It was another narrow loss for the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Sunday night, falling 26-24 on the road to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Dustin Crum threw for 174 yards, and the defence came up with three fumble recoveries, including a scoop and score play by Douglas Coleman. Lewis Ward converted on five of six field goal attempts.
The REDBLACKS were dealt a note of adversity before the opening whistle, with starting Right Tackle Zack Pelehos going down with an illness. The second-yard offensive lineman’s absence necessitated some shuffling up front; with Jacob Ruby moving to Pelehos’ spot, and Hunter Steward filling in at right guard, while Eric Starczala dressed as the extra offensive lineman.
Ottawa capped off the game’s opening drive with a 52-yard field goal attempt by Ward, and while the kick was just short, the ball bounced into the endzone, where the Riders conceded the single point.
Saskatchewan was able to answer, with Jamal Morrow finishing a long drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown, and a Brett Lauther extra point making it 7-1.
Ward answered back for the REDBLACKS soon after, converting from 51 yards, and another special teams play allowed them to tie the game. On a Mario Alford punt return, Gary Johnson flew down the field, and punched the ball out of the Rider returner’s hands. Anthony Gosselin was credited with the recovery after the ball bounced off of him, and out of bounds, and Ottawa capitalized on their fortunate field position with a 35-yarder from Ward, evening the score at 7-7.
The Riders jumped back into the lead when Lauther kicked a field goal of his own, but another Richie Leone punt single made it a two-point game.
With the REDBLACKS unable to convert on their opportunities in the back half of the second quarter, another Saskatchewan field goal with 1:06 to go in the half gave the home side a 13-8 cushion at the intermission.
The Riders enjoyed a big start to the second half. On their opening drive, Mason Fine connected with Shawn Bane for a 42-yard touchdown. Ward responded with a pair of field goals, but Lauther had one of his own in between, making it a 23-14 Rider lead to begin the fourth quarter.
The REDBLACKS got break early in the fourth, by way of their third fumble recovery of the game. With Saskatchewan in short yardage formation, Ottawa Global defensive lineman Thomas Schaffer punched the ball loose, and Coleman scooped and a scored a 45-yard touchdown. Ward was perfect on the PAT, and the REDBLACKS cut the lead to 23-21.
Though the REDBLACKS turned the ball over on downs in Rider territory, a Leone punt pinned them deep after the three-minute warning. On second and long, an outstanding tackle by Jovan Santos-Knox held the Riders to a third and short on their own 20-yard line.
A pair of hard runs by Jackson Bennett got Ottawa to the Saskatchewan one-yard line, and with 1:04 to go, Ward gave the REDBLACKS the lead with a chip shot field goal.
With 26 seconds to go, however, Lauther connected on a 54-yard field goal, and the REDBLACKS fell just short of another comeback win.
They’ll look to regroup for what’s sure to be a tough matchup, visiting the East Division-leading Toronto Argonauts on Sunday, August 13, at 7:00pm.
