aug. 15 against Calgary in the Alberta city. However, he said he was also ready to trust Crum if needed. He expressed pride for his young backup quarterback.
