Nic Marshall’s interception on the final play of the second overtime series incited a victory celebration by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who outlasted the host Calgary Stampeders 29-26 in CFL action on Saturday.
On second-and-seven from the Roughriders’ 18-yard line, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier looked to the end zone and was picked off.
In the event of an incompletion, Calgary could have attempted a game-tying field goal.
Jamal Morrow was the Roughriders’ offensive sparkplug. He rushed 22 times for 133 yards as Saskatchewan improved its record to 2-1. Calgary dropped to 1-2.
The first-half scoring consisted entirely of field goals.
Calgary’s Rene Paredes connected from 48 and 46 yards. Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther countered with an 18-yarder.
The game’s first touchdown was scored at 2:14 of the third quarter, on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Shea Patterson.
On the previous play, Rolan Milligan Jr. was tackled on the one-yard line after a 56-yard interception return.
Calgary answered with a 52-yard touchdown pass from Maier. Paredes’ convert gave the Stampeders a 13-9 lead at 8:35 of the second quarter.
Adam Korsak’s 90-yard punt single at 11:59 of the third frame reduced Calgary’s lead to 13-10.
The 90-yarder was the longest punt by a Roughrider since Oct. 29, 2011, when Chris Milo unleashed a 108-yarder in a 19-3 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Milo and Zenon Andrusyshyn (Toronto Argonauts, 1977) share the league record for longest punt.
The Roughriders went ahead when Trevor Harris found Tevin Jones for a 44-yard score on the final play from scrimmage of the third quarter. Lauther’s convert gave Saskatchewan a 17-13 lead.
Patterson’s second one-yard TD of the day gave the Roughriders a 23-13 lead at 5:53 of the fourth quarter. The key play on the scoring drive was a 60-yard connection between Harris and Shawn Bane Jr.
Calgary responded with a three-yard TD run by Maier at 9:43 of the final frame. The convert by Parades narrowed the gap to 23-20.
After Maier scored, the Roughriders moved 58 yards in eight plays, but Patterson was stopped on a third-and-one gamble.
Assuming control of the football on their nine-yard line with 1:12 left, Calgary moved to the Roughriders’ 46 before Paredes’ 53-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining created a 23-23 deadlock and forced overtime.
The teams exchanged field goals in the first go-around of overtime.
Lauther’s 20-yard field goal to begin the second overtime series gave Saskatchewan a 29-26 lead.
Back-to-back runs by Dedrick Mills put Calgary on the Roughriders’ 18-yard line, whereupon Marshall registered the game-clinching pick.
EXTRA POINTS: Roughriders left tackle Jerald Hawkins, making his CFL debut, left the game due to injury in the second quarter. To fill the void, Logan Ferland moved from right guard to left tackle. Logan Bandy stepped in at guard … Patterson’s touchdowns were his first in the CFL … Milligan Jr. has two interceptions in three games this season. He had one pick all of last season … The Roughriders are now on a bye week. They are to return to the practice field on July 2. Saskatchewan’s next two games are at home — on July 6 (versus Edmonton Elks) and July 15 (Calgary).
