Rob Vanstone: From stress to success — the Roughriders’ frantic final few minutes versus Ottawa
Fittingly, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ latest fair game — coinciding with the Queen City Ex — produced a rollercoaster of emotions.
After a seemingly secure lead evaporated in the fourth quarter, the Roughriders were able to retain their composure and ultimately win a 26-24 nailbiter against the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.
“It was stressful,” victorious quarterback Mason Fine said, “but I was more low-key calm.”
The level-headedness was admirable, and ultimately crucial, considering the mind-bending events that led up to Brett Lauther’s game-winning, 54-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
With slightly more than a quarter left, the Roughriders were ahead 23-11.
Ottawa with 13 consecutive points — including two field goals and one convert by Lewis Ward, who punctuated Douglas Coleman III’s 45-yard fumble-return touchdown at 1:09 of the fourth quarter.
Coleman III scored after retrieving a fumble in a second-and-two situation.
The Roughriders’ short-yardage struggles continued with just under two minutes left, when the home side could not move the chains on third-and-one from its 19-yard line.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to get a yard when we need it, so we’ll look at it,” said Head Coach Craig Dickenson, whose team will carry a 4-4 record into Friday’s game against the host Montreal Alouettes.
“We don’t have a lot of time to get ready for Montreal, but we have to figure out a way to get a yard, whether it’s a quarterback sneak or handing the ball off.”
As Ottawa assumed possession deep in Saskatchewan territory, the tension was palpable throughout the stadium, where the Roughriders welcomed 26,625 CFL patrons on Sunday.
The Green and White’s defence saved the day by holding Ottawa to a field goal — an eight-yarder by Ward — and leaving it to the offence to move the football into three-point territory.
It helped matters considerably that Mario Alford returned Ward’s kickoff 37 yards to the Roughriders’ 50. Fine then found Jake Wieneke for nine yards and Jerreth Sterns for five, giving the Saskatchewan the ball on Ottawa’s 46-yard line and advancing to within Lauther’s considerable field-goal range.
Back-to-back incompletions ensued but, as it turned out, additional yardage was not required.
“I was upset that we couldn’t get Brett closer,” Fine said. “A 54-yarder is no gimmie. I know Brett’s a great kicker and he’s clutch, but we’ve got to do a better job as an offence of getting it closer.”
Regardless, Lauther was typically unerring in the clutch.
“I didn’t have any doubt,” Fine said. “Whenever we’re in his range, I know he’s going to kick it, but I’d like to make it a little easier and less stressful, (instead of going) to the sideline knowing it’s a 54-yarder.”
Lauther calmly converted from near midfield to transform angst into exhilaration.
Pressure? What pressure?
“It’s what I live for,” the 32-year-old Lauther said. “I can’t really compare it to anything else.
“I’m not going to be playing forever, so I’m just trying to enjoy it while I can.
“It’s an unimaginable high to be out there in front of everyone and, to get a win for the guys, it feels great.”
The win was the first as a CFL starter for Fine, who had made three previous appearances as the No. 1 quarterback, dating back to late last season.
“I’m super-proud and happy for him,” Dickenson said. “We gave him a game ball.
“I think he deserved it. The guy just keeps plugging away back there and makes a lot of good throws. He never seems to lose his confidence or his belief in his teammates, so I was very pleased to see him get that win today.”
Fine completed 23 of 37 passes for 296 yards, 42 of which came on a picturesque payoff pitch to Shawn Bane Jr.
Another eight yards resulted from a pass from Fine to Fine, who retrieved a deflected throw behind the line of scrimmage and scampered eight yards on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
It was the first reception by a Roughriders quarterback since Sept. 16, when Cody Fajardo retrieved his own pass and was tackled for a loss of four against the visiting Edmonton Elks.
Fine’s eventful evening also included five rushes for 17 yards.
Most importantly, he moved the offence into field-goal range when timely plays were of the essence.
Yes, there were the two incompletions he lamented earlier, but the final connection — a five-yarder to Sterns on second-and-one — moved the Roughriders far enough for a game-winning field goal to become reality.
“That dude’s just a leader,” Sterns said of Fine. “He’s got that fight in him and he’s never going to quit.
“I’ll go to war with that guy any day of the week.”
The next game day is Friday, when the Roughriders’ season reaches — brace yourself for more Queen City Ex terminology — the midway point.
