Pick, pick … BOOM!
A mere 65 seconds into Saturday’s CFL game at Mosaic Stadium, linebacker A.J. Allen lit the fuse for the Saskatchewan Roughriders by scoring on a 48-yard interception return.
The home side never looked back after the explosive start, defeating the B.C. Lions 39-8 to secure a home playoff game. (Tickets are available HERE.)
Initially, the play looked like a routine swing pass from Nathan Rourke to William Stanback.
However, the Lions’ tailback was unable to secure the ball, which bounced off his left heel and right hand after being thrown slightly behind the intended receiver.
The football then glanced off the face mask and left arm of defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. before hitting the helmet and left hand of cornerback Deontai Williams.
Milligan Jr. and Williams kept the football alive long enough for Allen to swoop in.
“It was just a run-to-the-football moment, to be honest with you,” Allen recounted after the Roughriders’ record improved to 9-7-1.
“I saw it keep bouncing up and bouncing up, so I said, ‘OK, I’m just going to keep running,’ because you never know what might happen.
“All of a sudden, everybody kept tipping it and I got lucky. I was in the right spot at the right time and caught it.
“At that point, I was just trying to stay up on my feet and trying to make a play.”
That he did — on the second play from scrimmage.
How big did his eyeballs get when the football turned into a volleyball, or even a pinball, and was there for the taking?
“I couldn’t believe it,” Allen said. “I was like, ‘No … wait!’
“After that, I was just trying to make a play and get to the end zone. That’s all it was.
“It’s OK, though. If they drop money, I’ll pick it up.”
It was an eventful day all around for Allen, who found out early Saturday morning that he would be starting at weak-side linebacker.
Adam Auclair, who started the previous 10 games at that position, had been listed on Friday as a game-time decision due to a knee injury.
“I try to prepare like I’m starting, anyway,” Allen said. “I try to have good weeks. I don’t try to have mess-ups. I try to be in the right spot at the right time all the time, so it didn’t really change my preparation.
“It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I’m starting. I’ve got to do more.’ You stay ready to get ready and you trust the process. You’re just looking for an opportunity to prove yourself right.”
The opportunity arrived so quickly that, just like that, Allen had his first interception and touchdown as a CFLer.
The interception-return TD was the third-fastest in franchise history.
36 seconds: Jackie Mitchell (47 yards) at Calgary Stampeders, Aug. 17, 2001.
56 seconds: Jack Gotta (34) versus Calgary, Aug. 23, 1963.
1:05: A.J. Allen, as advertised.
At Mosaic Stadium at Legends Night on Saturday:
• 2024 Plaza of Honour inductee Roy Shivers, who brought Mitchell to Saskatchewan.
• 1997 Plaza enshrine Dale West, who was a second-year Roughrider when Gotta pulled off the rare feat of scoring on defence (34-yard pick-six) and offence (17-yard pass from Ron Lancaster) in the same game.
Allen scored the 117th interception-return TD in Roughriders history. West registered the 17th (60 yards; Sept. 30, 1963 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers).
As well, Allen earned a share of the 12th-fastest TD in Roughriders history.
Saskatchewan had also hit the scoreboard at 1:05 on a 14-yard scoring strike from Trevor Harris to Samuel Emilus versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 23 at Mosaic Stadium.
Allen’s TD was his first since Sept. 1, 2019, when he scored on a 25-yard fumble return for the University of Guelph Gryphons in a 37-20 victory over the Carleton Ravens in Ottawa.
Drafted in the fourth round by Saskatchewan the following year, Allen led the Roughriders in special teams tackles (19) last year.
In addition to erupting for a pick-six on Saturday, Allen registered his 20th special teams tackle and moved into a tie with Milligan Jr. for the league lead.
One game remains on the Roughriders’ regular-season schedule — an Oct. 26 matchup with Calgary (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
Saskatchewan will open the playoffs at home on Nov. 2 (West Division semi-final) or Nov. 9 (West final).
The Roughriders will play host to the latter game if they finish in first place. For that to happen, Winnipeg must lose to the Alouettes in Montreal on Oct. 26 and Saskatchewan must follow with a victory over Calgary.
In the event of a second-place finish, Saskatchewan would play host to B.C. on Nov. 2.
