Canadian QB Bridge leads Riders to victory
HAMILTON“Air Canada” finally took flight for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The owner of that nickname, Brandon Bridge, started at quarterback Friday after veteran Kevin Glenn was scratched due to a bruised right hand. Bridge promptly led the Riders to a 27-19 victory over the Hamilton TigerCats at Tim Hortons Field.
Glenn suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Riders’ 48-28 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 9.
Bridge, who hails from nearby Mississauga, Ont., completed 21 of 31 pass attempts for 231 yards and three touchdowns in his first start for Saskatchewan.
Bridge, 25, was the first Canadi- an-born quarterback to start for the Riders since Vancouver’s Eric Guthrie in 1977. With Guthrie at quarterback, the Riders defeated the Tiger-Cats 38-28 at Taylor Field.
Friday’s game was Bridge’s second CFL start. His first start was back on Nov. 8, 2015 for the Montreal Alouettes against the visiting Roughriders. The Riders prevailed 30-24 in overtime.
On Friday, Saskatchewan’s defence did its part to help out Bridge, forcing five Hamilton turnovers. The Riders scored 17 points off the turnovers.
Saskatchewan defensive back Ed Gainey recorded two picks and now has eight interceptions in the last five games.
Naaman Roosevelt, Bakari Grant and Devon Bailey all hauled in touchdown passes for the Riders, who improved to 6-5. The TigerCats fell to 2-9.
The Riders opened the scoring at 11:54 of the first quarter on a 15yard field goal by Tyler Crapigna.
In the second quarter, Bridge led the Riders on a six-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a touchdown strike to Bailey. Bridge completed five of six passes during the drive.
Saskatchewan’s Kacy Rodgers II forced Hamilton’s second fumble of the first half, which was recovered by Tobi Antigha on the TigerCats’ 31.
Four plays later, Bridge found Bakari Grant in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown pass. The Riders led 17-0 at 6:16 of the second quarter.
The Tiger-Cats finally got on the scoreboard when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli connected with Jalen Saunders for a 36-yard touchdown strike.
The Riders answered Hamilton’s touchdown with a 42-yard field goal by Crapigna at 13:14 of the second quarter and led 20-7.
The Tiger-Cats closed out the scoring in the first half with a 19yard field goal by Castillo at 14:52. The Riders led 20-10.
The Riders host the Calgary Stampeders on Sept. 24.