Roughriders tie Redblacks 22-22 as CFL Command Centre takes over

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The CFL’s Command Centre stole a victory from the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday night.

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After the Roughriders appeared to win their Week 10 contest against the Ottawa Redblacks, the CFL’s Command Centre stepped in at the end of double overtime and called Saskatchewan for roughing the passer.

The call allowed the Redblacks to continue their drive, which ultimately led to a field goal to end the game in a 22-22 tie.

“I had already shaken hands with (Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce) and a bunch of players and other coaches,” said Roughriders’ head coach Corey Mace. “Then (the officials) came and approached me and said that they were putting the play under review.

“And I was confused because they had waved the flag and the game was over.

“At that point, it was try to get an explanation which the on-field officials were waiting from the league’s replay booth and when everybody else heard the news, that’s when I heard the news.

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“And it was just kind of hope everybody was still on the field; a few players already went to the locker room.”

“It was just a unique situation.”

It was the second time the Command Centre overturned a ruling on the field during overtime as Mace successfully challenged a call for pass interference on third down during Saskatchewan’s first OT possession, which resulted in a touchdown to extend the game.

The tie leaves the Riders with a 5-3-1 record, while the Redblacks move to 5-2-1.

“Crazy as any I’ve ever been part of,” said Riders’ quarterback Shea Patterson, who completed 30-of-49 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. “You go from a rollercoaster of a game, getting through the highs and lows, fighting together and finally you think you feel like you actually came out of it with a W.

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“There’s the hugs and there’s the emotions of winning, almost walking off the field, until it gets kind of taken away from you.”

Thursday’s result was the first tie in the CFL since 2017 and first involving Saskatchewan since 2009.

“It’s a little weird feeling,” said Riders’ defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., who had eight total tackles, an interception and a knockdown. “That’s my first time ever tying a game.

“It kind of goes both ways. It’s weird. Some guys are down, some guys are just like ‘it is what it is.’ ”

With heavy rain falling at TD Place in Ottawa, neither team could generate much offence early.

In the second quarter, Riders’ defensive end Miles Brown inadvertently rolled into Redblacks’ quarterback Dru Brown, who was forced to leave the game with a lower leg injury. Dustin Crum entered the game for Ottawa.

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Crum threw for 211 yards and rushed for 72 more but Saskatchewan’s defence was able to hold the Redblacks to four field goals, while also blocking two kicks. Ottawa also had a punt single during regulation time.

For the Riders, they generated just three points through three quarters before Patterson made up for three interceptions earlier in the game by finding Shawn Bane Jr. for the 10-yard touchdown to tie the game 10-10 with under two minutes to go.

The nine-play, 70-yard drive was highlighted by a 33-yard catch by rookie receiver Dohnte Meyers, who had a team-high eight catches for 101 yards in his first career game.

“It was a monsoon in the first half, so we just had to battle the conditions and get through the adversity,” said Patterson. “Then finally, things started to click.

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“We fought through the adversity. We fought through the highs and lows … just stayed together as brothers until the end.”

After an interception by Milligan, Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther kicked a field goal to put the Riders up 13-10 with 45 seconds left before Ottawa’s Lewis Ward tied the game as time expired.

In overtime, Crum scrambled into the end zone from 11 yards out for the touchdown before the Redblacks missed the mandatory two-point convert.

With Saskatchewan needing a touchdown to extend the game, Patterson’s pass to Bane on third down fell incomplete.

However, Mace challenged the play for pass interference and the Riders were awarded a first down upon review.

On the next play, Patterson hit Samuel Emilus for the touchdown to tie the game. Saskatchewan couldn’t complete the two-point convert.

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In double OT, Lauther put Saskatchewan up 22-19 before Saskatchewan sacked Crum on back-to-back plays.

However, on second down after Crum fumbled the ball — which was recovered by Saskatchewan’s Adam Auclair — the Command Centre stepped in and ruled roughing the passer on the play, which gave Ottawa a first down.

The Redblacks drove to the 14-yard line before Ward came in to kick a short field goal to end the game in a 22-22 tie.

“It wasn’t a win, which is always what we come out to do,” said Mace. “But it wasn’t a loss.

“Just something to build off — momentum-wise I guess — just that we played hard and we didn’t lose.”

After snapping a two-game losing skid, Saskatchewan will now get set to host the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 16.

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tshire@postmedia.com

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