JUST IN : Edmonton massive target over a win in CFL season
A powerful fourth quarter from the Saskatchewan Roughriders propelled them to a victory over the Edmonton Elks in the opening week of the CFL season.
Quarterback Trevor Harris threw three touchdown passes to Shawn Bane Jr., and running back A.J. Ouellette scored his first touchdown in Roughriders colors, as Saskatchewan (1-0) triumphed 29-21 over Edmonton (0-1) on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.
Saskatchewan was trailing 11-7 at halftime and 21-8 early in the fourth quarter, before scoring three touchdowns to stage a comeback.
“It says a lot about our group and the belief we have,” said Riders’ head coach Corey Mace, who secured his first career win as a CFL head coach. “I was very pleased to see our guys come together and find a way to get it done. Many players made big plays for us in the second half.”
Harris completed 22 of 31 passes for 305 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. In the first half, the 38-year-old quarterback also became the 19th player in CFL history to surpass 30,000 career passing yards.
“The mark of good teams is finding ways to win regardless of the circumstances,” said Harris, playing his first regular-season game since a knee injury in Week 6 of the 2023 season. “This team doesn’t flinch. We keep pushing forward, and while our offensive performance wasn’t our best, we managed to find a way to win.”
Bane Jr. led the team with 125 receiving yards and three touchdowns on five catches, as the Riders recorded 338 yards of net offense compared to Edmonton’s 349.
“At halftime, we just settled down,” said Bane Jr., who celebrated his 29th birthday on Sunday. “Trev was leading the way, staying poised and making the throws, and I was just a byproduct of that.”
On defense, Rolan Milligan Jr. led the Roughriders with 10 total tackles and a pass knockdown. Bryan Cox Jr. and Jameer Thurman each recovered a fumble. Linebacker C.J. Avery had an interception in his CFL debut, and fellow rookie DaMarcus Fields contributed six tackles and a sack.
Scoring summary
The Elks initiated the scoring with a field goal in the first quarter, but Saskatchewan responded with the game’s first touchdown. Harris orchestrated a six-play, 70-yard drive, concluding with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Bane Jr., giving Saskatchewan a 7-3 lead with the convert.
After conceding a single point on a punt return to make it 7-4, the Elks regained the lead with 1:06 left in the first half. Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson connected with receiver Hergy Mayala for a 22-yard touchdown, making it 11-7 for the Elks.
Saskatchewan attempted to score in the final minute of the first half, but Harris was intercepted by Elks’ defensive back Darrius Bratton, ending the half.
In the second half, during the Riders’ eighth punt of the game in their first 10 series, Adam Korsak kicked it 62 yards through the back of the end zone for a rouge, narrowing the score to 11-8.
On Edmonton’s next drive, Bethel-Thompson hit Eugene Lewis for a 52-yard gain, then connected with Mayala for his second touchdown of the day, extending Edmonton’s lead to 18-8 with the convert.
After Harris threw his second interception, the Elks added a field goal, making it 21-8 early in the fourth quarter.
Harris redeemed himself by throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass to Bane Jr. on the next series, cutting Edmonton’s lead to 21-15 with the convert.
Following Thurman’s fumble recovery on Edmonton’s next series, Ouellette scored his first touchdown as a Rider. With the convert, Saskatchewan took a 22-21 lead with just over eight minutes remaining.
With two minutes left and Edmonton advancing, Cox Jr. stripped Bethel-Thompson and recovered the loose ball.
This turnover allowed Saskatchewan to extend their lead, as Harris threw his third touchdown pass to Bane Jr., this time for 33 yards, putting Saskatchewan ahead 29-21 with the convert.
After Avery intercepted Bethel-Thompson, Saskatchewan tried to secure the win, but Ouellette fumbled with 28 seconds left, giving the Elks another chance.
However, Bethel-Thompson’s Hail Mary pass to the end zone fell incomplete as time expired, allowing Saskatchewan to survive the late scare and secure the victory.
Off the board
In the first quarter, the Elks’ returner Javon Leake sprinted for a thrilling 75-yard punt return touchdown, only to have it nullified by an illegal block penalty.
Towards the conclusion of the second quarter, the Riders’ returner Mario Alford electrified the crowd with a dazzling 91-yard punt return touchdown, yet the excitement was short-lived as it was negated by a holding penalty. Alford’s earlier 32-yard punt return in the first quarter was also erased due to a holding penalty.
Penalty problems
In addition to the two special teams holding penalties, the Riders incurred four more infractions, including a significant 25-yard penalty resulting in a game ejection. Right guard Logan Ferland was ejected for rough play after striking Elks’ linebacker Leon O’Neal Jr. in the helmet after a play, with 5:53 remaining in the second quarter.
Ryan Sceviour stepped in at right guard for the remainder of the game for Saskatchewan. Following Ferland’s ejection, the team experienced consecutive sacks but managed to prevent any further sacks for the rest of the game.
In the first half, Saskatchewan accumulated a total of five infractions for 75 yards. However, their discipline improved in the second half, with only one penalty incurred, a 10-yard objectionable conduct penalty against safety Jayden Dalke.
Coach Mace expressed frustration regarding the penalties, emphasizing the need for improved discipline. He acknowledged the negative impact these infractions have on the team’s performance, aiming for a higher standard of conduct moving forward.
In contrast, Edmonton amassed 11 penalties for 101 yards throughout the game, highlighting a similar struggle with maintaining discipline on the field.