Riders’ Bridge makes case for Canadian QB
Pivot threw for three TDs and 223 yards to lead way in victory over Tiger-Cats
HAMILTON It’s just one game, but the CFL just may be witnessing the long-awaited homegrown quarterback.
It’s been 50 years since Russ Jackson owned the starting role at quarterback for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
There have been a handful of games started by Canadians since, but the wait continues for a team comfortable enough to hand the reins to what the league now refers to as a national — formerly a non-import.
Brandon Bridge made the strongest case in recent memory last night to change that.
Bridge, the Mississauga, Ont., native, got the start in place of Kevin Glenn, who is dealing with a hand injury, and looked entirely comfortable leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 27-19 win over Hamilton, snapping the Ticats’ two-game win streak.
Bridge threw for three touchdowns and 223 yards while completing over 70 per cent of his passes. The last Canadian-born quarterback to throw for three touchdowns in a CFL game was Greg Vavra, who did it for the Calgary Stampeders back in 1984 in a game against Saskatchewan.
The Ticats defence, which has been much improved over the past two games, was no match for Bridge and his rocket arm.
Even with Duron Carter, one of Saskatchewan’s top receivers, going down early in the game and not returning, Bridge spread the ball around in hitting three different receivers — Naaman Roosevelt, Bakari Grant, and Devon Bailey — for touchdowns.
Hamilton’s offence started very slowly, not even registering a first down in the first quarter. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli finally got it going in the second quarter, but not before the Ticats were down 10-0. They never did recover.
Masoli, making his third start since Ticats coach June Jones handed him control of the offence over incumbent starter Zach Collaros, wound up getting the Ticats back in the game and had a chance to tie it, had he been able to get the Tabbies in the end zone and get the two-point convert.
Masoli, though, came up just inches short of a first down on a third-down gamble at the Saskatchewan 35, turning the ball over on downs.
Hamilton got one more shot at it when Casey Rogers was called for pass interference in the end zone, setting Hamilton up at the oneyard line with five seconds left.
Masoli took the snap out of the shotgun and, from the five-yard line, threw a pass to Jalen Saunders that skipped up just short ending the game.
Masoli threw a touchdown pass to Saunders in the third quarter, but settled for field goals on four other occasions as Sergio Castillo had a perfect 4-for-4 night in that department.
Masoli was picked off twice by Ed Gainey, once in the Saskatchewan end zone to snuff out a scoring drive late in the third quarter.
The Hamilton quarterback finished the night good on 29 of 49 passes for 328 yards and that lone touchdown, but the turnovers proved to be the difference.
With the loss, the Ticats fall to 2-9, while Saskatchewan improves to 6-5.