‘Rollercoaster’ clash between Riders, Redblacks ends in a tie

A few players from both teams had left to their respective locker rooms thinking the Saskatchewan Roughriders had won a thrilling contest in the nation’s capital

But the command centre pulled both teams back onto the field, and ultimately the game between the Riders and Ottawa Redblacks ended in a tie.

The Riders thought the game was over when linebacker Adam Auclair jumped on a fumble by Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum in overtime.

But as the teams were shaking hands, the CFL command centre made a ruling that roughing the passer had occurred which extended the overtime period.

“I had already shaken hands with (Ottawa head coach) Bob (Dyce) and a bunch of players and other coaches when they came and approached me saying they were putting the play under review,” said Riders head coach Corey Mace. “I was confused because they had waved the flag and the game was over … When everybody else heard the news, that’s when I heard the news.”

The game ended with Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward making a 14-yard field goal to tie it at 22 and end the game.

“It’s the craziest ending I have ever been a part of,” said Riders quarterback Shea Patterson. “I like how we stayed together until the last minute and fought together as a family throughout the entire game.

“You go from a rollercoaster of a game and getting through the highs and lows fighting together and you feel like you came out with a W — there’s the hugs and emotions of winning and almost walking off the field. Then it gets taken away from you.”

Mace admitted it was a new way for a game to end in his experience.

“I had ain’t ever been in anything like that,” Mace said. “But that’s what was ruled — some will go our way and some won’t. This one, unfortunately, did not go our way but that’s what they ruled so we have to finish it.”

Defensive back Rolan Milligan picked off Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum late in the fourth quarter for his sixth interception of the year.

“It’s just from studying film and knowing what route concepts they like out of that formation,” Milligan said.

That led to Brett Lauther hitting a 37-yard field goal to take a 13-10 lead with just 45 seconds left in the game.

While Ward hit a kick with time expired to send it to overtime, each team scored touchdowns in the first overtime games and traded field goals in the second.

Earlier in the overtime, after the Redblacks scored their first touchdown, it appeared the game was over then with Ottawa forcing an incompletion on third down.

But a challenge by head coach Corey Mace led to a pass interference penalty being called, extending the game for the Riders.

The tie moves the Riders to 5-3-1 and in first place in the CFL West Division ahead of the B.C. Lions (5-3). Ottawa moved to 5-2-1 and a 4-0-1 mark at home.

It’s also the first Riders game to end in a tie since Oct. 17, 2009 — a game that ended 44-44 against the Calgary Stampeders.

The Lions take on the Edmonton Elks (1-7) on Sunday.

“Our defence didn’t let us lose,” Patterson said. “(Ottawa) had a chance to go win that game. I’m just proud of the way we fought together for 60-plus minutes.”

Mace said he was proud of how his entire team played in the game.

“Everybody played extremely hard for each other so I wanted them to lean on that,” Mace said. “It wasn’t a win, which is always what we come out to do, but it wasn’t a loss. It’s just something to build off of momentum-wise I guess that we played hard and didn’t lose.”

Offence was tough to come by for both teams throughout the game as rain downpoured in Ottawa. At halftime, the game was tied at three apiece.

Patterson, who was making his sixth straight start for the injured Trevor Harris, completed 29 of 48 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns — one of which came in overtime.

Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Samuel Emilus (19) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of CFL action against the Ottawa Redblacks in Ottawa, on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby)

Shawn Bane Jr. scored his first touchdown since Week 1 when he hauled in a pass from Patterson late in the fourth quarter. Sam Emilus hauled in the other touchdown — his third of the season.

Dohnte Meyers made his CFL regular-season debut due to a head injury to KeeSean Johnson. Meyers caught eight of nine targets for a game-high 101 yards.

Frankie Hickson, who was averaging 1o3 yards in his previous two starts, only had 23 yards on 12 attempts in this game behind an offensive line that featured two players — left guard Zack Fry and right tackle Nick Jones — making their first CFL starts. Despite that, the Riders only gave up one sack.

Crum came into the game after Dru Brown left in the second quarter due to an apparent leg injury. Prior to leaving, Brown had completed six of nine passes for 55 yards.

Crum completed 21 of 32 passes for 211 yards and an interception in the game. He also added 72 yards and a touchdown in overtime on the ground.

Lauther was good on all three of his field goal attempts he had in the contest.

Ward connected on five of his seven attempts — his only misses came when the Riders blocked the kicks. Miles Brown and Caleb Sanders each got their hands in the way of a ball kicked by Ward.

The Riders came into the game after a 42-31 loss to the Elks just last Saturday and the game in Ottawa was the Green and White’s second game in six days.

“That’s just who we are. We tried to come out here and be exactly who we expected to be,” Patterson said. “That wasn’t perfect but we fought — we fought through the adversity, fought through the highs and lows and stayed together as brothers until the end.”

The Riders will play the Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium (7-1) on Friday. Harris was cleared to practice ahead of the game against Ottawa and could play in his first game since suffering an MCL injury in Week 3.