RIDERS WIN A CLOSE ONE
Bartel’s punt single in the fourth caps visitor’s run of 18 unanswered points
Redblacks defensive back Dan West slides on the grass as he tries to strip the ball from Roughriders running back Christion Jones during first half CFL football action Friday in Ottawa. The Riders came back from a 17-point deficit to down the Redblacks 18-17.
OTTAWA Christion Jones provided the spark the Saskatchewan Roughriders needed to pull out an 18-17 come-from-behind win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
The Riders were struggling to generate any offence and trailed the Redblacks 17-0 in the third quarter before a sold-out crowd of 24,893 spectators at TD Place. That’s when Jones broke free on a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown that energized the Riders.
Saskatchewan erupted for 18 unanswered points to pull out the road win over the Redblacks. Tailback Kienan LaFrance scored on a six-yard run and Tyler Crapigna’s convert reduced Ottawa’s lead to 17-14.
Crapigna tied the contest 17-17 on a 16-yard field goal. Punter Josh Bartel then propelled the Riders into an 18-17 lead with a 41-yard single at 12:48 of the fourth quarter.
The Riders improved their record to 7-6. The Redblacks, who are to play the Riders at Mosaic Stadium Oct. 13, fell to 5-9-1.
For the second consecutive game, the Riders linked arms during the national anthem as an indication of their support for their football-playing brethren in the NFL. The gestures are a sign of solidarity in response to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump last week.
Once the teams hit the field, the Riders had a promising drive on their first possession snuffed when Redblacks defensive back Jonathan Rose intercepted a Kevin Glenn pass intended for Duron Carter on Ottawa’s goal-line.
The Redblacks capitalized on the Riders’ turnover with a nine-play, 89-yard drive that was capped by Brett Maher’s 22-yard field goal at 13:18 of the first quarter.
The Riders trailed 3-0 and for the second consecutive game were shutout in the first quarter.
The Redblacks went ahead 11-0 after an 11-play, 86-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. Quarterback Ryan Lindley connected with Greg Ellingson on an 18-yard touchdown strike in the corner of the end zone. William Powell then scored on the twopoint conversion to give Ottawa a 11-0 lead at 10:52 of the second quarter.
Powell led the Redblacks’ offence with 11 carries for 111 yards in the first half. It was the third consecutive game that Powell has rushed for more than 100 yards.
Glenn struggled in the first half. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 73 yards and the interception.
Lindley, who was making his second CFL start, completed nine of 17 passes for 99 yards and the touchdown strike to Ellingson.
The Redblacks continued to run the ball effectively during their first possession of the third quarter.
Powell had six carries for 38 yards during a nine-play drive that was capped by Lindley’s one-yard touchdown run. Ottawa’s twopoint convert attempt failed, but the Redblacks still led 17-0 at 4:43 of the third quarter.
The Riders finally got on the scoreboard thanks to the specialteams play of returner Jones. Jones returned Maher’s punt 97 yards for a touchdown. Saskatchewan trailed Ottawa 17-7 at 11:20 of the third quarter after Crapigna’s successful convert.
The punt return for a touchdown was the first for the Riders since Oct. 15, 2016, when Joe Craig scored on a 71-yard effort in a 29-11 win over the Toronto Argonauts.
Powell established a Redblacks’ single-game rushing record in just three quarters of play. Powell had 187 yards on 26 carries, breaking the previous record of 180 yards set by Jonathan Williams in 2014.
In the fourth quarter, Glenn connected with Carter on consecutive passes of 21 and 43 yards to move the Riders to Ottawa’s six-yard line. LaFrance then scored on a six-yard run. Crapigna’s successful convert reduced Ottawa’s lead to 17-14 at 5:28 of the fourth quarter.
An acrobatic 30-yard reception by Rob Bagg set the Riders up for the tying field goal in the fourth quarter. Crapigna evened the score at 17-17 on a 16-yard field goal at 9:46 of the fourth quarter.
Bartel gave the Riders a 18-17 lead on a 41-yard single.