You can go a long way with a short memory.
Take it from Saskatchewan Roughriders cornerback Nic Marshall, who more than counteracted some plays that didn’t go his way on June 24 by making a game-winning interception against the host Calgary Stampeders.
Earlier in the CFL contest — won 29-26 by Saskatchewan in double overtime — Marshall had a chance to make two picks.
Ultimately, it mattered not, as he responded with a walk-off interception of a Jake Maier pass to help Saskatchewan enter a bye week with a 2-1 record.
“It was great for me to end the game like that, because I missed two opportunities,” Marshall said after the Roughriders returned to the practice field on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.
“They always say the third time is the charm, so I just capitalized when it was time.”
On the play, which was scrimmaged from the 18-yard line, Maier looked toward the end zone for a well-covered Tre Odoms-Dukes.
“When I saw it coming in the air, I thought, ‘I’ve got to make it count this time,’ ” Marshall said.
In the event of an incompletion on the second-and-seven play, Calgary’s Rene Paredes would have been able to tie the game with a chip-shot field goal.
Instead, the visitors emerged with two points thanks to the latest impactful play by Marshall — the Roughriders’ all-time leader in interception-return touchdowns (five).
“The record-breaking one was the most important one to me, because I never knew I had that record, but it’s great to be able to win the game on defence,” he said.
Entering the 2022 season, Marshall was tied in career pick-sixes (four) with Ken McEachern and Jackie Mitchell.
Marshall claimed sole possession of the record on July 2 of last year when he took an interception 90 yards to the house in the waning minutes against the visiting Montreal Alouettes.
The record-breaking interception was at the expense of then-Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris, who is now a Roughrider.
“I haven’t even reminded him of that,” Marshall said with a laugh.
“It’s great to have him here in this team as my quarterback this year.”
BANDY COMES IN HANDY
Logan Bandy was an integral contributor to the Roughriders’ victory in his hometown of Calgary, where he played Canada West football for the Dinos.
After starting left offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins suffered a quad injury — one that will necessitate surgery — some shuffling was required up front.
Logan Ferland, ordinarily the right guard, moved to left tackle. Bandy, a second-year CFLer, filled the void at guard in admirable fashion.
Bandy helped Jamal Morrow rush for a career-high 133 yards while being part of a reconfigured five-man unit that reliably protected Harris.
“It’s just next man up,” Bandy said on Sunday. “You have to be ready to go, no matter what, and not blink.
“We cut our eyelids off. We don’t blink.”
That mindset will come in handy as the Roughriders face the possibility of more injury-related upheaval leading up to Thursday’s collision with the Edmonton Elks (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
On Sunday, Bandy took first-team reps at centre while Peter Godber nursed a hand injury. Godber finished the Calgary game despite being hurt. The Roughriders were also without starting right tackle Colin Kelly due to illness.
The Roughriders’ scroll-like list of injuries also includes Harris (back), receivers Derel Walker (knee), Kian Schaffer-Baker (hip), Brayden Lenius (lower back), Jake Wieneke (knee) and Juwan Brescacin (shoulder), defensive linemen Anthony Lanier II (foot) and Nicholas Dheilly (head), defensive backs Rolan Milligan Jr. (back), Jayden Dalke (back), Godfrey Onyeka (chest) and Rodney Clemons (ankle), offensive lineman Philip Blake (torn pectoral muscle) and linebacker Matt Dean (foot).
Harris was a full participant in Sunday’s practice. Dean, Lanier II, Wieneke, Milligan Jr., Clemons, Kelly and Godber received the DNP (Did Not Practise) designation.
Dalke, a limited participant in Sunday’s workout, could be activated from the six-game injured list well in advance of sitting out the full term.
Running back Frankie Hickson (shoulder), defensive lineman DeMarcus Christmas (knee) and fullback Albert Awachie (hamstring) practised on Sunday. They had been placed on the one-game injury list leading up to the game in Calgary.
Defensive end Pete Robertson and defensive halfback Amari Henderson both missed Sunday’s practice after encountering flight-related issues.
