RIDERS TOPPLE TICATS 27-19
Brandon Bridge shines as QB
“Air Canada” finally took flight for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The owner of that nickname, Brandon Bridge, started at quarterback Friday when veteran Kevin Glenn was scratched due to a bruised right hand.
Bridge led the Riders to a 27-19 victory over the Hamilton TigerCats at Tim Hortons Field. It wasn’t a perfect victory, as the Riders raced into a 27-10 lead over the Tiger-Cats and withstood a late rally to eke out the win and improve to 6-5. The Tiger-Cats fell to 2-9.
“The ending wasn’t what we liked, but we definitely liked the outcome,” said Bridge, who completed 21 of 31 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns. “We were up by 17 points and we definitely made it harder on ourselves. It’s definitely on me and we have to learn how to finish.”
Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones was pleased with the win and with how the Riders performed despite suffering a succession of injuries.
“We had 10 injuries and that’s what people don’t see,” Jones said. “I’ve never been in a game where we had eight injuries that took guys out of the game for an extended time or the rest of the game. I’m just proud that the football team did a nice job seeing their way out of it.”
Bridge, 25, was the first Canadian-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 on Oct. 30, 1977, only to lose 38-0 in Edmonton one week later.
Bridge also become the first Canadian-born quarterback to complete three touchdown passes in a game since Greg Vavra in 1984 with the Calgary Stampeders. Vavra, in 1985, was the last Canadian quarterback to win a game until Bridge ended that 32-year drought.
“I’m trying to open up doors for the younger generation who is actually a Canadian and wants to play quarterback,” Bridge said. “I’m trying to open up that door and lay down the first stone so it’s an easier path for them.”
On Friday, Saskatchewan’s defence did its part to help out Bridge, forcing five Hamilton turnovers that the Riders converted into 17 points.
Naaman Roosevelt (23 yards), Bakari Grant (nine yards) and Devon Bailey (nine yards) all caught touchdown passes from Bridge.
The Riders opened the scoring at 11:54 of the first quarter on a 15yard field goal by Tyler Crapigna.
Saskatchewan was in position to score a touchdown after Mike Edem recovered a fumble on Hamilton’s five-yard line. Hamilton receiver Mike Jones lost the ball after a hard tackle by Saskatchewan’s Jeff Hecht. The Riders couldn’t get it in the end zone.
But in the second quarter, Bridge led the Riders on a six-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a touchdown strike to Bailey. Crapigna’s convert put the Riders ahead 10-0 at 3:03 of the second quarter
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 Grant for a nine-yard touchdown pass. The Riders led 17-0 after Crapigna’s convert at 6:16 of the second quarter.
The Tiger-Cats finally got on the scoreboard when Jeremiah Masoli connected with Jalen Saunders on a 36-yard touchdown strike. Sergio Castillo’s convert reduced Saskatchewan’s lead to 17-7 at 9:57 of the second quarter.
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 at halftime.
The Tiger-Cats committed their third turnover of the game in the third quarter when Gainey stepped in front of a Masoli pass attempt.
Three plays later, Bridge connected with Roosevelt on a 23yard touchdown pass. A successful convert by Crapigna gave the Riders a 27-10 lead at 5:35 of the third quarter.
A 51-yard field goal by Castillo at 10:23 of the third quarter reduced Saskatchewan’s lead to 27-13.
Just 28 seconds into the fourth quarter, Castillo hit on a 37-yard field goal.
Castillo then connected on a 19yard field goal at 12:08 of the fourth quarter. The Riders led 27-19 after Castillo’s last field goal.
The Riders withstood a charge by the Tiger-Cats late in the fourth quarter.
With five seconds left, the Roughriders were called for pass interference, giving Hamilton a first down on the one-yard line. However, Masoli’s pass on the game’s final play fell incomplete.