Fan keeping ‘special’ football
Paige Hansen doesn’t have any intention of handing off the football thrown to her by Duron Carter Saturday.
There may be interest in the souvenir after the Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver made a onehanded, leaping snag of an 18-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Glenn. Carter made the backhanded grab in the waning seconds of the first half of Saturday’s 38-27 win over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
Carter’s reception has sparked speculation about it being the CFL’s catch of the year. Michelle Hansen, Paige’s mother, said Tuesday there have already been offers to purchase the ball. Paige, who hails from Sturgis, quickly put any talk of that happening to rest.
“No, because it’s too special,” Paige said Tuesday.
Carter agreed with Paige while talking with reporters after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.
“For me, it would be priceless because I get footballs for free,” Carter said. “I don’t think anyone should pay anything for it. It’s her football and she can pass it down to her kids and always have a story.”
There is more to the story than Carter making Paige’s day by giving her a football. Paige, 12, was diagnosed at 18 months with leukemia, but has been in remission since she was three. Carter wasn’t aware Paige was a cancer survivor when he gave her the football.
“It was surprising to me because I was just giving the ball to some friends that I had promised the ball to,” Carter said. “Then there is the whole backstory and it’s crazy. She is an amazing little girl. I talk to her all of the time and she’s great.”
Carter said he met the Hansens during training camp in Saskatoon. Paige, Michelle and her aunt Alisa Worebotz have season tickets in the north end zone of Mosaic Stadium and it was there that Carter noticed them. He promised he would give them a football if he scored a touchdown in the north end zone.
“It was the third (home game) and I finally scored,” Carter said. “I had to run over there and give them the ball. It just took off and I consider them great friends.”
Paige and her mother waited outside Mosaic Stadium to have Carter sign the football. She didn’t let the ball out of her sight and even went to sleep with it by her side. Michelle snapped a photo of the sleeping Paige and the football.
“That was funny and I had a really good laugh at it,” said Carter, named the CFL’s offensive performer of the week after he recorded nine receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns against the Argos. “She was sleeping with the ball and she is taking great care of it.”
Paige has developed a relationship with a number of Riders players over the years while serving as an ambassador for the Children’s Wish Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society.
“People don’t realize most of the time that they are all good guys,” Paige said. “Sometimes it may seem they are too full of energy on the field, but they’re real people, too. They are just amazing.”
NOTES: Placekicker Tyler Crapigna was placed on the six-game injured list Tuesday and won’t play Saturday against the B.C. Lions after suffering an undisclosed injury against the Argonauts. Crapigna’s spot will be filled by Quinn van Gylswyk … Returner Chad Owens practised Tuesday for the first time since early in training camp. Owens has had foot issues since breaking a foot during the 2017 season with the Hamilton TigerCats. He signed with the Riders as a free agent in the off-season. Owens is eligible to be activated from the six-game injured list in Week 8 ... International linebacker Will Ratelle has been added to the practice roster. Fullback Aaron Milton, who retired during the off-season, has returned to the team.